Spa Valley Railway

Save up to 20% on Family tickets for two adults and two children

All Aboard: The Railway with a destination at every station!

Spa Valley Railway has been operating trains through the High Weald since 1997. Travel by mainline trains operated by Southern Railway to Eridge where you can commence your journey through the wonderful High Weald Countryside and experience all the attractions they have to offer.

Spa Valley crosses the Kent and East Sussex border, covering a distance of 5 miles (8 km), along the former Wealden Line between Tunbridge Wells Central and Lewes. The railway headquarters is also at Tunbridge Wells West railway station.  

The Standard Green Timetable has a wide list of destinations available to you and your fellow guests, along with the options of steam or diesel to host your journey!

Top Things to do at each Spa Valley Railway Destination

  • Eridge Station: Here you can visit the pleasant village of Eridge and enjoy lunch at The Huntsman Public House visit Wildwood Vineyard for wine tasting.  In addition to this there are many picturesque walks through the woodland towards Harrison’s Rocks, Forge Farm and Groombridge.  The station also has a new kiosk for ice creams, snacks and hot and cold drinks.
  • Groombridge Station: Groombridge is the principal intermediate station, so alight here to visit this historic village. It is also possible to walk to Harrisons Rocks, and if cycling, to get to the Forest Way.
  • High Rocks Station: This station was built from scratch in 1997 and is overlooked by the High Rocks Inn and ancient sandstone rocks that beacon all explorers. 
  • Tunbridge Wells West: While in Royal Tunbridge Wells you can walk round the historic town, walk over the common and visit The Pantiles which is a short walk from the steam railway where you will find a wealth of cafés, restaurants and shops among many other activities.

Spa Valley's Rich History

The railway was engineered by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway's Chief Engineer Frederick Banister, as part of the East Grinstead, Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells Railway. This being an extension to the Three Bridges to East Grinstead Railway which had been completed in 1855.

However, as the popularity of the motor car increased, train services were severely cut back due to the lack of patronage, and the number of services passing through Tunbridge Wells West railway station declined as one line after another was closed from the 1950s onwards.

The line between Tunbridge Wells and Eridge was itself listed for closure in 1966, only to be subsequently reprieved. The line remained open, although in its latter years passenger services were mainly confined to a shuttle service between Tonbridge and Eridge with a few through trains to Uckfield.

The Spa Valley Railway has its origins in a charitable society formed on 13 September 1985, to purchase and reopen the Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge line. Named the Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society, it began the fight to reopen the line. In 2006, Spa Valley Railway finally marked the 10 year aniversary since its reopening!

Destinations & Rails:

  • Tunbridge Wells West
  • High Rocks Halt
  • Groombridge
  • Eridge

Get your tickets here today and enjoy an exciting day out of steam trains and beautiful British countryside!

Location

Spa Valley Railway

West Station,
Nevill Terrace,
Royal Tunbridge Wells,
Kent,
TN2 5QY
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How to Find Us

Address: Spa Valley Railway, West Station, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5QY

What3Words: marker.asset.rates

By car:

Eridge Station is located just off the A26 between Crowborough and Eridge Green, Sat Nav TN3 9LE.  Follow the signs to the main line station.  The car park is to the side of the station, approx 200 yards beyond the main building. There is also very limited (free) road parking in front of the station building.

Please note the car park at Eridge is Pay & Display using the APCOA Connect app or by phone, and Eridge is known to suffer from poor mobile phone reception. Please see this link from APCOA with regard to parking in Eridge station car park which does offer a Late Pay option if you are unable to pay on the day - their main website is here where you can register or make a late payment.

There is no parking available at Groombridge Station however you can arrive by bus, bicycle or on foot.
High Rocks Station is in the grounds of High Rocks Inn, Sat Nav TN3 9JJ.  Free car parking is available in the Inn car park.

Tunbridge Wells West Station is located off Neville Terrace, TN2 5QY, adjacent to local supermarkets (Sainsburys, Lidl and Homebase). Please use local pay and display car parks (listed below) and DO NOT park in Sainsbury's Car Park - this is for their customer use only for up to 3 hours and ANPR cameras are in use.

Facilities
  • Toilets
  • Paid parking
More Info
Can you guarantee we'll see a Steam Locomotive at Spa Valley Railways?

Spa Valley would love to be able to give this guarantee, especially on Green days however steam locomotives can and do from time to time decide that chuffing up and down the countryside isn't for them.

They can sometimes even have a fault develop during the day and have to be withdrawn from service, this is the last thing we want to do but passenger safety is of paramount importance so whilst we'd love to guarantee a steam locomotive will pull your train when advertised it isn't always possible.

Is Spa Valley Railway dog friendly?

Most definitely! Well behaved dogs are welcome on the Spa Valley Railway, but please keep them on a lead at all times and do not allow them to sit on the seats. Unlike many other railways Spa Valley make no charge for dogs, and many of the volunteers bring their beloved dogs for a ride once or twice a year.

For hygiene reasons Spa Valley do not allow dogs, except assistance dogs, in their catering outlets including the dining carriages on the train.

Can we bring bicycles, prams or buggies on Spa Valley trains?

Yes of course! Spa Valley have space in the Guard's van for most things or some open carriages, but on children's special events and gala days Spa Valley encourages you to leave buggies/prams in the designated areas at Eridge or Tunbridge Wells West unless absolutely necessary.

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