Bure Valley Railway (Aylsham station) — Attraction in Broadland

Bure Valley Railway is an absolute gem and a must-visit attraction for anyone in the Aylsham or Wroxham areas.

The little railway is truly adorable, and as close as you can get to experiencing a real-life version of the "Oh Dr Beeching" TV series. The steam trains are well-maintained and cared for, and the staff are friendly, accommodating, and go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome.

I particularly enjoyed the ease of booking tickets online, with the ability to select a suitable departure time, and the convenience of collecting them before departure. The journey on the little steam train is a delightful experience, taking around 45 minutes and offering a unique and memorable way to see the charming sights of Norfolk. While the route is narrow, with mostly high hedge sides and limited scenic views, the journey itself is pleasant and enjoyable. The compartments are clean, spacious and offer a comfortable ride for families.

The station is a charming and well-maintained site, with a delightful café that offers tasty treats like cappuccinos and chocolate cake. The gift shop is also a must-visit destination, with a wide variety of railway-related items, including model railway equipment and gifts.

While the experience may be a bit pricey, it is well worth the money for the opportunity to ride on a historic steam train and enjoy the charming atmosphere of the station. It is also important to note that running a steam railway involves significant expenses, such as staff, upkeep, and fuel for the steam engines, and this justifies the price.

Overall, I highly recommend Bure Valley Railway as a fantastic day out for families, railway enthusiasts and anyone looking for a unique and memorable experience. The charming atmosphere, accommodating staff, and delightful journey on the little steam train make for a truly unforgettable experience that will have you wanting to come back...

This narrow gauge railway has immaculate engines and very friendly staff, clean facilities, and a useful booking system that assigns seats for you on the train to avoid any confusion or rushing for seats.

The track follows a recommissioned line (Beeching cuts of 1965) from Aylsham to Wroxham (rtn) so has all of the features of a branch line. There are views of the countryside, working farms, rivers and the occasional walker, but the track bed is nestled within a number of cuttings/ravines, which we felt restricted the overall impression (views) of travelling the broads by steam train. However a 45min journey is a usefully long trip (90minute return), making the price per person good value, with dogs allowed to travel for £3.50.

A free car park, a selection of refreshments, and a model shop, create interest at Aylsham with a book shop at Wroxham. We didn't manage to see any of the other engines working the line as they were out pulling trains. We came back on the last train with no access to view the engines, and there isn't the museum feel or memorabilia that make some railways have more character.

Wroxham is claimed to be the capital of the broads and was busy with traffic on the main route through. Unfortunately for us, this was also the main crossing point to a Riverside view point, which the blind crest bridge and volume of traffic made nervy, alongside limited pavement and space.

A short riverside walk from Wroxham Station to the centre is delightful but perhaps as a whole, you cannot stay at either end of the line for very long, as these villages are small, with some local shops to visit. We sat and ate fish and chips in Wroxham, then after a short stroll, sat for a cake and tea to pass the time while waiting for the...

Weekend away and my friend and I decided to go on a train adventure as we stayed at Caister on Sea holiday park weekend before the second lockdown 😊

It was a good experience, had to drive an hour from Caister to Aylsham.

Parking available outside of the station at Alysham free of charge. We turned up early and could sit at the stations cafe area under strict social distancing measures.

Tickets available to purchase both over the phone and in person at the station.

Masks must be worn at all times in and around the station.

Toilet facilities available at both ends (Alysham station and Wroxham station)

It was 45mins ride both ways, staff and attendants were quite friendly and helpful, willing to change ticket times to accommodate us.

Carparks quite secure and refreshments available to purchase if you need to wait for your train to arrive, sitting plan was great and comfortable..no toilets on board as very small seating cabins 😊

The views were lovely and tranquil

Loads of signposting to show which direction to go and how to keep safe with social distancing 👍🏼

Wroxham has a small town which is about 15mins walk from the train station if you have enough waiting time..cash machine, retail shopping, food shopping, dining etc available here

Overall it was a nice activity and lil kids would really...