Buy someone a great present - the opportunity to step on-board a lovingly restored steam train and travel back in time on the Great Central Railway departing from Loughborough station, LE11 1RW.
Take in the experience of riding in heritage carriages from the 1950s or early 1960s on a 16 mile round trip from Loughborough's beautifully restored station - in easy reach of Birmingham and the wider Midlands.
As we chuff along, you'll see two superbly managed stations (Quorn and Woodhouse set in the 1940s and Rothley from the early 1900s). As this is Britain's only steam railway with double track, look out for other heritage trains whizzing past too!
Fish and chips are served/collected at the half-way point, to be eaten on the return journey. You will also be given with a drink and scrumptious flapjack or large biscuit.
Trains depart in the afternoon and the journey lasts approximately 80 minutes.
We have some great reviews from this journey including:
"It was great value for money with conformable seats in an old carriage pulled by a steam engine"
"Definitely recommend you try this trip you won't be disappointed"
"Definitely recommend for something to do and make special memories for special people. We took my 95yr young grandma today for her birthday and she loved it"
"Great for mums surprise birthday treat. Fish and chips were hot and tasty. We were made to feel valued customers"
Dogs are welcome on-board, but must not travel on seats.
A lovely printed gift voucher with images and information can be posted to you for £2.50 - perfect for giving as a present.
Take in the experience of riding in heritage carriages from the 1950s or early 1960s on a 16 mile round trip from Loughborough's beautifully restored station - in easy reach of Birmingham and the wider Midlands.
As we chuff along, you'll see two superbly managed stations (Quorn and Woodhouse set in the 1940s and Rothley from the early 1900s). As this is Britain's only steam railway with double track, look out for other heritage trains whizzing past too!
Fish and chips are served/collected at the half-way point, to be eaten on the return journey. You will also be given with a drink and scrumptious flapjack or large biscuit.
Trains depart in the afternoon and the journey lasts approximately 80 minutes.
We have some great reviews from this journey including:
"It was great value for money with conformable seats in an old carriage pulled by a steam engine"
"Definitely recommend you try this trip you won't be disappointed"
"Definitely recommend for something to do and make special memories for special people. We took my 95yr young grandma today for her birthday and she loved it"
"Great for mums surprise birthday treat. Fish and chips were hot and tasty. We were made to feel valued customers"
Dogs are welcome on-board, but must not travel on seats.
A lovely printed gift voucher with images and information can be posted to you for £2.50 - perfect for giving as a present.
Gift Voucher Prices:
Two People - £80
Three People - £120
Four People - £160
Five People - £200
Six People - £240
We typically offer between 20 and 25 dates of this experience each year between February and November so your lucky recipient will have plenty of options to choose from.
Dates are released on January 10th 2025, but gift vouchers can be purchased now for Christmas 2024.
Redemption is easy through our booking system, via email or telephone.
Vouchers include travel, fish and chip meal, drink and baked treat.
Two People - £80
Three People - £120
Four People - £160
Five People - £200
Six People - £240
We typically offer between 20 and 25 dates of this experience each year between February and November so your lucky recipient will have plenty of options to choose from.
Dates are released on January 10th 2025, but gift vouchers can be purchased now for Christmas 2024.
Redemption is easy through our booking system, via email or telephone.
Vouchers include travel, fish and chip meal, drink and baked treat.
Frequently Asked Questions & Contact Us
Why is this the perfect present for my lucky recipient? We think there are lots of reasons this is a great gift! Your lucky recipient will enjoy a wonderful trip on one of Britain's beloved heritage railways behind a steam locomotive pulling vintage carriages. They will have tasty food and drink too! Finally, your voucher purchase makes a direct impact on the future of Britain's industrial heritage.
Can you cope with allergies? We can generally not manage allergies such as gluten, nut or dairy because the meals are prepared in small spaces with limited options. That said, our cream tea journeys can all be served gluten-free and vegetarian so we would recommend those options if these are your needs. All allergies must be notified when booking in a specific date by email.
I can't see 2025 dates - how can I book them and can I purchase a voucher now for Christmas 2024 that is used in 2025? You can currently buy gift vouchers for Christmas 2024 that are valid right through 2025 (for twelve months). Specific dates are released on January 10th for the full year so your lucky recipient can then come to our website for details. They are also more than welcome to contact us on 01629 380600 or [email protected] for assistance and details.
Do you do posted vouchers? Yes, for £2.50 which can be added to your purchase during booking.
I haven't received my posted gift voucher yet? We post vouchers daily in busy periods like Christmas and at least twice weekly in the rest of the year. Please wait one week after purchase then contact us.
What's the last posting date? The last posting date for Christmas 2024 is Friday December 20th. You need to have purchased by 23:59 on Thursday 19th for a posted voucher to be sent. You can still purchase vouchers after this time which are delivered by email and are printable.
Can vouchers be extended? Vouchers are valid for twelve months in which there are plenty of date options, but can be extended during their validity for a further six months for £20.
Are there plenty of dates? We work very hard to offer a very wide range of dates to gift voucher holders so they can choose a time of year and specific date that suits them.
When will these trains operate - times of day, days of the week and months? These journeys operate between February and November each year. They run generally at weekends (both Saturdays and Sundays) with some mid-week availability too. These trips depart on afternoons between 12:00 and 16:00.
How long is the journey? The journey is approximately 75-80 minutes in total.
Where does the train leave from? The train leaves from Great Central Railway's Loughborough station where there is roadside parking. The postcode is LE11 1RW.
They have limited mobility but can walk short distances? There are walks involved in a visit but there are things we can do to lessen these if you notify us when booking. Note that there are two steps onto the train, assisted by a grab handle.
Can I come as a wheelchair user? We are able to allocate specific seats in an accessible coach with ramps on most but not all train times / days. Please let us know when you were considering coming before booking and we can check this out for you.
Do you have car parking? Parking is on the street close to Loughborough station. This is common for the Great Central Railway's events but please allow time to find a space. We wouldn't anticipate issues.
Will we be seated together? All people on the same booking are seated together. If you would like to sit with another booking under a different name, you must contact us in advance. Your lucky recipient can always contact us for help.
Why is this the perfect present for my lucky recipient? We think there are lots of reasons this is a great gift! Your lucky recipient will enjoy a wonderful trip on one of Britain's beloved heritage railways behind a steam locomotive pulling vintage carriages. They will have tasty food and drink too! Finally, your voucher purchase makes a direct impact on the future of Britain's industrial heritage.
Can you cope with allergies? We can generally not manage allergies such as gluten, nut or dairy because the meals are prepared in small spaces with limited options. That said, our cream tea journeys can all be served gluten-free and vegetarian so we would recommend those options if these are your needs. All allergies must be notified when booking in a specific date by email.
I can't see 2025 dates - how can I book them and can I purchase a voucher now for Christmas 2024 that is used in 2025? You can currently buy gift vouchers for Christmas 2024 that are valid right through 2025 (for twelve months). Specific dates are released on January 10th for the full year so your lucky recipient can then come to our website for details. They are also more than welcome to contact us on 01629 380600 or [email protected] for assistance and details.
Do you do posted vouchers? Yes, for £2.50 which can be added to your purchase during booking.
I haven't received my posted gift voucher yet? We post vouchers daily in busy periods like Christmas and at least twice weekly in the rest of the year. Please wait one week after purchase then contact us.
What's the last posting date? The last posting date for Christmas 2024 is Friday December 20th. You need to have purchased by 23:59 on Thursday 19th for a posted voucher to be sent. You can still purchase vouchers after this time which are delivered by email and are printable.
Can vouchers be extended? Vouchers are valid for twelve months in which there are plenty of date options, but can be extended during their validity for a further six months for £20.
Are there plenty of dates? We work very hard to offer a very wide range of dates to gift voucher holders so they can choose a time of year and specific date that suits them.
When will these trains operate - times of day, days of the week and months? These journeys operate between February and November each year. They run generally at weekends (both Saturdays and Sundays) with some mid-week availability too. These trips depart on afternoons between 12:00 and 16:00.
How long is the journey? The journey is approximately 75-80 minutes in total.
Where does the train leave from? The train leaves from Great Central Railway's Loughborough station where there is roadside parking. The postcode is LE11 1RW.
They have limited mobility but can walk short distances? There are walks involved in a visit but there are things we can do to lessen these if you notify us when booking. Note that there are two steps onto the train, assisted by a grab handle.
Can I come as a wheelchair user? We are able to allocate specific seats in an accessible coach with ramps on most but not all train times / days. Please let us know when you were considering coming before booking and we can check this out for you.
Do you have car parking? Parking is on the street close to Loughborough station. This is common for the Great Central Railway's events but please allow time to find a space. We wouldn't anticipate issues.
Will we be seated together? All people on the same booking are seated together. If you would like to sit with another booking under a different name, you must contact us in advance. Your lucky recipient can always contact us for help.