Spa Valley Railway: The steam train a drive from south east London

Spa Valley Railway in Kent is a prime example of one of the UK’s preserved heritage railways, offering visitors a chance to travel on vintage train carriages dating back to 1948.

The five-mile route from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge explores the scenic Kent countryside with its rolling hills, valleys, and woodlands.

The stations are within close proximity to Tunbridge Wells and Eridge stations, an hour's train ride from central London with links to south London.

For people traveling by car, Tunbridge Wells West is just an hour's drive from south east London off the A21, with car parking available.

 Spa Valley Railway is a prime example of one of the UK’s preserved heritage railways, (Image: Spa Valley Railway)

Originally built in the 19th century, Tunbridge Wells West first opened in 1855 as a rival station to Tunbridge Wells Central, as part of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway before the two stations were linked by a tunnel in 1876.

The route then passed into the ownership of Southern Railway in the 1920s until it eventually closed in 1985, before reopening as a private company a month later.

Today, the historic route operates across 4 stations and is manned by a group of volunteers, and is estimated to be visited by 55,000 people each year.

Visitors can either choose to explore the full route from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge, with the option to travel one way, return or with a rover ticket allowing you to disembark and explore the stations on the route.

Tunbridge Wells West station is situated within the historic spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells with its many shops and restaurants as well as a theatre.

The station also hosts a collection of locomotives receiving maintenance and repairs, as well as a gift shop selling train-themed memorabilia.

The historic route operates across 4 stations and is manned by a group of volunteers. (Image: Spa Valley Railway)

Also on the route are the idyllic stations of Groombridge and High Rocks, offering scenic countryside walks and views of quaint countryside houses.

Groombridge is worth a visit on account of its historic village which has two countryside pubs and a children’s playground.

The station also features a second-hand bookshop as well as its own signal box to explore.

Alongside the regular train service that runs between 10:15am and 4:35pm on several days each month, the railway also hosts events from dining experiences like Afternoon Teas, gin and beer tasting days and Fawlty Towers dining experiences, along with family events like their Science Days and Thomas the Tank Engine specials.

Tickets to board the train for their regular journeys start at £15 for adults, £14 for seniors and £8 for children, or a family ticket for two children and two adults for £38.

Dogs are also welcome at no extra cost, provided they remain on leads during the train ride.