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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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
Experience was great
Experience was great, all the staff were amazing.
Unfortunately through no fault of anyone’s we were sat on the side of the sun, so it was extremely hot. If this weather is going to continue and be the same nxt year maybe a 1/3 of the window could hv some form of blind so you can relax a little more.
It really is a suggestion rather than a moan. The weather was beautiful so it couldn’t have been helped.
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, especially your comments regarding the blinds - I'll pass them on.
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 for your positive review, please visit us again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Booking the trip was very simple
Booking the trip was very simple. Pricewise, the trip was a bargain. We enjoyed our jacket potatoes on the train. All staff were friendly, helpful and very approachable.
Unfortunately we received an email on the morning of our travel date informing us of a change of route and loco. Whilst I appreciate that unpredictable events occur on heritage railways our unpredictable event led to a shorter journey and some lengthy spells of being stationary. The temperature inside the carriages climbed significantly causing discomfort for a number of passengers.
The train travelled at a slower speed than normal to stretch the journey time to the two hours scheduled. This also served to increases temperatures within the carriages.
8 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave your review.
We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed the food and found the service to be good and our staff helpful and 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 amend the route rather than cancel the service altogether.
We're also sorry to hear that you found the carriage uncomfortably warm. As a heritage railway, our historic carriages are preserved as authentically as possible and therefore do not have modern features such as air conditioning or window blinds. During periods of exceptionally hot weather, this can make the journey less comfortable than we would like.
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
Lovely trip lovely scenery
Lovely trip lovely scenery
Lovely people at the station snd on the train.
Food great
Just such a lovely setting in a great place
7 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Lovely review, thank you. Please visit again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your positive review, please visit us again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Brilliant from start to finish it was…
Brilliant from start to finish it was just lovely to be a part of. Everyone involved were superb and won’t hesitate to book again. MASSIVE 5 out of 5 stars!!!!!
8 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your amazingly positive review, please visit us again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
The staff are the most impressive part…
The staff are the most impressive part of the railway. From the Welcoming station and tea room to the on-board service and catering staff. they all put 110% into your experience.
The dining car was impeccably clean and comfortable. Our seating was shared with complete strangers but we left as friends.
I had never heard of this particular preserved railway but certainly one of the better ones I have encountered.
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
What a lovely experience
What a lovely experience. The service was first class with attention to detail.
Excellent value for money.
8 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for your positive review, please visit us again.
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522
Fantastic afternoon.
We had a fantastic afternoon on the Railway. The food service and staff were all excellent. The staff went above and beyond to make our visit special. We were celebrating my friend’s birthday it was a surprise for her and she was absolutely thrilled.
8 August 2026
Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review about your trip with us! 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
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