Heritage railways UK: lines worth visiting, region by region

Heritage railways in the UK are preserved lines that run old steam and diesel trains for visitors, and you'll find them in every corner of Great Britain. Well-known examples include the Bluebell Railway in Sussex, the Severn Valley Railway in Worcestershire and Shropshire, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, the Ffestiniog Railway in Snowdonia (Eryri) and the Strathspey Railway in the Highlands. Many start right next to a National Rail station, so you can get there by train, and most run seasonal timetables with extra trains in summer and at Christmas.

Below, they're grouped by region, with the main line station where you can change trains wherever there is one.

What is a heritage railway?

A heritage railway is a stretch of line, usually one that closed to regular trains, that's been saved and reopened to run historic trains. Most are charities, and most rely heavily on volunteers to drive, fire, guard, sell tickets and restore the carriages. Some are full size (standard gauge); others are narrow gauge lines that were built small in the first place, often for slate or other industry.

Wales has a special place in all this. The Talyllyn Railway, near Tywyn, was taken over by volunteers in 1951, the first railway anywhere to be saved that way.

Heritage railways in the South East

The Kent and East Sussex finishes within sight of Bodiam Castle, which makes for a good day out. The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch is a miniature line, about a third of full size, running across Romney Marsh to the shingle at Dungeness.

Heritage railways in the South West

The Dartmouth line runs along the coast and the River Dart, with a ferry across to Dartmouth from Kingswear. On the Swanage Railway, the stretch past the ruins of Corfe Castle is a lovely sight from the train and from the hill above it.

Heritage railways in the Midlands

The Great Central is unusual because it's double track, like a real main line, so you can watch steam trains pass each other.

Heritage railways in the North of England

Film fans might know the Keighley and Worth Valley from The Railway Children, filmed there in 1970. Haworth, home of the Brontës, is a stop along the way.

Heritage railways in Wales

You can link the Ffestiniog with the Conwy Valley Line at Blaenau Ffestiniog, and with the Cambrian Coast at Porthmadog, which makes a fine round trip through Snowdonia.

Heritage railways in Scotland

Bo'ness is also home to the Museum of Scottish Railways. And in the warmer months, the Jacobite steam train runs on the main line from Fort William to Mallaig, over the Glenfinnan Viaduct. It isn't a heritage railway as such, but it's on every steam fan's list. Our guide to scenic train journeys in the UK covers that route and more.

Getting there by train

Heritage trains don't appear in National Rail's live data, but the connecting main line services do. If your nearest heritage line starts at Keighley, Kidderminster or Aviemore, a quick look at the live departures before you leave saves a wait. TrainTicker shows the next trains from any National Rail station on a small amber board at home, and the free live demo does the same in your browser.

Before you go, check the railway's own timetable. Most run more trains in summer and on event days, and many close for part of the winter. At Christmas a lot of them run family trains, which we cover in our guide to Santa specials. To see some of the locomotives you might meet along the way, read our piece on famous British locomotives.