Kent & East Sussex Railway

We just had our first trip on the steam railway from Tenterden, and it was such a fantastic day out. We took the route to Bodiam, and honestly the moment we stepped on board, it felt like we’d stepped back in time. The vintage interiors were just beautiful. The best part was watching the British countryside roll by. I loved how everyone we passed along the way stopped to wave at the train it’s such a lovely tradition and I’m so happy that bit of British culture is still going strong. When we finally got to Bodiam, we were struggling to get a decent selfie because of the height difference between us and to get the train on frame, but the conductor was so kind and offered to take the photo for us. It really made the experience special. It felt like a truly authentic piece of British heritage, and we loved every second of it. If you’re planning to go, definitely book your tickets in advance!

· via Google

Always a pleasure to visit KESR. The staff are always so helpful, especially this time with assisting getting my mother onto the Petros carriage for disabled. Knowledgeable staff and refreshments on the train at a reasonable price too. The whole experience is well worth the money. Parking is easy and the restaurant at Tenterden has some nice basic food choices. Looking forward to when they connect to Robertsbridge in a couple of years hopefully.

· via Google

Such a lovely out to Bodium with my family. All the staff are cheerful and happy to help. Lots of history given to us along the way by the lovely ticket inspector. A look around the English heritage shop at Bodium and a refreshing drink in the castle pub before setting off back to Tenterden. The steam trains are awesome. Definitely well worth a visit.

· via Google

This is a truly authentic British heritage experience. We attended the Santa Special on Christmas Eve and booked the most economical coach ticket. What’s included: a return steam train journey from Tenterden to Northiam in a table-for-four coach; in-train table-side entertainment by a performer; Santa visiting the children to chat and present gifts tailored by age and gender; a complimentary cup of mulled wine or hot drink for adults from the station (which can be taken onboard); mince pie and juice for children presented in a woven bag on the table; a children’s activity booklet on arrival; one family photo session with a printed 5×7 photo in a K&ESR Santa Special mount; and a beautifully presented model railway displayed in a dark “Winter Wonderland” room with a Scandinavian-style snowy, starry forest theme. On top of all this, there are unlimited carousel rides (moderate to high speed!) for everyone. Excellent value for money compared with other Santa train experiences. There was genuinely nothing to complain about. Compared with the Isle of Wight Steam Railway Santa experience, K&ESR operates on a larger scale, with more volunteers and staff, while remaining equally well organised and efficient. What really sets K&ESR apart is that the steam train passes through real level crossings on active town roads, giving a strong sense of heritage existing in the real, living world rather than on a closed or purely preserved line. We would be very happy to visit again.

· via Google