Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot

Name: Didcot Railway Centre
Address: Station Rd, Didcot, OX11 7NJ, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1235 817200

#1 among attractions in Didcot

Top attraction, Museum

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Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 2.0 / David Ingham / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / Ultra7 / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) / URL

Facts and practical information

In the heart of Oxfordshire, nestled within the bustling town of Didcot, lies a treasured homage to Britain's rich railway heritage - the Didcot Railway Centre. This museum is a must-visit for train enthusiasts and history buffs alike, offering an immersive journey into the golden age of steam.

Established around the original Great Western Railway (GWR) engine shed, the Didcot Railway Centre is not just a static exhibition but a living museum where the clatter and hiss of steam locomotives are still part of the daily ambiance. Visitors can explore an impressive collection of engines, carriages, and memorabilia that celebrate the GWR's storied past.

The centre boasts several full-size steam locomotives, many of which are operational and used for demonstration purposes on the site's own stretch of track. These include the majestic King and Castle class locomotives, which stand as a testament to the engineering prowess of the early 20th century.

Besides the locomotives, the museum is home to a reconstructed Brunel broad gauge railway, a signalling centre, and a unique collection of railway-related buildings. The Air Raid Precaution (ARP) signal box offers an evocative glimpse into the railway's role during wartime Britain.

For a truly interactive experience, visitors can ride on the centre's steam trains, which operate on demonstration lines on selected days. These rides evoke the bygone era of steam travel, allowing passengers to revel in the nostalgia of chugging engines and whistling sounds.

The Didcot Railway Centre also provides educational experiences through its visitor centre, where interactive displays and knowledgeable volunteers bring the history of the GWR to life. Special event days, such as steam galas and vintage vehicle rallies, add to the centre's appeal, drawing enthusiasts from across the country.

Established: 1967 (57 years ago)Coordinates: 51°36'52"N, 1°14'42"W

Address

Station RdDidcot OX11 7NJ United Kingdom

Contact

+44 1235 817200

Website

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Didcot

Day trips

Didcot Railway Centre – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Wittenham Clumps, Dorchester Abbey, Thames Path, All Saints' Church.

3 miE
Nature, Natural attraction, Forest
Wittenham Clumps
76 min walk • Wittenham Clumps, also known as the Sinodun Hills, are the most distinctive landmark in Oxfordshire, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. This ancient site consists of two prominent chalk hills, Castle Hill and Round Hill, which are visible for...
4 miNE
History museum, Museum, Church
Dorchester Abbey, Dorchester on Thames
102 min walk • The Abbey Church of St Peter and St Paul, more usually called Dorchester Abbey, is a Church of England parish church in Dorchester on Thames, Oxfordshire, about 8 miles southeast of Oxford. It was formerly a Norman abbey church and was built on the site of a Saxon cathedral.
3.6 miN
Hiking, Hiking trail
Thames Path
93 min walk • The Thames Path is a National Trail following the River Thames from its source near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier at Charlton, south east London. It is about 184 miles long. A path was first proposed in 1948 but it only opened in 1996. The Thames Path's entire length can be walked, and a few parts can be cycled.
2.4 miNW
Church
All Saints' Church
61 min walk • The Church of All Saints, Sutton Courtenay is the Church of England parish church of Sutton Courtenay, England. Extant since at least the 12th century, the church has been Grade I listed since 1966. It is in the centre of the village, near the northeast corner of the village green.
2.5 miSE
Nightlife
Bear at Home, Didcot
65 min walk • The Bear at Home is an English 16th-century public house in the South Oxfordshire village of North Moreton, near Wallingford. It retains many original 16th-century features, including timber-framed walls, inglenook fireplace and a well, and was extended in 1980 to allow it to serve food.
2 miNE
History museum, Museum
Pendon Museum, Abingdon
52 min walk • Pendon Museum, located in Long Wittenham near Didcot, Oxfordshire, England, is a museum that displays scale models, in particular a large scene representing parts of the Vale of White Horse in the 1920s and 1930s.
3.2 miNE
Bridge
Little Wittenham Bridge
82 min walk • Little Wittenham Bridge is a footbridge across the River Thames in England near Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. It is just downstream of Day's Lock on the reach above Benson Lock and connects Little Wittenham to Dorchester.
3.3 miNW
Bridge
Culham Bridge, Abingdon
86 min walk • Culham Bridge is a medieval bridge crossing a present backwater of the River Thames in England at Culham, Oxfordshire, near the town of Abingdon.
2.6 miNE
Archaeological site
Earth Trust Centre
68 min walk • Earth Trust Centre, formerly known as Project Timescape, is Earth Trust's visitor and education centre near the Wittenham Clumps, Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire, England. The centre's aim is to educate and engage people in their local landscape and inspire them to take action to protect it.
1.3 miS
Park
Mowbray Fields, Didcot
35 min walk • Mowbray Fields is a 2.2-hectare Local Nature Reserve on the southern outskirts of Didcot in Oxfordshire. It is owned by South Oxfordshire District Council and managed by the Earth Trust.
2.9 miE
51°36'50"N • 1°10'36"W
Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary, Wallingford
75 min walk • Nature and wildlife, Park, Zoo