Iconic British train journeys

With over 150 heritage railways across the nation, it’s no surprise that Britain is steaming ahead with exciting train experiences and trips for you to get stuck into.

From the earliest steam trains to today’s electric carriages, Britain’s railway has formed a huge part of our culture. Whether it’s firing up a steam train for yourself, or dining out in style with iconic scenery aboard the restored 1920s Belmond British Pullman, you’ll find the nation full of experiences to get you out onto the tracks. And with 2025 marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway, what better time to get involved?

A sustainable and exciting way to travel, British trains connect our thriving cities, picturesque villages and rolling countryside, so getting out and about in the great outdoors this spring is easier than ever. So, what are you waiting for? A journey across British rails will leave you in the midst of adventure.

Enjoy a Great British train journey

Photo by: Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

Location: Bradford, England

Steam train travelling along tracks in the countryside

Get your film fix

Harry Potter fans will want to board The Jacobite – Scotland’s most famous steam train that crosses the large viaduct believed to lead to Hogwarts. Other railway film stars include the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Mission: Impossible), West Sussex’s Bluebell Railway (Downton Abbey, Sherlock Holmes) and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (Peaky Blinders, All Creatures Great and Small).

Photo by: VisitBritain/Graham Staples

A steam train on North Yorkshire Moors Railway billowing clouds of smoke, Yorkshire, England.

Go full steam ahead!

The iconic sights, sounds and smells of the steam train, like the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, can still be enjoyed across the country today and will charm historians and train lovers alike.

Photo by: Lucy Knott Photography

Woman smiling sitting on bed and looking out of the window on the Caledonian Sleeper

Wake up somewhere new

Stay up late and set up camp in a cosy cabin as you turn your ride into an adventure on a sleeper train. Take the Caledonian Sleeper, fall asleep in London and wake up in Scotland!

Photo by: British Pullman, Marisa Davies @tea.from.above

Indulge in fine dining

Whether you’re travelling at lunchtime or fancy an afternoon tea, treat yourself to an on-board fine dining experience. The Belmond British Pullman offers the ultimate dining experience, with a three-course meal and stunning scenery.

All aboard for spring adventures

Nature is putting on a show this season in Britain – and we’ve got just the ticket! A train journey through our National Parks is an incredible way to see our spring colours.

Spot Snowdonia’s (Eryri’s) wildlife from your vintage carriage on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways, or travel in style to rugged Exmoor on the West Somerset Railway. The Bure Valley Railway is a peaceful way to discover the Norfolk Broads, while the Strathspey Steam Railway is your ticket to exploring the Cairngorms.

You don’t need to stray far from Britain’s cities to visit the Great British outdoors by train. As seen in Outlander, the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway is less than an hour’s drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh. It’s only a 30-minute tram ride from Manchester to the East Lancashire Railway, in the Irwell Valley, and both Bristol and Bath are within easy reach of the Avon Valley Railway. All offer splendid views of Britain in bloom – so bring your camera.

Photo by: Visit Falkirk

A steam train with lots of steam coming out, pulling at least three vintage carriages, gets ready to depart a small traditional railway station.

Railway 200 events and experiences

Did you know that the modern railway was born right here in Britain? The Stockton and Darlington Railway, in north-east England, chugged into history books in 1825 as the world’s first public railway. Two centuries on, we’re toasting all things trains with Railway 200, a bumper year of nationwide celebrations – and we’re saving you a seat.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Pinzutu Films/Ula Blocksage

A man and a woman stepping out of an old style train carriage.

Sulzer Symphony Diesel Running Weekend

Where: Caledonian Railway, Angus, Scotland
When: 1 – 3 August 2025

Move over, steam… Diesel is in the spotlight at the Caledonian Railway this summer, with its Sulzer Symphony engine taking to the tracks to mark Railway 200. Soak in the Strathmore countryside and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of your diesel-powered adventure.

Photo by: ExperienceOxfordshire/Studio8

Rivals Reunited

Where: Didcot Railway Centre, Oxfordshire, England
When: 24 – 26, 28, 31 May 2025

A pair of steam celebrities are uniting at Didcot Railway Centre this May. The iconic Flying Scotsman and Pendennis Castle will be ferrying visitors along the centre’s demonstration lines for a display of steam-powered star power. There’ll also be an exhibition on the two trains’ intertwined lives.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Ben Selway

Location: North Wales

Woman looking out of window of traditional railway train

200 Steam Wheels on the Cob

Where: Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway, Gwynedd, Wales
When: 20 – 22 June 2025

Picture the scene: the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway’s finest vintage engines parading across the Glaslyn Estuary, steam filling the sky. 200 Steam Wheels on the Cob, on 22 June, is the crowning glory of three days of festivities for Railway 200 – and you can join the fun with a Rover ticket.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Graham Staples

The 200 Trail

Where: North Yorkshire Moors Railway, North Yorkshire, England
When: Throughout 2025

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is keeping us busy in 2025 with a checklist of 200 train-themed experiences to complete. Your missions include finding the stations’ watering towers, getting a wave from an engine driver and even spotting the cheeky Shed Cat, Loco. How many will you tick off?

Photo by: Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism

Two men wearing overalls standing in the cab of a vintage steam train.

Royal Forest of Steam Gala

Where: Dean Forest Railway, Gloucestershire, England
When: 1 – 2 November 2025

See the Forest of Dean’s autumn colours at the Dean Forest Railway’s bumper steam event, where home and visiting engines (announced later this year) promise to put on a show. There’ll be plenty of passenger services to ride on, as well as shuttles from Parkend station.

Photo by: Chris Bentham

Locomotive 2857 pulling a series of carriages leaving the heritage station

Trains through the Ages

When: Severn Valley Railway, Worcestershire, England
When: 5 – 6 July 2025

See a snapshot of Britain’s railways from the 19th century to the present at the Severn Valley Railway’s weekend of celebrations. Hop on board historic GWR carriages dating back to 1912 for a relaxing journey through the Worcestershire countryside – don’t forget your camera.

Photo by: North Yorkshire Council/ Tom Arber

Railway Firsts

Where: National Railway Museum, North Yorkshire, England
When: February 2025 – January 2026

Not only is the National Railway Museum celebrating Railway 200, but 2025 also marks the museum’s 50th anniversary. Railway Firsts highlights the stories that have shaped our railways, from tunnelling to holidays. Look out for the newly reopened Station Hall, too.

Photo by: steven hatton / Alamy Stock Photo

Location: Peak District

An old vintage tram at the National Tramway Museum at Crich

Tram Weekend

Where: Crich Tramway Village, Derbyshire, England
When: 13 – 14 September 2025

Railway 200 isn’t all about trains – this autumn, discover more than 80 vintage trams that call Crich Tramway Village home. The centre will have many of its operational trams running to mark the occasion and your rides will be serenaded by live music from the bandstand.