On the Mid Hants Railway’s ‘Watercress Line,’ relive the golden age of steam! Sit back, relax, and ride through the heart of typical English countryside by steam train, heading towards beautiful vistas of the South Downs National Park, whether you’re reminiscing or meeting new friends.
The Watercress Line’s fares include unlimited travel for the entire day, allowing you to visit each of the four-period stations (Alresford, Ropley, Medstead & Four Marks, and Alton), investigate the Watercress Line’s impressive engineering sheds and see preservation in action, and discover the nearby beautiful towns all on one ticket. It’s a fantastic day out for the entire family!
On the Watercress Line’s regular service, children aged four and under will be able to travel for free (does not include special events, dining trains, or Real Ale Trains).
At Alresford Station, the West Country Buffet provides excellent homemade cakes, cream teas, bacon baps, hot meal options, and children’s picnic boxes, each with a pack of crayons. There’s plenty of room to dine inside, or you can make use of the beautiful picnic grounds at Alresford and Ropley Stations if the weather is nice.
Two picnic areas, walking in Harry Potter’s footsteps over the King’s Cross Footbridge used in the Harry Potter films, following the Young Engineer’s Trail, free activity sheets for different ages, travelling nearly 1km on their miniature locomotives for free (open at events and on selected running days), and visiting the gift shop at Alresford are all available for children to enjoy.
Special activities are also held at the Watercress Line from family events like Day Out With Thomas, Wizard Weekend, and Steam Illuminations, nostalgic events where you can immerse yourself in the ambiance of a 1940s railway at War On The Line, or enjoy one of their fine dining trains or real ale trains.
Please Note: The Railway has specific running days that vary every week, so please check their website beforehand to see what’s running.
