Special Event Days - Didcot Railway Centre Tickets

Didcot Railway Centre
Available until 26 August 2024

Up to 5% discount with promo code DAYSOUT

Book your tickets to Didcot Railway Centre events for some of the best days out near Oxford

There's multiple family-friendly events in Oxfordshire at Didcot Railway Centre taking place throughout the year. 

Take a look at the events below and book your tickets today: 

  • Pendennis Castle's 100th Birthday (2-3 March) - Celebrate the birth of a classic! The famous engine, Pendennis Castle turns 100 years old this week so celebrate her birthday at Didcot Railway. See locomotives in action throughout the day and don't miss the spectacle of seeing the wagons being loaded with coal. 
  • Steam into the 40's (4-6 May) - Head back in time to the 1940's and experience what the rails would've been like during the Second World War. Expect to see troop movements, with part of an ambulance train a small N.A.A.F.I. and field hospital, plus an air raid shelter that completes the picture for what it was like for enginemen during an air raid. 
  • The Return of 1466 (10-12 May) - Celebrate the most iconic locomotive in Didcot's collection, the 1466, and celebrate the first public open day of Didcot Railway Centre. Recreate the historic opening day and check out the many legendary engines on display.  
  • Paddington at Didcot (25 May, 26 August) - Meet Paddington Bear at Didcot Railway Centre! Paddington will be holding a meet and greet with visitors throughout intervals, while you can also enjoy steam train rides throughout the day. 
  • Brick Adventures at Didcot Railway Centre (13-14 July) - Celebrate the world's most popular building brick and delight in the displays on show! Enjoy custom printed bricks available for you to buy and build more models to add to the collection, plus many exhibitors showing their own creations. 

At these events, you'll also get to visit the 21-acre living museum with magnificently-preserved trains dating from Victorian times to the 1960's on display. 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 one of the best events near Oxford at Didcot Railway Centre. Booking only takes a few clicks and tickets are delivered instantly via email and SMS, or check out what else is on throughout the year at Didcot Railway Centre:

  • 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.

Full Didcot Railway 2024 events calendar: 

  • 2 March: Pendennis Castle's 100th Birthday
  • 3 March: Pendennis Castle's 100th Birthday
  • 4 May: Steam into the 40's
  • 5 May: Steam into the 40's
  • 6 May: Steam into the 40's
  • 10 May: The Return of 1466
  • 11 May: The Return of 1466
  • 12 May: The Return of 1466
  • 25 May: Paddington at Didcot
  • 13 July: Brick Adventures
  • 14 July: Brick Adventures
  • 26 August: Paddington at Didcot
Location
Station Road,
Oxfordshire,
OX11 7NJ
Show on Google Maps

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.

Facilities
  • Refreshment rooms
  • Picnic area
  • Shop
  • Toilets
  • Baby-changing facilities
More Info
What are the Didcot Railway Centre locomotives in traffic?

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
Are dogs allowed at Didcot Railway Centre?

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. 

Is Didcot Railway Museum wheelchair accessible?

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
How long should I spend at Didcot Railway Centre?

You should allow at least two hours to explore everything that the Didcot Railway Centre has to offer. 

How long is the track at Didcot Railway Centre?

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.

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