The setting at Froghall station is beautiful. The locomotive and rolling stock magnificent.The staff very friendly,helpful and engaging.We had booked for the cream tea experience.Trip scheduled 1.30-... See more
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It was first experience of Churnet Valley Railway, but hopefully it won’t be my last. Due to the extreme weather conditions they were running to an Emergency Timetable and couldn’t go across the moor... See more
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Excellent, the staff and volunteers work so hard, the train was lovely, with a beautifully set table, the table service excellent and the food exceeded my expectations. I’ll be honest I was half expec... See more
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Yet another fantastic trip on the Churnet Valley Railway. Took my granddaughter on the breakfast train for her 17th birthday, went on the new part of the line to Leek it’s a little bit shorter than th... See more
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Company details
- #5 of 12 best companies in Tourist attraction
- #1 of 1 best companies in Breakfast restaurant
- #1 of 1 best companies in English restaurant
- #3 of 3 best companies in Heritage Preservation
- #2 of 5 best companies in Railway Company
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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Very welcoming staff that were eager to…
Very welcoming staff that were eager to talk about the railway that they were so proud of. We were on a lunchtime dining experience and once again all the staff were very attentive and professional. The food was served in a timely manner and the quality and portions were exactly right.
8 August 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
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you, please visit again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Breakfast in the train
Had a lovely morning on the train
Breakfast was very nice (proper bacon & sausages) good quality
Service was also great
Thank you
9 August 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
We had an enjoyable ride on the Pie and…
We had an enjoyable ride on the Pie and Mash evening train. The service was excellent and organisation of the event was good.
It was a lovely experience
7 August 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
Disapointing
As diesel fans the day was booked specifically for the 10:30 trip which is advertised on line as being diesel hauled. (From the website "The 10:30 departure on Saturdays in June, July, August & September is operated by a heritage diesel locomotive"). Just three hours before the departure of the train an email was received stating that due to some problems the train would be steam hauled and going to Leek rather than Ipstones, so not only the wrong type of traction, but also a shorter journey too. It is a shame this wasn't put on the website as it was a known problem because it stated in the email the same had happened the previous week too, had I known in advance I wouldn't have booked. And as for the trip to Leek, from Leek Brook to the end of the line, a journey of about a mile, the train was stop/start at crossings and hardly got much above walking pace when moving, quite tedious and a trip to somewhere in the middle of nowhere. I'm unlikely to rush back. That being said I found the staff friendly, and the carriages were in great shape, clean and comfy, good woodwork and windows, certainly at lot nicer than some I've seen at other railways.
8 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're pleased to see you noticed the hard work put in keeping the carriages clean and well looked after and found our staff to be friendly, although we're sorry that the overall experience did not meet your expectations.
Unfortunately, due to operational reasons on the day, we had to change the motive power and amend the route rather than cancel the service altogether. We appreciate this meant this was different from what you were expecting, and we understand your disappointment.
Thank you again for your feedback. We appreciate your comments and will ensure they are shared with the relevant teams.
Kind regards,
Andrea
01538 360522
It was a lovely time onboard the train
It was a lovely time onboard the train. Food was lovely as was the customer service from arriving at the car park to leaving - staff were excellent and very helpful
9 August 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
A beautiful evening
A beautiful evening
Well organised excellent food
Very pleasant staff
7 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you
Lovely review
Please visit again
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
The breakfast train
Went on the breakfast train. From the start everyone was lovely and we stepped inside the carriage and the tables looked gorgeous. The breakfast was really nice and staff very helpful and pleasant. Would definitely recommend and I'm looking for another experience to book.
9 August 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
Great service and food
Great service and food. Just a shame the route was changed but enjoyed it anyway!
9 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your positive review, we're sorry that we had to switch the route due to operational reasons. Please visit again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Lovely experience
The staff were all brilliant, so friendly and helpful and really added to the experience. Colin who greeted us on arrival was outstanding, as was the lady who served us in the cafe (sorry, didn't spot her name).
We had the coffee and cake option and it didn't disappoint, good quality and well organised service.
Our only disappointment was how long the train stopped at certain places, nothing to do there! Such a shame there is no station at Leek (we know it isn't your fault)- if we had been able to get off there, walk around for an hour or two and then get back on the train, it would have made it a perfect day.
9 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Hi, thank you for sharing your feedback. We apologize for the frustration caused by the frequent stops during your journey. Naturally, we take your experience seriously and will share your comments with our operations team to improve scheduling. We appreciate your patience. It's kind of you to mention several members of our team who excelled in customer service. Please visit us again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Lovely couple of hours
Lovely couple of hours. Staff very attentive, superb meal.
Train renovated to a high standard
8 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your positive review, please travel with us again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Lovely few hours
Lovely few hours. All thhe staff are so friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend.
9 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your positive review, please travel with us again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Couldn't fault it a great day
9 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your positive review, please travel with us again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
What an experience- everyone should try it…
I took my daughters to this event and we all loved the experience, it took us back to the Agatha Christie days.
The food was lovely, the staff were polite and attentive the Actors were wonderful
What an experience
8 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Ah, who doesn't love the Queen of Crime! It's great to hear that you all enjoyed our Murder Mystery & appreciated all our efforts.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Slightly reduced train journey but…
Slightly reduced train journey but communication about it was excellent. Great atmosphere in dining coach, excellent service and food. All staff really helpful.
9 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your positive review, please travel with us again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Great service
The service on board the train by the staff was excellent, seating was very comfortable, food was a high standard, we enjoyed every part of it, will definitely book again as that was a easy process
9 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you so much for your kind words regarding your trip with us! 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 contact us!
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Very friendly staff
Very friendly staff, fabulous food with generous portions, stunning train, will definitely visit again :)
9 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Sounds like we got it all right! Thank you for your appreciation.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Churnet Valley Railway
Wonderful staff at stations, signal boxes and on board.
The catering is good.
Prices for travel very reasonable. Booking on line simple and easy.
9 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you so much for your kind words regarding your trip with us! 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 contact us!
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Fantastic food cant fault it
Fantastic food cant fault it . The only problem was the heat on the train it was unbearable also the side of the train where we were sat had the sun blaring on us the whole journey it was very uncomfortable and not at all nice sweating while trying to eat . I know the weather cant be helped but I think blinds would be a good idea .
9 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Hi, thank you for your feedback. We sincerely apologize that the temperature on your journey was uncomfortable. Many of our older coaches are more vulnerable to solar heating, and we know how frustrating this can be. We are currently sharing these details with our maintenance team to try to find a resolution to this issue.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Staff polite nice easy access easy…
Staff polite nice easy access easy booking .
Reminder via email update about any changes. Amazing customer service.
9 August 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
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