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.

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Learn the ropes at Chatham’s The Historic Dockyard

Immerse yourself in 400 years of discovery at the world’s most complete dockyard from the Age of Sail.

Location: Chatham, Kent

 

All aboard heritage steam trains at the Epping Ongar Railway

Pay a visit to Epping Ongar Railway, and ride on running steam and diesel engines between period stations, through countryside and forest.

Location: Chipping Ongar, Essex

 

Travel across Hampshire’s countryside on the Watercress Line

Witness the sights, sounds, smells and magic of steam travel from a bygone age and journey through Hampshire’s countryside on a restored steam train.

Location: Alresford, Hampshire

 

Rainy Day Activities: Be an engine driver for the day at STEAM

Try your hand at changing the signals, drive a model steam engine and walk under an 80 ton train at STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway.

Location: Swindon, Wiltshire

 

Ride on down to the Didcot Railway Centre

Enjoy a trip to Didcot Railway Centre, whose magnificent restored engines will take you steaming through most of the Oxfordshire countryside.

Location: Didcot, Oxfordshire

 

Watch history come to life at Morwellham Quay in Devon

Take a living history lesson from the team at Morwellham Quay, a beautifully preserved Victorian village in the Devon countryside.

Location: Morwellham Quay, Devon

 

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

 

Step on board HMS M.33, a small ship with a big history

Visit Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard this summer and you'll find a new addition to its amazing maritime collection.

Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire

 

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

 

Take an enchanting trip on the Dean Forest Railway

Experience the sights, sounds and the smell of traditional train travel on The Dean Forest Railway, a rural branch railway offering rides on steam trains and some heritage diesel services.

Location: Lydney, Gloucestershire

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