We chose the lunchtime dining experience for our trip on the Churnet Valley Railway and had a really great day. The online booking process was straightforward and we were warmly greeted when we arrive... See more
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Excellent trip. Lots of volunteer staff around, good tanoy announcements, decent tearooms, clean carriages, and we liked the trolley service on the train. Very dog friendly. Lovely train ride, which t... See more
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A really enjoyable evening journey on the railway, with an excellent Mexican meal served.The train carriages are very well maintained, with comfortable and roomy table seating. Our meal was served by... See more
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Lovely few hours around the Staffordshire Moorlands countryside. Very good value, we did the Butty and Brew which is highly recommended. Although web site said sold out, the train wasn't overcrowded a... 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 98% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 48 hours
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Spent a very pleasant mid week day…
Spent a very pleasant mid week day using the public train service, everything very well presented and tio a high standard, staff very helpful and pleasant
August 26, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you, you can come again!
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Making memories
Well organised, excellent value for money. Beautiful train, friendly staff and scenic views, wonderful
August 26, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you, you can come again!
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Im from the SVR and i thought why not…
Im from the SVR and i thought why not make a change and be on a different railway for a change. I also use to support your 40s weekend but as i found out that you no longer do. Which is a shame. I had a great time and staff was very polite too.. many thanks for a very nice night out on the railway.
August 26, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you so much for taking the time & trouble to give us such a lovely review.
We’re so pleased that you enjoyed your trip with us.
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
Disappointed
Lovely steam train and station. Staff were lovely.
Disappointing food as Luke warm soup and my friends cod meal was cold . My beef stew was nice. Could have been much better for the price. The description of the scenery was not accurate as lots of run down places to see.
Also on booking it did not state we would be sharing a table with strangers who we had to move from our seats as they bagged both window seats. They were clearly marked with our allocated numbers. It was a very uncomfortable atmosphere as these strangers never smiled or spoke!
I’m sorry to say we won’t be returning.
Reply to yourselves.
No where did it say about sharing a table . We would have paid extra if it was an option. We told 2 staff about the cold food and both said they would tell the chef. Another review has said the same about sharing a table so not clear at all.
Thank you anyway for the reply.
August 26, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed the steam train, station and found our staff lovely.
We're very sorry to hear that some of the food was cold. Had we been made aware at the time that the soup and cod were cold, we would have been more than happy to replace them. We are disappointed that you did not have the opportunity to enjoy your meals as intended.
Regarding the scenery, we are sorry that it did not meet your expectations. The Churnet Valley is a beautiful rural area, although as with any railway journey there are sections where you will see industrial and operational areas alongside the countryside.
Our dining trains use shared tables unless an exclusive table has specifically been booked, and we do make this clear within the booking information. Each guest is allocated a specific seat. If another passenger is sitting in your allocated seats, our staff are always happy to resolve this and would have asked the other guests to move if you had brought it to their attention at the time.
We're sorry that these issues affected what should have been an enjoyable visit, particularly as you had chosen to spend your time with us. We do appreciate your comments and will share them with the relevant teams.
Kind regards
Debra
01538 360522
Well organised and staff very pleasant…
Well organised and staff very pleasant and good food. Thank you
August 19, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely, supportive review. I'll pass on your comments to the whole team.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Booking was easy
Booking was easy. The train ran on time, was comfortable the service was good and the staff were polite and friendly.
August 23, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely, supportive review. I'll pass on your comments to the whole team.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
CVR Sunday Lunch Train
Overall the experience on the Sunday Lunch Train was good but unfortunately the main course (Roast Beef) really let it down. Whilst the beef and Yorkshire were fine the potatoes, parsnips and greens, for me, were not cooked enough, The parsnips hadn't been 'cored' so hard to cut if the first place.
Service, Staff and ambience were superb so wouldn't stop me going again, just one of those days perhaps.
August 23, 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 overall experience and that our service, staff and the ambience were all superb.
We're sorry, however, that some of the vegetables were not cooked to your liking. We appreciate your comments regarding the potatoes, parsnips and greens, and particularly your observation about the parsnips. We'll pass this feedback on to our catering team.
It's lovely to hear that, despite the food issues, you wouldn't let this stop you from visiting us again. We hope to welcome you back for another Sunday Lunch Train, where we're sure we can provide a more enjoyable meal.
Kind regards,
Debbie
01538 360522
Excellent day out would definitely…
Excellent day out would definitely recommend to any one plus bonus it was the steam train so husband was made up with that thank you keep up the good work you all do a wonderful job . Would also like to give a mention to the staff at foxfield Cheadle station very helpful as turned up at wrong station but quickly sorted out very efficient and helpful thanks again for all your help .
August 23, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review. We’re delighted to hear that our service surpassed your expectations. Providing high-quality service is at the heart of everything we do, and your feedback reassures us that we’re on the right track. We truly appreciate your trust. Should you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us anytime.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely, supportive review. I'll pass on your comments to the whole team.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
A great day.
A wonderful welcome from the volunteer staff began when we arrived at the car park and continued at the station shop.
The carriages were immaculately restored and clean. Everyone of the staff were so polite and pleasant to talk to.
The scenery on the journey was lovely.
A fabulous experience. Thank you.
August 23, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review. We’re delighted to hear that our service surpassed your expectations. Providing high-quality service is at the heart of everything we do, and your feedback reassures us that we’re on the right track. We truly appreciate your trust. Should you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us anytime.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
We had a lovely trip
We had a lovely trip, staff were kind, friendly & knowledgeable. The cake was delish & the brews were hot. Lovely scenery & a change from a coffee shop!
August 23, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely, supportive review. I'll pass on your comments to the whole team.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Well worth the visit
I booked this as it popped up on Instagram and it wasn't too far away for us to travel. It was so good, the volunteers are so helpful, we were checked in without any issues and then straight onto the dining cart. The seats and the carriage and so comfortable and clean, the staff are super friendly on board and the weather was on our side so the scenery was beautiful. Highly recommend for a day out whether youre a "train" person or not.
August 23, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review. We’re delighted to hear that our service surpassed your expectations. Providing high-quality service is at the heart of everything we do, and your feedback reassures us that we’re on the right track. We truly appreciate your trust. Should you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us anytime.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Much more comfortable temperature this…
Much more comfortable temperature this trip compared to two weeks previously. Train ran at its normal speed which gave added ventilation during the journey. The food was served nice and hot. Overall real value for money and very enjoyable.
Staff, as always, were very pleasant and happy to assist where needed.
August 22, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review. We’re delighted to hear that our service surpassed your expectations. Providing high-quality service is at the heart of everything we do, and your feedback reassures us that we’re on the right track. We truly appreciate your trust. Should you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us anytime.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely, supportive review. I'll pass on your comments to the whole team.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
A lovely relaxing train journey whilst…
A lovely relaxing train journey whilst enjoying coffee and a piece of cake.
All staff warm and welcoming.
August 23, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely, supportive review. I'll pass on your comments to the whole team.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
A chuffing great day out!
The staff/volunteers at Churnet Valley are so friendly and welcoming, it starts as soon as you enter the carpark! Tea room was reasonably priced and good quality. A lovely ride through beautiful countryside with announcements along the way to keep you informed.
August 23, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re so happy to hear that you had a great experience with our service. Our team strives to provide exceptional service, and knowing that we’ve met your expectations truly means a lot to us. We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again in the future. If there's anything else we can do for you, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
The staff how welcoming they were and…
The staff how welcoming they were and how tidy the station was tea room very hood
August 19, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely, supportive review. I'll pass on your comments to the whole team.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Great day
We had a visit for thirty of our singing group.
They all had a great time and thought what good value the Spuds and Steam package was.
August 22, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely, supportive review. I'll pass on your comments to the whole team.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Butty and brew trip
This was our second trip and the only criticism I have is totally out of your control. Nature has bloomed since the last time and some of the views we enjoyed last time weren't available because of the trees/foliage.
When I booked, I was convinced I'd booked one gluten free breakfast bacon roll. However, just whilst I was waiting for my husband to be ready, I flicked through the printout of our booking and was mortified to see there wasn't a gf option booked, so I quickly cooked my own and brought it with me. When I booked in I mentioned this to the lady and she checked and there was indeed a gf bacon roll booked for me; just a shame it didn't show on my printouts of the booking. Maybe something to check with your system?
August 22, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review and for choosing to travel with us for a second time.
We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed your return visit. Unfortunately, the growth of trees and foliage is certainly one aspect of travelling through the countryside that is beyond our control!
With regard to your gluten-free bacon roll, I can confirm that the gluten-free option does show correctly on our booking system, which is the information our catering team works from. We're pleased that our staff were able to check this for you on arrival, although we completely understand your concern when it wasn't showing on your printed booking confirmation.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we hope to welcome you back for a third visit in the future.
Kind regards,
Debbie
01538 360522
Booked as a Father’s day gift the…
Booked as a Father’s day gift the Bacon Butty and Tea. Both parents were thrilled. Beautiful countryside and the Bacon Bap was huge such a lovely experience .
August 22, 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your lovely, supportive review. I'll pass on your comments to the whole team.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
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