International Railroad Discussion > Best England/Wales Steam Museums

My family and I will be in Oxford, UK for 3.5 weeks.  We are house-swapping and will have use of a car.

I have been to England twice but have not yet visited any steam railways or museums.  What are the recommended best to see?

I am considering the Ffestiniog, Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch, and York.  They are all a bit far from Oxford but not unreasonable.  I see that there are many to see and would love some recommendations.

Thanks for your help!

The only museum I've done is York. Worth a half day. For preserved railways, the North Yorkshire Moores is relatively close to York and well worth a visit followed closely by the Severn Valley. Of course it's all a matter of personal taste in both locos and gauge. For the narrow gauge, you can do both the Welsh Highland and Ffestinog from the same location...based in Porthmadog. Both very scenic and long runs.  BTW, maybe post this on the European site....it seems to get more views than the International. The U.K. is sort of part of Europe....just not part of the continent!  Go to www.heritagerailways.com where you will find links to the web sites of all the preserved lines and museums in the U.K.

Newcastle has a restored village nearby, set in the 1800's.  Part of the  village
includes an operable steam locomotive, which powers an open air car passenger train ride.  Of particular interest is the guided tour, which includes a visit to the locomotive shops, and the passenger train ride.

http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/ is 15 minutes by train from Oxford
http://www.steam-museum.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx is another 15 minutes by train from Didcot
http://bucksrailcentre.org/

Actual railways - http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/
http://www.svr.co.uk/ just west of Birmingham

This map might help http://www.heritage-railways.com/map.php

The local council in Oxford has done its' best to make the city centre car UNfriendly.   Do not try and drive into the center or try and drive across the city centre.   I had a son at the Universiy and he later lived on the outskirts so I would like to think I speak from some experience.
 

Hartington,

Thanks!  Yes the guy we're swapping with is a retired Oxford professor and he told me to take the bus downtown saying that driving there is impossible.

While I might be a bit late to the party, I thoroughly enjoyed the Kew Bridge Steam Museum.
Well, I see that it has been renamed. But they still have some really big, beautiful iron.
www.waterandsteam.org.uk
...Lorenzo

Thank you!

Hi
I would like to add, Mid Hants Railway (Watercress Line) Alresford nr Winchester, about 45 mins by car from Oxford (A 34 road South to Winchester A 31 to Alresford Some locos at Alresford the rest at Ropley either by train or further along the A 31), 
Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway at Toddington about an hour by car no train service
Great Central Railway Lougborough maybe 1 1/2 hours by car
All have Running steam trains and active workshop. (restricted at G & W) 
All well worth it but avoid any "Thomas" days unless for the kids

Hope this helps

Roger P 
Winchester UK

Thank you Roger!