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Discover one of the best days out in Oxfordshire when you visit Didcot Railway Centre
Travel back in time to the golden age of the Great Western Railway on a Didcot Railway Centre Discovery Day in one of the best family days out near Oxford.
Since trains won't be running on Discovery Days, you get the chance to see them up close and even step on board, which makes for one of the best things to do in Didcot for families.
Explore a stunning 21-acre living museum, featuring magnificently-preserved trains all the way from Victorian times up to the 1960's. Stroll through the original engine shed, climb aboard the footplate of the 5900 Hinderton Hall, see surviving track from Brunel's Broad Gauge and get hands-on in the Signalling Centre control room.
Book your tickets today for the Didcot Railway Centre in Oxfordshire. Booking only takes a few clicks and tickets are delivered instantly via email and SMS. Get them for the best prices online now, or take a look at the other Didcot Railway events:
- Steam Days: Enjoy unlimited steam train rides on one of the site's iconic locomotives.
- Discovery Days: Explore a 21-acre living museum and get up close to the many exhibits.
- Heritage Diesel Days: Take unlimited rides on the Great Western Railway Diesel Railcar.
- Limited Run Days: Steam and diesel trains will be in action at various points throughout the day.
- Special Events: Take a look at the many events taking place throughout the year at Didcot.
Oxfordshire OX11 7NJ
How to find us
On arrival, the entrance to the Railway Centre is through the ticket hall of the Didcot Parkway mainline railway station.
Didcot is 53 miles west of London, 10 miles south of Oxford and almost halfway between London and Bristol on Brunel's original Great Western Railway.
By train:
Great Western Railway trains serve Didcot Parkway with direct services from London Paddington, Reading and Thames Valley, Oxford, the Midlands, Swindon, Bath, Bristol and South Wales.
Visitors arriving by train should follow the signs to the Railway Centre in the subway as you leave the platforms at Didcot Parkway. Turn right at the bottom of the steps from the platforms and you will see the double doors to the entrance.
By bus:
Thames Travel run daily services from Oxford & Abingdon and Wallingford.
Buses stop at the front of Didcot Parkway railway station.
By car:
The Railway Centre is signposted from the M4 (junction 13) and the A34, follow the brown signs to Didcot Railway Centre. It can also be accessed from the M40 and A34. Take the turning for the Milton Interchange.
If you are using a SAT-NAV to find the site, please do not use the address for Didcot Railway Centre as this will take you into the middle of a housing estate.
There are no car parks operated at Didcot Railway Centre, however, there are three options available for use nearby. The main railway station multi-storey car park (Foxhall Rd) is the only one that takes cash or card payments. This car park is your destination if you follow the brown signs to Didcot Railway Centre.
The car park does not have a postcode. Use the What3Words: caves.wades.slanting to find the car park
From the car park, leave on foot, via the covered walkway from Level 2 which leads to the front of Didcot Parkway station.
- Refreshment rooms
- Picnic area
- Shop
- Toilets
- Baby-changing facilities
The locomotives currently in traffic at Didcot Railway Centre include:
- 1340 - Trojan - GWR (Avonside) 0-4-0 Saddle Tank Locomotive
- 2999 - Lady of Legend - GWR 4-6-0 Tender Locomotive
- 4079 - Pendennis Castle - GWR 4-6-0 Tender Locomotive
- 4144 - GWR 2-6-2 Prairie Tank
- 2409 - King George - Hunslet 0-6-0 Tank Locomotive
- 31 270 - Athena - Brush Type 2 Diesel Electric
- D9516 - Class 14 0-6-0 Teddy Bear Ex BR(WR) Diesel Hydraulic
- 08604 - Phantom - Class 08 0-6-0 BR Diesel-electric shunter
Well-behaved dogs are welcome to the centre but should be kept on a lead at all times. Please make sure to pick up after your dog. Only assistance dogs are allowed at the refreshment rooms.
A new entrance ramp is in the process of being installed at Didcot Railway Centre, with a ceremonial opening set to take place in February 2024.
There is currently an unavoidable 18-step entrance to the site.
From the main entrance, there is level access to:
- Engine Shed
- Transfer Shed
- The Signalling Centre
- GWT Museum
- Accessible Toilet
- Refreshment room
- Shop
- Picnic area
You should allow at least two hours to explore everything that the Didcot Railway Centre has to offer.
There are two demonstration lines which provide unlimited train rides all day (breaking only for lunch). Each demonstration line is about half a mile long.