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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Replied to 100% of negative reviews
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Evening steam train from Froghall
Evening steam train from Froghall. Lovely trains and carriages, very friendly fabulous and enthusiastic staff, beautifully kept stations and signal boxes.
July 31, 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
Breakfast train journey
Overall the experience was really lovely, however, we received notification 2 days prior to the trip that the route would need to be amended due to issues with the line. Instead of travelling to Ipstones, the train only went as far as Leek. The route was effectively shortened which meant we had excessive time as the trip was allocated for 2 hours. This then resulted in periodic, unplanned stops on the track (not at stations) to make up the time. We would have loved to have seen more of the scenery on the planned route so this was a little disappointing. In addition, we were originally planned to do the trip in April but upon arriving at the station we were advised it was cancelled as the train had derailed. We appreciate these factors are outside of people's control but the two incidents left us a little frustrated.
We would however recommend the service - its a lovely experience; the train itself was beautiful and the staff very attentive.
August 2, 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. The route was changed for operational reasons & this was unfortunate. We are very pleased that you did enjoy the train itself & the efforts of our staff. We hope this has not put you off visiting us again in the future.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Enjoyed pie and mash trip
Enjoyed pie and mash trip, would have preferred a better drink selection.
July 31, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
hank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Pie & Mash trip with us.
We also appreciate your feedback regarding the drink selection. Customer comments like yours are always valuable, and we'll pass your suggestion on to the catering team for consideration as we review our onboard offering.
Thank you once again for your feedback. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon.
Kind regards,
Debbie
01538360522
An oppurtunity to get my family…
An oppurtunity to get my family together.All staff were very professional and helpful.Booking was easy.A very enjoyable day.
August 2, 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
Lovely Sunday Lunch on the Churnet
We went yesterday on the Churnet Valley Sunday Lunch train, this was a gift bought for our 40th Wedding Anniversary earlier this year. What a wonderful experience it was, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch on board the train. The staff on the train itself were great and the service was excellent. The coach Dianna which we travelled in was well turned out with lovely internal decor, a credit to the railway and volunteers. Will definitely be returning for another meal on the train.
August 2, 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
Really great day out
Really great day out, wonderful way to celebrate something special.
Food was delicious, staff welcoming and friendly, thoroughly enjoyable experience
August 2, 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
Enjoyable journey
Enjoyable journey, friendly staff ,nice cafe for a coffee and lovely baked potato and beansv
August 1, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your wonderful review.
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your journey, found our staff friendly, and enjoyed a coffee in our Tea Room along with your baked potato and beans.
Your kind comments mean a great deal to our staff and volunteers, and we'll be sure to share your feedback with the team.
We look forward to welcoming you back to Churnet Valley Railway again soon.
Kind regards,
Debbie
01538360522
Lovely trip all the staff were…
Lovely trip all the staff were excellent especially the girls waitresses for our carriage. We had the 3 course Sunday lunch which was great, very fresh and very generous portions. Hopefully we will do it again soon.
August 2, 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
Value for money goi
Good food, food choices of drinks, good company (two if us shared a table for 4), could have been a disaster if not.
Would have preferred a large steam engine that the small saddle tank engine (NCB no. 7). And a longer stop at the depot to have a look around.
Value for money was pretty good.
Booking process was excellent.
July 31, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the food, found there was a good choice of drinks, felt the experience represented good value for money, and that our booking process met your expectations. It's also nice to hear that sharing a table for four worked out well for you.
We appreciate your comments regarding the locomotive. While we always aim to operate the advertised locomotive where possible, the type of engine used can vary depending on operational requirements and availability. We're also grateful for your suggestion about allowing more time at the depot and will pass your comments on to the relevant team.
Thank you again for your feedback. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon.
Kind regards,
Debbie
01538360522
Great day out
Great day out, good food and the staff can not do enough for you. Booking and communication very good.
August 2, 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
Excellent Preserved railway.
Overall a good experience and I will come again when next in the area. Comfortable seats, useful and audible on train announcements and a pleasant ride. The only downside is that there was no guidebook available. The large map haded out at check-in was helpful but did not have space for the detail I would have liked.
July 29, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your wonderful review.
We're delighted to hear that you had an enjoyable experience and that you found the journey comfortable, our onboard announcements clear, and the route information helpful. It's especially pleasing to know that you plan to visit us again when you're next in the area.
Thank you also for your feedback regarding the guidebook. We're pleased to let you know that we are currently in the process of ordering new guidebooks, and we hope these will provide the additional detail you're looking for on a future visit.
Thank you once again for your kind words. We look forward to welcoming you back to Churnet Valley Railway soon.
Kind regards,
Debbie
01538360522
Friendly staff
Friendly staff, lovely setting and very nice food. The journey was so enjoyable we will be back again
August 2, 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
Great journey
Great service during the journey and a pleasurable journey. Only down side was that I believe the journey was cut short and the train ran at a lower speed. A minor point but it didn’t detract from the whole experience. Thank you!
July 31, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your lovely review.
We're delighted to hear that you received great service during your journey and that you had an enjoyable experience overall.
We're sorry that, due to operational reasons, we had to amend the route and operate at a reduced speed in places. We appreciate your understanding and are pleased to hear that this did not detract from your overall enjoyment.
Thank you once again for your kind feedback. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon.
Kind regards,
Debbie
01538360522
Our original booking was cancelled and…
Our original booking was cancelled and we did not find out till we arrived
This was a present from our daughter and a hotel booked nearby
We had no choice but to stay in the hotel and rearrange the train experience.
The apology was not sincere they basically said book again or we will refund.
We booked for the 3rd August 4 months after our original booking as all times were taken.
2 days before our train journey we received another email saying the original route had changed and we were now going via Leek.
When we arrived we got sent to the wrong carriage by a station attendant and we should have been at the front not the back.
The only grace was the staff on the train were polite and friendly and the food was pleasant.
Not a great experience and would not book again
August 2, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're very sorry to read that your experience did not meet your expectations, particularly as this was a gift from your daughter and something you had been looking forward to.
We were genuinely sorry that your original booking had to be cancelled following a derailment on the railway. We did our best to contact all affected customers as soon as possible and offered either alternative dates or a full refund for anyone whose new dates were not suitable. We appreciate that, despite these options, the cancellation disrupted your plans, including your hotel booking.
We're also sorry that, shortly before your rearranged visit, we had to advise customers that the route would be amended due to operational reasons. These decisions are never taken lightly and are only made when necessary to allow the service to operate safely rather than cancelling it altogether.
We apologise that you were initially directed to the wrong carriage on arrival. Although this was quickly resolved, we're sorry for the confusion it caused.
It is, however, lovely to hear that our onboard staff were polite and friendly and that you enjoyed the food. We will be sure to pass your kind comments on to the team.
Whilst we're disappointed that your overall experience has left you feeling unable to return, we do appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback and wish you all the very best for the future.
Kind regards
Debbie
01538 360522
Great value for money on the coffee and…
Great value for money on the coffee and cake trip. Really enjoyed it, helpful and friendly staff. Recommended.
August 2, 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
Enjoyed it,the cake and coffee was good…
Enjoyed it,the cake and coffee was good too, but part of the trip was cancelled so didn’t feel we saw as much as we should of, seemed to be waiting along time 10 mins a couple of times so was bit disappointed really, the organisation was brilliant the train brilliant but was thinking of the meals on the train but unsure now
August 2, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your lovely review.
We're delighted to hear that you received great service during your journey and that you had an enjoyable experience overall.
We're sorry that, due to operational reasons, we had to amend the route and operate at a reduced speed in places. We appreciate your understanding and are pleased to hear that this did not detract from your overall enjoyment.
Thank you once again for your kind feedback. We hope to welcome you back on board again soon.
Kind regards,
Debbie
01538360522
The friendly staff and fantastic meal
August 1, 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
Everyone very helpful especially as I…
Everyone very helpful especially as I was a wheelchair user
July 26, 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, we do aim to be an inclusive. 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
We had a great time!
We had a great time on the breakfast Churnet Valley Railway. The food and drink was lovely as was the staff, who were friendly and professional.
August 2, 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
A disappointing experience
I've given this a 3 star review because although the food was delicious and the service was good the overall experience wasn't as I expected.
For starters the journey was cut short apparently because they didn't have enough diesel engines on standby. So for the short journey we had it was mostly through derelict factory sites, long stops at stations with rusty out of service trains and carriages blocking g any views there might have been.
Second moan might have been down to the unusually hot weather we're having. The carriages have no air-conditioning and we roasted inside them, the drinks we had (larger and water ) came to the table at what seemed like room temperature, they weren't pleasant to drink. I think there could have been pull down blinds on the windows to help shield from the sun.
Our overall experience wasn't a pleasant one unfortunately which was a shame .
August 2, 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 enjoyed the food and found the service to be good, although we're sorry that the overall experience did not meet your expectations.
Unfortunately, due to operational reasons on the day, we had to amend the route rather than cancel the service altogether. We appreciate this meant the scenery was different from what you were expecting, and we understand your disappointment.
You also mentioned the views during the journey. As part of our normal route, all of our trains pass through Cheddleton, which is our engineering and restoration base. The locomotives and carriages you saw there are part of our heritage fleet and are awaiting or undergoing restoration to preserve them for future generations. While we appreciate this may not have been the most scenic part of the journey, it is an important part of the work that keeps our railway operating.
We're also sorry to hear that you found the carriage uncomfortably warm. As a heritage railway, our historic carriages are preserved as authentically as possible and therefore do not have modern features such as air conditioning or window blinds. During periods of exceptionally hot weather, this can make the journey less comfortable than we would like.
Thank you again for your feedback. We appreciate your comments and will ensure they are shared with the relevant teams.
Kind regards,
Debbie
01538360522
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