Industrial heritage in England

Industrial, maritime and transport

Rides on steam railways can take you to the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution. As the thrilling shriek of the steam engine whisks you back through the decades, stunning countryside streaks past your window. Next, explore our industrial heritage at a perfectly preserved mill town or a fascinating mining village. Discover what made our island nation great at dockyards and maritime museums, as the kids clamber over 18th-century steam ships and 19th-century tea clippers resplendent in their restored glory. Don’t miss the transport museums and military air shows that showcase staggering feats of automotive and aeronautical engineering.

17 Experience Results

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Get on board at the National Railway Museum

The world's largest railway museum is home to a staggering collection of restored locomotives, including the fastest steam engine of all time.

Location: York, North Yorkshire

 

Ride the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway

This exciting heritage steam railway runs through the picturesque Yorkshire countryside where the classic movie The Railway Children was filmed.

Location: Keighley, West Yorkshire

 

Enjoy a magical ride across the English countryside

With your day ticket in hand, hop on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and discover some of the best villages in UK between Pickering and Whitby.

Location: Whitby, North Yorkshire

 

Take your senses on a trip back in time at Beamish

Touch, taste, hear, see and smell history on an unforgettable journey into the past at England’s largest open-air museum.

Location: Vale of Durham

 

Travel in style on the Settle to Carlisle railway

Take an unforgettable ride on one of the world's great railway journeys, which takes in stunning country landscapes, 20 viaducts and 14 tunnels.

Location: Yorkshire Dales and Eden Valley, North Yorkshire

 

Rainy Day Activities: Explore mining history at Woodhorn Museum

Explore hundreds of years of mining heritage at this unique museum in Northumberland, built from what was once the largest pit village in the world.

Location: Ashington, Northumberland

 

Ride the Whitby train from moor to sea

Delightful villages, dramatic views and gentle country walks – do it all by train from Whitby on a ride through the delightful Esk Valley.

Location: Whitby, Yorkshire

 

Experience life as a Victorian Mill Worker

Be transported back to the 1800s and experience Bradford when it was the ‘Wool Capital of the World’.

Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire

 

Peep into Durham’s locomotive past

Discover Durham’s role in the development of the railways at Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon.

Location: Vale of Durham

 

All aboard for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Revel in the romance of steam with a trip on the world’s most popular heritage railway line, spotting film locations and amazing scenery on the way.

Location: Pickering to Whitby via North York Moors National Park

 

Have a traditional Victorian seaside experience

Head to the delightful seaside town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea for a fun trip up a sea-cliff lift and dine on fish and chips with a view.

Location: Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire

 

Rainy Day Activities: Discover Sheffield’s story at Kelham Island Museum

The ‘Steel City’s’ unique industrial story is brought to life through interactive galleries at this captivating indoor museum.

Location: Kelham Island, South Yorkshire

 

Relive the Industrial Revolution

Mills, canals, tunnels and follies in steep-sided valleys and rolling hills tell the tale of Calderdale’s key role in the Industrial Revolution.

Location: Calderdale, West Yorkshire

 

Explore the past at Elsecar village

Set within the attractive conservation village of Elsecar is Elsecar Heritage Centre, a unique attraction and a working hub of industry to explore.

Location: Elsecar, South Yorkshire

 

Marvel at a working 17th-century water mill

Worsbrough Mill in Northern England is an amazing place to watch wildlife and see history come alive in a beautiful setting.

Location: Worsbrough, South Yorkshire

 

Climb aboard a classic steam railway at Bolton Abbey

Puffing through the Yorkshire Dales is the Embsay & Bolton Abbey steam railway where special events take place throughout the year.

Location: Wharfedale, Yorkshire Dales

 

September events: Steam into autumn at North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Get on board the North Yorkshire Moors Railway this autumn with a varied diary of events offering a great way to spend time with family and friends.

Location: Pickering, North Yorkshire

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