Didcot Railway Centre
Didcot
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All aboard! A day out at Didcot Railway Centre is a fun and educational experience for all the family. Explore the interactive museum and awaken your senses to the sounds, smells and sights of Great Western Railway all the way from the Victorian era to the 1960s. You’ll go on a journey through time as you gaze upon the impressive collection of restored locomotives!
Plus, enjoy UNLIMITED train rides on one of the many working demonstration tracks. Little ones will love the train ride experience and the hands-on educational fun at the museum. Keep an eye out for Paddington Bear as he is a frequent visit to the railway! There is a play area where kids can let off steam after a day of education, and the opportunity to dress up as a station master!
Don’t forget to enjoy a tasty treat in the engine shed café and pick up a souvenir from the gift shop before you leave to remember this brilliant day out.
There are three great types of days out throughout the year at Didcot Railway Centre:
Discovery Days – This is an opportunity to get up and close with the history of the Great Western Railway and explore the 21 acre living museum. There are NO TRAINS running on these days, which does mean you can get up close and see them at close quarters. On Wednesday’s there will be some some trains running for part of the day.
Steam or Heritage Diesel Days – On these days, as well as having full access to the Museum, there is the opportunity for unlimited steam train or Heritage Diesel locomotive train rides (date dependent).
Special Event Days – These are where something special is going on at the Railway Centre, the Museum will be open too, but alongside this there will be an event going on like: Pendennis Castle’s 100th Birthday, The Return of the 1466, Steam into the 40’s or Paddington at Didcot!
The calendar will present you with which day tickets are available for your selected date.
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Tickets are sent by email within minutes of booking
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Gate-ready e-ticket, simply scan on your mobile
Your ticket includes:
Heritage Days - Entry to the museum.
Steam and Heritage Diesel Days - Entry to the museum, plus unlimited train rides.
Special Event Days - Entry to the Event and the museum, plus unlimited train rides.
General Information
- No trains run on Discovery Days. (Unless it is a Wednesday when they will run for part of the day).
- The Refreshment Rooms are open and offer a selection of hot foods along with a simple take-away menu. There is inside seating and also plenty of picnic tables and benches provided around the site.
- Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the Centre but they should be kept on a lead. Sorry, but dogs, other than assistance dogs, are not allowed into the refreshment rooms.
Booking and Ticket Information
- When you buy online you will receive an email containing your ticket. Please present on your smart phone on arrival on the day of your visit.
- Children under 3 visit free but do require a ticket.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Picniq accept all debit cards, Maestro, Visa and Mastercard as methods of payment. There is no credit card charge or booking fee.
- Online bookings are limited to a maximum of 12 visitors.
- Tickets purchased through Picniq are not refundable. The date of the visit can be amended for a fee of £10 per booking. Terms and conditions apply.
- Picniq Ltd acts as agent for all tickets/bookings on behalf of the supplier/principle ('the attraction'). For Picniq booking terms click here
Directions
Didcot Railway Cente, Station Road, Didcot, OX11 7NJ
By Train
Great Western Railway trains serve Didcot Parkway with direct services from London Paddington, Reading and Thames Valley, Oxford, the Midlands, Swindon, Bath, Bristol and South Wales.
Visitors arriving by train should follow the signs to the Railway Centre in the subway as you leave the platforms at Didcot Parkway. Turn right at the bottom of the steps from the platforms and you will see the double doors to our entrance.
By Bus
Thames Travel run daily services from:
- Oxford and Abingdon
- Wallingford.
Buses stop at the front of Didcot Parkway railway station.
By Car
The Railway Centre is signposted from the M4 (junction 13) and the A34, follow the brown signs to Didcot Railway Centre. It can also be accessed from the M40 and A34. Take the turning for the Milton Interchange.
If you are using a satnav, please do not use the satnav address for Didcot Railway Centre as this will take you into the middle of a housing estate, separated from the Centre by the main railway line.
Didcot Railway Centre do not operate their own car parks, however, there are three options available for use. The main railway station multi-storey car park (Foxhall Rd) is the only one that takes cash or card payments. This car park is your destination if you follow the brown signs to Didcot Railway Centre. The car park does not have a postcode - The road leading to the car park entrance can be found via using What3Words : caves.wades.slanting.
From the car park, leave on foot, via the covered walkway from Level 2 which leads to the front of Didcot Parkway station.
Two alternative car parks are situated directly opposite the main station itself. The postcode needed for these is OX11 7NR. These car parks only accept payments by app or phone using RingGo. THEY DO NOT ACCEPT CASH OR CARD PAYMENTS. If cash or card are your preferred method of payment, please use the main railway multi-storey car park (Foxhall Rd) as described above.
10.30am - 4pm, last admission 2.30pm all days.
Special Event days may differ.
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