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Didcot Railway Centre Steam Days
25 October 2025 to 02 November 2025
About Didcot Railway Centre Steam Days
Travel back in time to the golden age of the Great Western Railway and savour the sights, sounds and smells of steam as you explore this 21-acre living museum with trains dating from Victorian times to the 1960s.
Steam trains will operate on at least one of the centre’s two demonstration lines, allowing you to take unlimited rides. On many days, the second line will be running too and may feature a pioneering diesel railcar, a heritage diesel locomotive or a small branchline steam engine. Check the Locomotive Roster to see what will be running on the date of your visit.
- Stroll around the 1932 Engine Shed housing our unique collection of operational and cosmetically-restored locomotives. Find 5900 Hinderton Hall, climb onto the footplate and listen to Archie, the driver, and Stan, the fireman, prepare their loco! Listen out for the sounds of a working engine shed and see if you can hear Stan fetch his supplies from Jonah, the storeman.
- Visit the carriage and wagon display of restored rolling stock from Victorian times to the 1940s, including the VIP Saloon reputed to have been used by General Eisenhower during the preparations for D-Day and later used in the GWR Royal Train, and our restoration workshops
- Marvel at Brunel’s Broad Gauge railway, locomotives, coaches and transfer shed and don’t miss a section of his not entirely successful ‘Atmospheric Railway’
- Get hands-on in The Signalling Centre where you can find out how trains have been controlled through the ages. The Swindon Panel is demonstrated on certain specified dates.
- Descend into a shelter built to keep Didcot’s enginemen safe in WWII and experience an air raid
- Immerse yourself in the huge and varied collection of fascinating, smaller items in the Museum.
- Discover some GWR road vehicles in the Road Transport Hangar.
Children can also make tracks to the outdoor play area or dress up as a station master. You can relax over lunch or enjoy a snack in the refreshment rooms, and don’t forget to pick up a souvenir in the gift shop. The modern trains running past the centre complete the picture and mean you can experience over 180 years of railway progress in just one day.
Tickets
Booking information
Ticket prices:
Admission for 2 people with Tea & Cake (Gift Aid) – £53.00
Adult Admission (Gift Aid) – £20.50
Senior Admission (65+) (Gift Aid) – £19.00
Child Admission (Gift Aid) – £13.00
Child Under 3 Admission (FREE) (Gift Aid) – £0.00
Family of 4 Admission (Gift Aid) for 2 Adults and 2 Children – £61.00
Family of 5 Admission (Gift Aid) for 2 Adults and 3 Children – £72.00
Carer Admission (Gift Aid) – £0.00
Admission prices are inclusive of all regular attractions including free train rides on running days.
Child prices apply to children aged 3 to 15
Good to know
- Didcot Railway Centre will be open at 10.30am, with the last entries at 2.30pm.
- You are welcome to stay until close at 4.00pm.
- Please have your original e-ticket ready to show the staff.
- Please also bring your membership card if you’re a member or your carer’s ID if you have booked a carer’s ticket.
- On arrival at Didcot Parkway Station, please show your ticket to GWR staff, who will let you through the barrier. Walk through the subway and straight ahead into the original steam age subway that leads to the centre.
- Head up the stairs to the Railway centre entrance.
- On arrival, please show your tickets and collect a Site Guide.
- We suggest you alight from the train at the centre’s Oxford Road station at the far end of the site and explore the centre. You can walk back through the centre, return on a later train or change trains and travel back on the Branch Line.
- You can step across the tracks around the centre, but do not cross the fences onto the demonstration lines. You can only do this at the Museum — never on other railways.
- Please do not climb down into, or jump across, the inspection pits.
- Children must be supervised at all times.
- Please listen to the briefings from staff, and please do ask questions.
- Well-behaved dogs on leads are very welcome.