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Bluebell Railway

The Bluebell Railway is a living museum, running trains for 9 miles through the picturesque Sussex landscape. Its huge collection of steam trains and photographic archives, are almost exclusively maintained by volunteers. The line began its new life as a tourist attraction, three years after it was closed by British Rail in 1960. By the time steam trains were taken out of general service, later in the decade, the museum had already purchased a number of them for posterity. In 1985 the Bluebell Railway extension to East Grinstead, finally gained planning permission.

Book online today or alternatively, call our dedicated reservations team on 0871 942 9030 and quote reference "IGBBB".

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Things to see and do

Today, trains run between Sheffield Park and Kingscote and being onboard is probably the highlight of the day, for most visitors. A ride on a steam engine is a wonderful treat for adults and children alike, transporting you back into a more peaceful way of life.

Inside, the museum is in two sections, the first offers an insight into the history of the museum and Sussex railways. Don’t miss the courageous story of how the railway was saved by enthusiastic locals, who didn’t want to see this bygone gem lost forever. In the second section, you can discover how modern day railways have developed; there are artefacts and hands on exhibits to bring this history to life. The Bluebell Railway extension project is still raising funds, however they hope this section of track will be completed in Spring 2013.

Holiday Inn hotel near the Bluebell Railway

If you’re looking for a hotel near the Bluebell Railway, look no further than the Holiday Inn London Gatwick, which is ideally located -- less than a 30 minutes’ drive away from Horsted Keynes Station. We have a variety of great packages and offers on bedrooms available at our hotel for you to book today.

Opening Times

The museum is open from April to October. Outside of these months it opens each weekend and during school holidays. The first train of the day leaves at 11am most days and the last train departs around 5pm. Be sure to check the timetable for exact train times and steam engine days.

How to get to the Bluebell Railway

By Bus:

  • Catch the 473 bus from East Grinstead to Kingscote, runs on special event days.
  • Catch the 270 Metrobus every Saturday between Haywards Heath and East Grinstead.

By Rail:

  • From London, Brighton or Worthing, catch the train to Derward's Heath and then continue to Horsted Keynes on the 270 Metrobus.
  • From London Victoria, East Croydon or Oxted stations catch the train to East Grinstead, then onto a bus as above.

By Car:

  • Use the postcode RH17 7BB for your satellite navigation, the railway is signposted from the village of Horsted Keynes, with plenty of parking at Horsted Keynes Station.

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Sheffield Park Station
Sheffield Park
Uckfield
East Sussex
TN22 3QL