The whole booking process went smoothly and email and phone communication was excellent. The 10 of us enjoyed a scenic steam train ride passing through the picturesque churnet valley from froghall... See more
Company replied
While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more
To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more
Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
We had Sunday lunch on the train, and it was fantastic. The coach was clean and the seats like armchairs, and the table beautifully laid with a tablecloth. The staff were very attentive and prompt, a... See more
Company replied
Had the Greek dining experience. Lovely evening very well organised. Staff very kind and attentive. Food was very tasty was pleased by my gluten free option. Wine very smooth and good quality. Main c... See more
Company replied
The staff are the most impressive part of the railway. From the Welcoming station and tea room to the on-board service and catering staff. they all put 110% into your experience. The dining car was... See more
Company replied
Company details
About Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Written by the company
Churnet Valley Railway: A Journey Through Time and Scenic Beauty
Hop on board Churnet Valley Railway, Staffordshire’s premier heritage railway, for an unforgettable journey through England's scenic countryside. Catering to a wide range of audiences, Churnet Valley Railway offers not just a trip, but an experience designed to delight all ages.
Entertainment for Everyone: Whether it’s a fun-filled day out with the kids, who will be thrilled by special children's events like The Mad Hatters Tea Train Party, an exotic and romantic lunch excursion for couples, or their tipsy Rail Ale Trail for you and your mates – there's something for everyone at Churnet Valley Railway. Seasonal events like their PolarExpress™ Christmas Train Ride or the Midsummer Murder Mystery evenings offer entertainment that stays fresh throughout the year.
Heritage Presentation: Operated primarily by a dedicated team of volunteers, Churnet Valley Railway takes immense pride in preserving and showcasing the golden age of British rail travel. The meticulously restored steam locomotives, along with vintage carriages, offer passengers an authentic glimpse into the past.
Partnerships Galore: Beyond providing a thrilling day out, Churnet Valley Railway collaborates with external partners to bring Staffordshire some of its most loved events. From bringing festival-goers to villages accessible only by rail to hosting engaging and interactive educational events for children, Churnet Valley continues to offer new and exciting options to the communities they serve. Hop on board and experience the unique blend of nostalgia, scenic beauty, and warm hospitality that only Churnet Valley Railway can offer.
Contact info
Station Road, ST13 7EE, Cheddleton, United Kingdom
- 01538360522
- enquiries@churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
- churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
4.8
Excellent
14K reviews
Asks customers to review
This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative
Replied to 100% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 1 week
How this company uses Trustpilot
See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.
Disappointed
Food - Ok (Apple crumble custard - tepid)
Staff - Very polite and helpful
Train excursion - Not what I expected. Problem with Churnet Valley Trains, only told us about the problems on the day.
Unhappy that the trip wasn’t what I thought the experience was about 😔
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for leaving us your review. We appreciate all feedback so that we may improve our service to our valued customers. We are very sorry that your crumble was not hot enough for you - did you mention this at the time, we could perhaps have given you a hotter one.
We are very pleased that our staff were polite & helpful to you.
Unfortunately, our route had to be changed for operational reasons at the last minute & this was unavoidable. Please visit us again when you can.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Well worth the price
Beyond what I'd expected. Food and water (and even a pipette) were provided, the guide was incredibly knowledgeable, the staff were great, and the journey by steam train just topped everything off. Definitely doing it next year.
July 11, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Who doesn't love a pipette! So glad you enjoyed the whisky tasting & thank you for your lovely review. We look forward to seeing you again next year.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Brilliant
Brilliant, great evening having fish and chip, took my 93 year old grandad for his birthday and he loved it!
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Happy Birthday to your Grandad, we're glad he enjoyed his visit with us. Thank you for your positive review, we hope to see you again soon.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Spud and Steam departure delayed by…
Spud and Steam departure delayed by 30minutes due to people queuing at Fish and Chip van including them joining the que after scheduled departure time . The return journey was then in failing light which was a shame .
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for leaving us your review. We appreciate all feedback so that we may improve our service to our valued customers. We are very sorry that there was a delay with the Fish & Chip van, and this has now been rectified. We hope this has not put you off visiting us again in the future.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
NIce experience but not as good as…
NIce experience but not as good as anticipated.Staff were very friendly and helpful, Mexican menu for vegetarians was underwhelming.Scenary was overgrown areas and not particularly inspiring
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're pleased to hear that you found our staff friendly and helpful.
We're sorry that the vegetarian Mexican menu did not meet your expectations. We appreciate your feedback and will pass your comments on to our catering team as we continue to review and develop our menus.
We're also sorry that you found the scenery disappointing. As a heritage railway, the route passes through a variety of landscapes, including woodland, open countryside and our engineering facilities. During the summer months, vegetation can become more established despite our ongoing maintenance programme.
Thank you again for your feedback. We appreciate your comments and hope to welcome you back on board again in the future.
Kind regards,
Debbie
01538 360522
A great day out for the family
A great day out for the family. Very friendly volunteers enjoying running a smooth timetable added to the experience. Thank you all.
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time & trouble to send us such a lovely review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your trip on the Churnet Valley Railway. All of our team work really hard to ensure that all of our visitors have an enjoyable experience with us. We hope that you can travel again with us soon.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely review, please visit us again at the Churnet Valley Railway.
Kind regards
Kaaren
CVR
This was a brilliant experience all round
This was a brilliant experience and the food was gorgeous. Staff were fantastic , efficient and helpful. Excellent value for money and will definitely book again. Excellent ! Well done to everyone
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time & trouble to send us such a lovely review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your trip on the Churnet Valley Railway. All of our team work really hard to ensure that all of our visitors have an enjoyable experience with us. We hope that you can travel again with us soon.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Birthday treat for daughter
Birthday treat for daughter - we had a lovely trip, attentive polite staff, delicious breakfast.
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time & trouble to send us such a lovely review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your trip on the Churnet Valley Railway. All of our team work really hard to ensure that all of our visitors have an enjoyable experience with us. We hope that you can travel again with us soon.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
The team were lovely and friendly.At…
The team were lovely and friendly.At the beginning of the journey there was a lot of junk near the railway lines .It would be lovely if they could be moved or put in a shed maybe.i bought my own China cups and saucers and pretty napkins spread out on the table to make it look pretty and enhance the experience .Enjoyed the experience and lovely friendly team .Thank you
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you so much for taking the time & trouble to give us such a lovely review. The junk you mention is the disused copper works of Thomas Boulton's & unfortunately we have no control over this area.
We’re so pleased that you enjoyed your trip with us & I'm sure your china crockery looked fab!
All of the team at the Churnet Valley Railway work really hard to ensure that all of our visitors have a wonderful & memorable time.
Please visit us again soon.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Being informed on the day of the…
Being informed on the same day of the breakfast train that the route had been changed was not what I was expecting.Anyway we arrived at the station everything went smoothly we took our seats and were really looking forward to having our breakfast and enjoying the views, so we set off the staff were brilliant the food was delicious however the views were very very disappointing the train kept stopping couldn’t see anything except for trees and old carriages on route as this was a much shorter journey I presume they had to stop to give us time to eat our breakfast.so be aware the food and staff are excellent but the views are very disappointing as this was a special occasion the views spoiled the whole adventure.
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're pleased to hear that everything ran smoothly on arrival and that you found our staff brilliant and the breakfast delicious.
We're sorry, however, that the amended route was not what you were expecting, particularly as this was a special occasion. Due to operational reasons, we had to change the route at short notice rather than cancel the service altogether, and we appreciate that this was disappointing.
The periods where the train was stationary were not simply to extend the journey, but were necessary to fit in with the operational requirements of the amended route and the wider railway timetable. We understand, however, that this meant you missed out on some of the scenic views you had been looking forward to.
Thank you again for your feedback. We appreciate your understanding and hope we have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future to enjoy our full advertised route.
Kind regards,
Debbie
01538360522
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely review, please visit us again at the Churnet Valley Railway.
Kind regards
Kaaren
CVR
Brilliant night
Brilliant night food was Amazing , Only thing I would of liked is some Mexican music 😊
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Arriba,arriba, I'll pass this on!
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
well organised
well organised, a pleasant and relaxing afternoon.
all staff very helpfull.
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely review, please visit us again at the Churnet Valley Railway.
Kind regards
Kaaren
CVR
A really lovely train ride
A really lovely train ride , a delicious 3 course meal. The food was delicious & hot and served by friendly staff
The mid week lunch train ride is well worth trying
We were even allowed on the front of the steam engine and the driver explained how things worked 🚂
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time & trouble to send us such a lovely review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your trip on the Churnet Valley Railway. All of our team work really hard to ensure that all of our visitors have an enjoyable experience with us. We hope that you can travel again with us soon.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Wonderful day out
Staff very attentive and courteous they were lovely, food was of a very good standard and delicious
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time & trouble to send us such a lovely review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your trip on the Churnet Valley Railway. All of our team work really hard to ensure that all of our visitors have an enjoyable experience with us. We hope that you can travel again with us soon.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
The staff were so friendly and went…
The staff were so friendly and went above and beyond. They all seemed so genuinely pleased and happy to be working. Such a lovely environment. Changes were communicated, and it was a great afternoon out. Thank you
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time & trouble to send us such a lovely review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your trip on the Churnet Valley Railway. All of our team work really hard to ensure that all of our visitors have an enjoyable experience with us. We hope that you can travel again with us soon.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely review, please visit us again at the Churnet Valley Railway.
Kind regards
Kaaren
CVR
Birthday surprise
Enjoyed the breakfast train, it was a surprise trip for my friend for her birthday she loved it so. Much.Thankyou.
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely review, please visit us again at the Churnet Valley Railway.
Kind regards
Kaaren
CVR
Something different and really enjoyable
Lovely friendly staff and great experience.
Our 3 course meal was delicious, chosen on booking the trip.
The change in route due to circumstances did not put us off - we were determined to enjoy ourselves and we did so.
We would do it again.
August 5, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time & trouble to send us such a lovely review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your trip on the Churnet Valley Railway. All of our team work really hard to ensure that all of our visitors have an enjoyable experience with us. We hope that you can travel again with us soon.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
The Trustpilot Experience
Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.
We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.
Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.
Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.
Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.
Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.