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Havenstreet afternoon itinerary

Afternoon itinerary

Starting at Havenstreet

A visit to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is much more than a train ride with lots to see and do at Havenstreet station.

Starting at Havenstreet is the most convenient option if you’re travelling to the Railway by car. There are several trains during the day, with options to visit the other attractions either before or after your train ride. This itinerary gives one suggestion on how you could structure your day.

13:15 Havenstreet station

Arrive at Havenstreet station and soak up the atmosphere of our beautifully restored 1940s station. Havenstreet is the headquarters of the line, with lots to see and do. Allow plenty of time, either before of after your train journey to see everything.

  • Why not visit our T-Junction refreshment kiosk, let the kids let off steam at our children’s play area, or just relax in the station garden and watch the trains go by.

    On the opposite side of the line, discover our carriage & wagon workshop; watch our skilled craftsmen at work as they restore our antique wooden-bodies carriages.

    There’s always lots of action in the adjacent loco yard where you can see the engines being prepared for service.

13:40 Birds of Prey display

Head to our events field to see the hawks and kites take flight at our afternoon Birds of Prey display from our friends at Haven Falconry.

  • Free daily flying displays take place at Havenstreet each day, weather permitting.

    11:40 Woodland Flights: See the owls in action on the Woodland Stage

    13:40 Kings with Wings: Falcons and kites take flight in the Events Field

    You can also visit our partner attraction, Haven Falconry. Tucked away in a corner of our Havenstreet station, the friendly team a are dedicated and skilled falconers who have a passion for birds of prey with over 45 years experience of handling and flying birds. Their ethos is education through fun!

    Marvel at the vast collection of owls, hawks, falcons, eagles and vultures where their care and welfare is the teams utmost priority.

14:35 Steam Train journey

Settle back in your traditional Edwardian or Victorian carriage for your journey through the beautiful Isle of Wight countryside hauled by one of our magnificent steam locomotives. All our carriages have traditional compartments – book online to reserve a compartment for your family.

  • Listen as your steam locomotive works hard to haul your train and watch out for deer and red squirrels as you pass through the woodland.

    Pass through sleepy Ashey halt then on through the woods Smallbrook Junction at the far end of the line. The train waits here for around 10-12 minutes to allow the engine to change ends.

    You’ll then travel the full length of the line, passing through Havenstreet non-stop. Listen to the locomotive work hard as it climbs the steep gradients, and look out for deer and red squirrels in the woods between Havenstreet and Wootton.

    Wootton is restores as a sleepy Edwardian station. We’ll wait here for 8-10 minutes, allowing the engine to change ends again. From Wootton it’s a gentle downhill journey to our main station at Havenstreet.

15:40 Train Story Discovery Centre

Head to our Train Story Discovery Centre to discover our fascinating collection of locomotives, carriages and wagons.

  • Train Story tells the story of the Island’s Railways. Our collection spans from the Oldbury carriage, built for the opening of the Ryde to Shanklin line in 1864 to an old London Underground train that saw service on the same line until 2021.

    Step inside our carriages, learn more about the history of the Ryde Pier tramway, and see our locomotives when they’re not in use on the line.

16:15 Shop & Museum

The Railway Shop is a big hit for anyone with a love of trains! Inside you’ll also find our small artefacts museum which helps tell the story of the Island’s railway history.

  • Our shop has a wide range of railway books, model railways and railway gifts – ideal for finding that elusive present for a train-mad relative!

    Inside the museum you’ll find a variety of fascinating and unusual objects, all connected to the Island’s railways. Discover nameplates from early locomotives, historic clocks and signs, and a variety of personal objects that once belonged to members of the railway’s staff.