Kent & Sussex Steam Explorer 2026

Duration

5 Days

Departure Dates

28th May 2026

Prices from

£995 Per person

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Explore the glorious sights, smells, and sounds of the steam age on this action-packed tour featuring the fantastic "Transport Heritage" event at the Kent & East Sussex Railway. Journey on a further seven heritage railways including exclusive steam charters, a depot visit, fantastic locomotive collections, and charming miniature railways.

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RH&D Railway1 ©AdobeStock

5 days from £995

DEPARTS

Thursday 28 May 2026

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Steam on the narrow-gauge Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
Ride behind steam on the quirky Bredgar & Wormshill Railway
Exclusive steam charter and depot visit at the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Railway
Experience the fantastic "Transport Heritage" event at Kent & East Sussex Railway
Visit the charming Hastings Miniature Railway
Journey through the High Weald countryside on the Spa Valley Railway
Steam nostalgia on the historic Bluebell Railway
Enjoy a scenic journey on the Lavender Line

Also included in your Tour Fare:

4 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 1 evening meal
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Ashford and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Hampton by Hilton Hotel, our hotel for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together at the Curious Brewery.

DAY 2

Today, our coach will take us to the narrow-gauge Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway for a steam journey through some of Kent's most picturesque countryside to Dungeness. On our return, we alight at New Romney Station, the headquarters of the railway, where we can take time for lunch, view the locomotives, and explore the local history. This afternoon, we visit the quirky Bredgar & Wormshill Railway for an exclusive charter of one of their steam locomotives before continuing to the nearby Sittingbourne & Kemsley Railway for our second steam charter of the day on this historic railway including a run-by and a depot visit.

DAY 3

After breakfast today, we visit the Kent & East Sussex Railway for their fantastic Transport Heritage Gala where additional locomotives will be in operation on the line to Bodiam plus traction engines and vintage vehicles. Later in the day, we will travel to the charming Hastings Miniature Railway for a ride along the picturesque track with beautiful views of the coastline towards the old fishing huts at Rock-a-Nore and return.

DAY 4

This morning, we travel by road to the Spa Valley Railway for a return journey through the beautiful High Weald countryside, riding behind steam to Eridge and returning behind diesel. Our next stop is the fantastic Bluebell Railway for a steam-hauled service along the length of the line including time to view the wonderful locomotive collection at Sheffield Park and the historic station at Horsted Keynes, which has featured many times in films and television period dramas. Our last stop is Isfield Station, home of the Lavender Line, where we enjoy a 2-mile run through beautiful Wealden countryside on their last train of the day before returning to our hotel for our final evening at leisure.

DAY 5

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Ashford and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

HOTEL

Hampton by Hilton, Ashford

Ideally located close to the railway station, the Hampton by Hilton offers a modern, informal dining service with seasonal dishes, a stylish lounge area, and a fitness centre. The comfortable bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, ironing facilities, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

FARES

Fare Region	First*	Standard
London: Charing Cross	£1,089	£1,059
Greater London	£1,075	£1,049
South of England	£1,179	£1,089
East Anglia	£1,129	£1,079
South West	£1,179	£1,109
Heart of England	£1,159	£1,085
Midlands	£1,355	£1,169
Yorkshire	£1,295	£1,155
North East	£1,335	£1,175
North West	£1,439	£1,219
South Wales	£1,265	£1,159
North Wales	£1,395	£1,199
Scotland	£1,355	£1,185
Join & Leave at Hotel	£995
Single Traveller Supplement	£340
Deposit	£100

*Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey.

4 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 1 evening meal

Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)

Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described

All excursions & admissions as detailed

Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

Important – Please select the number of passengers before proceeding to ‘Book Now’

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Hampton by Hilton, Ashford

Curious Brewery

Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

Bredgar & Wormshill Railway

Sittingbourne & Kemsley Railway

Kent & East Sussex Railway

Hastings Miniature Railway

Spa Valley Railway

Bluebell Railway

Lavender Line

RH&D Railway2 ©RHDR

Bredgar & Wormshill Railway1 ©B&W Railway

Bredgar & Wormshill Railway2 ©B&W Railway

Sittingbourne & Kemsley Railway ©S&K Railway

Kent & East Sussex Railway1 ©AdobeStock

Kent & East Sussex Railway2 ©David Fowler

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