Bucks &amp; Oxon


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="697" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Ricky-3-buses.jpg" alt="Buckinghamshire Railway Centre" class="wp-image-185505" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Ricky-3-buses.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Ricky-3-buses-800x558.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Ricky-3-buses-400x279.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://bucksrailcentre.org/">Buckinghamshire Railway Centre</a>, a charming working steam museum and heritage railway in West Bucks, is a blast from the past with <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/buckinghamshire-railway-centre-aylesbury/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">an exciting schedule of events</a> and beautifully restored period buildings. You’ll recognise it from its starring roles as a location on&nbsp;<em>Doctor Who</em>,&nbsp;<em>Midsomer Murders&nbsp;</em>and&nbsp;<em>Taskmaster.&nbsp;</em>But this quirky gem in the village of Quainton near Aylesbury&nbsp;offers more than a&nbsp;camera-ready facade.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/QRS-TERally-Sept08-027.jpg" alt="Buckinghamshire Railway Centre" class="wp-image-185504" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/QRS-TERally-Sept08-027.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/QRS-TERally-Sept08-027-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/QRS-TERally-Sept08-027-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>To start your journey back in time, the heritage railway has brilliantly preserved buildings dating back to the 1800s, including a signal box, a Victorian station building, and a Railway Museum with restored railway exhibits galore. You can also help sort the mail at the travelling post office, or ogle the beautiful traditional steam locomotive and carriages in the glass-roofed visitor centre.</p>



<p>That’s already enough to keep history buffs entertained for hours – but of course the trains are the star of the show here.&nbsp;Across the 25-acre site, there are full-size steam trains and mini ride-on trains, both of which are available to board on steaming days. And if that doesn’t quench your trainspotting thirst, there are also model trains that run throughout the day. Read on for this fab family attraction&#8217;s packed calendar of events for 2025. With Easter and summer holidays speeding over the horizon, it’s time to hop up here and enjoy the ride.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-steaming-days">STEAMING DAYS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="991" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Janice-3-1000x991.jpg" alt="Buckinghamshire Railway Centre" class="wp-image-185502" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Janice-3-1000x991.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Janice-3-800x793.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Janice-3-400x396.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Janice-3.jpg 1009w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Buckinghamshire Railway Centre re-opens for the season on Sun 6 April, which handily coincides with the start of the Easter holidays. So head on over for a family day out, because it&#8217;s open for steam train rides every Sunday from this date until the end of October – they&#8217;re usually open on Bank Holidays too. On a Steaming Day, your little ones can enjoy steam train rides (Psst: there may be some celebrity guests on special event days, see below), visit the large railway museum, ride the miniature railway, watch the model trains at the garden railway, visit the travelling post office, or just explore 25 acres of grounds. Railwayland is your oyster. Or to timetable a more leisurely experience, simply enjoy the circular walk around the site, taking in lungfuls of Chilterns fresh air and the views from the footbridges. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-special-events">SPECIAL EVENTS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="997" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Thomas-Steam-Team-BY-AT-997x1000.jpg" alt="Buckinghamshire Railway Centre" class="wp-image-185506" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Thomas-Steam-Team-BY-AT-997x1000.jpg 997w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Thomas-Steam-Team-BY-AT-798x800.jpg 798w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Thomas-Steam-Team-BY-AT-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Thomas-Steam-Team-BY-AT.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></figure>



<p>Keep a weather eye on the events calendar because fun rides aside, Buckinghamshire Railway Centre hosts brilliant seasonal events round the year, from train rides with Santa to vintage car displays. Chuffing round the bend first is the ever-popular visit from Thomas &amp; Friends for Easter (18-20 April), with Thomas, Percy, Trevor, Sir Topham Hatt and Rusty &amp; Dusty. Don&#8217;t worry if you miss the crew – they&#8217;re back in May, July, August and October too. Expect train rides pulled by Thomas and Percy, sing-alongs, and games and silliness galore.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="680" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-12-at-14.20.19.png" alt="Buckinghamshire  Railway Centre" class="wp-image-185529" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-12-at-14.20.19.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-12-at-14.20.19-800x544.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-12-at-14.20.19-400x272.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Dinosaur fan in the family? Head here for Dino Day on the May Bank Holiday Monday (Mon 5 May), when a whole herd of prehistoric characters will be running the show. Say hello to Tiny the T-Rex, Bronwen the Brontosaurus, Betsy the Triceratops and friends – it&#8217;s going to be ROAR-some! New for this year is the Steam, Classic &amp; Country Fair on 17 &amp; 18 May – little petrolheads (and their parents!) will love the classic vehicles on display, plus vintage fire engines, ponies, a dog show, traction engines and, of course, steam trains. Or catch Bluey on Sun 21 Sun – he&#8217;s the biggest celebrity in my house right now, so we&#8217;ll be there for a meet and greet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-busman-s-holiday">BUSMAN&#8217;S HOLIDAY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Fire-engine-Luke.jpg" alt="Buckinghamshire Railway Centre" class="wp-image-185501" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Fire-engine-Luke.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Fire-engine-Luke-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Fire-engine-Luke-400x300.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>There&#8217;s more classic motor paradise on Father&#8217;s Day, the date for the annual Ridgeway Run – a rally for heritage commercial vehicles starting in Henley and ending at Bucks Railway Centre. It&#8217;s quite the show – last year 80 entrants rolled in by around 11am, just in time for the visitors to admire them all. Hot on its heels on Sun 13 July is SHOWBUS: the UK&#8217;s biggest annual bus rally, with hundreds of buses from every era. Then for kids who dream of becoming a firefighter or policeman when they grow up, there&#8217;s the popular Emergency Services Day on Sun 27 July, when police, fire and ambulance drivers bring their vehicles for visitors to admire (subject to emergency call outs, as usual!).&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-school-holidays">SCHOOL HOLIDAYS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Morgan-Club-6.jpg" alt="Buckinghamshire Railway Centre" class="wp-image-185503" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Morgan-Club-6.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Morgan-Club-6-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Morgan-Club-6-400x300.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>No excuse to be bored in the school holidays, because Bucks Railway Centre runs extra steaming days on Wednesdays when school&#8217;s out – this year, the dates are Wed 9 April and every Wed in August, for starters. Oh, and did we mention kids&#8217; entry for regular Steaming Days (not the special events) is just £1 from 30 July to 31 August? There are also more fab family events outside term time. The biggest classic car event, Auto Fest, is on Bank Holiday Monday (Mon 25 August), then you can steam your way into the Christmas holiday spirit from late November. All aboard the Panto Express to watch a mini pantomime (Aladdin) and see Santa on a steam train.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-while-you-re-there">AND WHILE YOU&#8217;RE THERE&#8230;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/BRCPlay-027.jpg" alt="Bucks Railway Centre" class="wp-image-185620" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/BRCPlay-027.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/BRCPlay-027-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/BRCPlay-027-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you fancy a free trip out – or just a quick visit <em>sans</em> train rides – there&#8217;s no entry charge for the children&#8217;s play area (with plenty of mini trains and carriages to look at), visitor centre, café and gift shop on weekdays when the rest of the site is closed. There&#8217;s still plenty to admire, including vintage carriages and locos inside the beautiful glass-roofed visitor centre – and if you need to refuel, the Railway Café serves everything from full English brekkies to burgers from 9.30am-2pm Monday to Friday. All aboard!</p>



<p><em>Buckinghamshire Railway Centre is at Station Road, Quainton, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP22 4BY. Check the <a href="https://bucksrailcentre.org/whats-on/#_">events calendar</a> for listings of special events. Steaming Day tickets cost £12.50 for adults and £8.50 for children (under 3s are free).</em></p>


All aboard the fun at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

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