British heritage railways
Denis Chick
Heritage railways are preserved or restored lines that recreate the experience of 19th and early 20th-century train travel. The lines usually feature historic steam or diesel locomotives pulling original wood-panelled carriages with upholstered seats, restored stations and staff in traditional uniforms. On the train, the slow build of speed, the hiss as the carriages edge forward, and the vignettes of fields, forests and coastlines make the journey part of the adventure.
Across the UK, more than 200 heritage lines have been saved from closure since the 1960s. Many were rebuilt by local volunteers after being axed in the Beeching cuts, and today they continue to be sustained by the same communities. Travelling on them helps to support small towns and villages, as well as preserving locomotives, carriages and signal boxes that would otherwise have been lost.
Although heritage railways still rely on coal and diesel for power, their overall contribution to emissions is small when compared with the rest of the modern transport sector. Also, many lines are now finding ways to reduce their impact: from managing station land for wildlife to improving energy efficiency, or exploring low-carbon fuels. For travellers, choosing to reach these destinations by rail, bus or ferry makes the experience more sustainable and creates the perfect slow travel trip.
Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most distinctive heritage railways in Britain, with details on routes and what makes each one unique.
Pjt56/CC BY-SA 4.0
Strathspey Railway at Broomhill station.
Heritage railways in Scotland
Strathspey Railway, East Highlands
The Strathspey Railway runs for just over 10-miles through the Cairngorms National Park, following the River Spey between Aviemore and Broomhill. It is one of the few preserved railways in Scotland and connects to the Highland Main Line, offering an accessible introduction to Highland scenery without a car.
Run by the Strathspey Railway Company with the help of volunteers, some services use restored first-class compartments with polished wood and plush seating, while others offer light lunches or afternoon tea in vintage carriages.
Halfway along the line, Boat of Garten station has been carefully restored with Victorian details: vintage lamps, wooden benches, and flower boxes lining the platform. The station is often bustling with heritage rail enthusiasts and has featured in tv shows, including The Traitors UK. If you choose to alight at Broomhill rather than stay on for the round trip, you can venture along part of the Speyside Way, a long distance walking and cycling route through whisky country.
Take a train trip to the Cairngorms National Park for a day out on the Strathspey Railway.
Sean Ferigan
The Jacobite steam train at Glenfinnan Viaduct.
The Jacobite Steam Train, West Highlands
The Jacobite is one of the best-known train journeys in the UK, though it is not a heritage railway in the traditional sense. It is a charter steam service operated by West Coast Railways, the company also behind mainline steam trips such as The Dalesman, which runs over the Settle to Carlisle Railway.
The route follows an 82-mile round trip on the West Highland Line between Fort William and Mallaig. The most famous stretch is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, instantly recognisable from the Harry Potter films. Beyond Glenfinnan, the line threads past mountains and lochs before reaching the coast, with views towards the Small Isles, then onto the fishing port of Mallaig.
In peak season, more than 700 passengers a day join a Jacobite service and tickets sell out months in advance. For travellers who prefer more flexibility, the regular ScotRail service covers the same route (and views) several times a day, at lower fares with no need to book far ahead. This option allows visitors to hop on and off at smaller stations, discovering more of the West Highland Line and supporting local infrastructure.
Travel along the West Highland Line by local train.
Buzz Barnes
The Swanage Railway near Corfe Castle.
Heritage railways in England
The Swanage Railway, Dorset
As featured in Enid Blyton’s Famous Five stories, the Swanage Railway runs for five and a half miles from Norden through the ruins of Corfe Castle, through the Purbeck Hills before arriving just a short walk from the beach and pier at the seaside town of Swanage.
The line was closed in the 1970s and has been revived by the Swanage Railway Trust with the help of hundreds of volunteers who sell paper tickets from traditional booking offices, while heritage signals and restored platforms add to the atmosphere.
The railway is known for its special services: dining trains with multi-course meals, afternoon teas, and seasonal events from steam galas to Santa Specials. At Swanage station, there’s a shop selling railway souvenirs, alongside a buffet coach cafeteria serving lunches, Dorset cream teas and local ice cream, with the option to sit inside a restored dining carriage or outside at picnic tables. Norden station has a small refreshments kiosk and picnic areas, while Corfe Castle station features a Steam Café with more tables looking up to the ruins.
Visit Swanage by train to head out for the day on the the Swanage Railway.
James Armes
North Norfolk Railway near Weybourne.
North Norfolk Railway, Norfolk
Also known as the Poppy Line for the seasonal wildflowers that bloom along its route, the North Norfolk Railway runs between the seaside town of Sheringham and the Georgian market town of Holt. Preserved by the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway Society, it is sustained by volunteers who restore carriages, and keep the historic stations running much as they did a century ago.
The journey heads inland from Sheringham across farmland, with glimpses of the North Sea along the way. Weybourne station, an Edwardian time capsule, stands out with its vintage footbridge and waiting rooms.
At Sheringham, the station buffet serves hot meals, sandwiches and cakes, while the railway also offers special dining trains. These range from Sunday roasts and afternoon teas to themed experiences such as a ‘Gin Train’ with onboard tastings, or a ‘Fish and Chips Special’ where boxes of the seaside favourite are delivered to your seat.
Explore the North Norfolk coast by train.
Don Lodge
North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Goathland station.
North Yorkshire Moors Railway, North Yorkshire
One of the UK’s longest preserved heritage lines, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) first opened in the 1830s under the guidance of George Stephenson. Today it runs for 17 miles between Pickering and Grosmont, with some services continuing.
The route crosses the North York Moors National Park, with vast sweeps of moorland. Goathland station is its most famous stop, as the location of Hogsmeade in the Harry Potter films, and still retains its original stone buildings and signal box.
The interiors vary from carriage to carriage. Some are open plan with large windows for views over the moors, while others are older compartments with sliding doors and fabric bench seating that feel like stepping into a period drama. On some services, drinks and snacks are served from vintage buffet cars, while on others they host dining experiences in plush Pullman carriages, with multi-course meals served at tables dressed in white linen. Tearooms at stations along the line offer more casual fare, often in converted waiting rooms or station houses.
Discover Whitby by train, then head out on the NYMR.
fairlightworks/CC BY 2.0
Welsh Highland Railway at Rhyd-Ddu.
Heritage railways in Wales
Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways, Snowdonia
Founded in 1832 to carry slate from the mountains to coast, the Ffestiniog Railway is the oldest independent railway company in the world still running trains. Its 13 and a half-mile narrow-gauge line climbs steadily through the Vale of Ffestiniog, past woodlands, lakes and abandoned quarries, before reaching the mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.
Linked at Porthmadog Harbour Station is the Welsh Highland Railway, a newer restoration that stretches a further 25 miles north to Caernarfon. This line runs through the Aberglaslyn Pass, one of the most dramatic gorges in Wales, skirts the base of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), and finishes beneath the walls of Caernarfon Castle. Taken together, the two railways form the longest heritage network in the UK, offering more than 40 miles of continuous track.
On board, the small carriages have polished wood interiors and wide windows for views of mountains, rivers and estuaries. Some trains offer picnic boxes to collect before departure, while others have at-seat trolley service or dedicated first-class compartments with armchair-style seating.
Jark91/CC BY 3.0
Llangollen Railway near Llangollen.
Llangollen Railway, Denbighshire
The Llangollen Railway runs for 10-miles along the Dee Valley, home to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trains pass through a series of small stations and across historic bridges on the journey from Llangollen to Corwen, a market town at the edge of the Berwyn Mountains.
At Llangollen, the station sits beside the canal where horse-drawn boats still operate, with the steam trains and canal boats departing almost side by side. Corwen station, rebuilt by volunteers on the site of the long-demolished original, now has a traditional booking office and waiting room.
Volunteers prepare the locomotives each morning at the shed, shovelling coal and oiling the moving parts before the first departure. Others work at the station café, known for homemade cakes and hearty local fare. Special dining trains run on selected days, but most visitors come for the open carriages and riverside scenery.
Take a trip to Wales by train to enjoy the Llangollen Railway.
Read about six of the best scenic trains in the UK and Europe, about the art of slow travel, or why we love taking the local train.
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