Heritage Railways
Enjoy a full day of train travel by using Southeastern services to visit one of Kent’s fascinating heritage railways
Kent’s Heritage Railways
Enjoy a full day of train travel by using Southeastern services to visit one of Kent’s fascinating heritage railways. Whether you want to see the wonderful scenery of the Garden of England, immerse yourself in the history of the county’s railways or simply fancy a great-fun family day out, Kent’s heritage railways could be just what you are looking for.
These five distinctly different heritage railways are all easy to reach from our mainline stations. The only difficulty you’ll have is trying to decide which one to visit first…
Spa Valley Railway
There’s a destination at every station on the Spa Valley Railway which runs through the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. At Eridge, head out for a walk into the country or hop off at High Rocks to discover the sandstone outcrops that characterise the area. Disembark at Groombridge to explore the award-winning gardens of Groombridge Place or take a tour of Tunbridge Wells to shop and sightsee in this Regency spa town.
Getting here: Reaching the railway from Southeastern’s mainline station at Tunbridge Wells involves a half-mile walk, taking around 15 minutes, via the historic Pantiles to Spa Valley’s Tunbridge Wells West station. Alternatively, you can enjoy a short bus ride with Arriva on route 281.
Spa Valley Offer: Passengers coming from Southeastern via Tunbridge Wells Mainline can have their child travel for free on a Spa Valley Railway train with a valid Mainline Railway ticket on all Green, Yellow and Purple timetable days. Arrive at the station, show your national rail ticket (either the outward bound or return one) and 1x child per adult will qualify for free travel on Spa Valley trains.
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
(Image credited to: Tony Dimmer)
One of Kent's top tourist attractions, the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway was marketed as “the smallest public railway in the world” when it opened in 1927. The 13-and-a-half-mile track runs from the pretty town of Hythe to quirky Dungeness and combines 90 years of steam railway heritage with some of Kent's most picturesque countryside.
Getting here: Take the train to Sandling, two-miles from the RH&DR station at Hythe. It’s a 40-minute walk (approximately two miles) downhill on the way, uphill on the way back). An excellent leaflet, Big Train Little Train, has been produced by the Friends of Sandling Station and is available at the station showing a cross-country route. There is also bus stop at the station with Stagecoach buses 10 and 18 too offering a 10-minute connection to Hythe.