Ickenham Miniature Railway is a bit of a hidden gem. We only discovered it existed a couple of years ago. It’s been a while since we last visited so we decided to go along to their last public running date for this year and take Thomas on his first train ride.
Tickets cost 80p each for a ride on the train. We bought our tickets from the ticket office and then had them clipped before boarding the train at Ickenham St Giles station.
The station has three platforms – two departure platforms and one arrival platform. The train journey takes in two circuits of the main line, travelling through two tunnels and under a bridge before returning to the station. Once the passengers are off the train, it then turns around on the turntable at the end of the station, before returning to one of the departure platforms for the next passengers.
There were two steam engines taking passengers around the track while we were there. Sophie was quite fascinated by the steam coming out of the train. Hubby explained to her that the steam was what powered the train. After we’d had our ride around the circuit, the driver showed Sophie the little fire in the engine which heated the water and turned it to steam.
The tunnels were Sophie’s favourite parts of the train ride. There are two tunnels along the circuit – one long one and one short one.
Thomas seemed quite happy looking out at it all from the sling too. He’s generally happy being snuggled next to Mummy though!
Visiting Ickenham Miniature Railway – what you need to know:
Where to find it:
The entrance is next to the Coach and Horses pub car park in Ickenham (postcode for the pub is UB10 8LJ). The pub car park is pay and display. There is also on-street parking nearby and another pay and display car park next to Ickenham library.
Opening times:
Ickenham Miniature Railway is open to the public on the first Saturday of the month from April until December. Opening times are 12:00 – 17:30 Apr-Oct and 12:00 – dusk Nov-Dec.
For more information click here.
I remember the hoards of children riding on the Ruislip Park railway to see Father Christmas- what, about eleven or twelve years ago? We used to do the circuit walk with dogs on a Saturday morning- much of which ran alongside part of that railway line.
I don’t think we ever took the girls on the one at the Lido – probably should take Sophie and Thomas on it at some stage. They have a “walk the planets” loop around the Lido at the moment which is really interesting to look at along the way. It’s a lot busier these days though since it got featured as one of London’s beaches in Time Out.
It was attending a summer fun day in a back garden with a train like this that inspired our railway. I must say there is far more here than we have by way of station and tunnel, but the fun of riding on the train is always exciting for children. I think I’m going to confuse Sophie this Christmas as ours is electric! #CountryKids
I am sure Sophie will love it. The one at Ickenham has a mixture of steam-powered and electric trains. We just happened to be there when the two trains running were both steam ones.
Train rides are lovely. My girls have yet to experience these types of train. #CountryKids
Miniature train rides are fun 🙂
This would be my son’s idea of heaven. He’d love to have a track in our garden (it’s nowhere near big enough!). I hope Thomas grows to love steam trains as much as my son does #Countrykids
That would be fun – you’d need a big garden though!
What a fabulous first for your little man. I love a miniature railway. Also love your updated elf profile photo too, very fun and seasonal! Thanks for holding the reins and for all your help and advice since we’ve taken over #CountryKids this year, let’s take it from strength to strength in 2019! Wild wishes from me to you and all your family, including your special Christmas forever-angel, for the happiest Christmas possible x
Thank you Lucy for co-hosting it with me – I’ve enjoyed taking it on. Hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas x