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12 Things to do on the Watercress Line with Kids

We have been fortunate to visit the Hants Railway Watercress Line several times over the last few years. On our most recent visit, we even stayed at Ropley Station. Both boys love a trip on a steam engine which is of course one of the best things to do on the heritage railway. However, there are many other things to do on the Watercress Line with kids. If you are considering taking yours and would like to know all the brilliant things you can do on a family day out then here’s our list.

Table of Contents

12 Things to do on the Watercress Line with Kids

Go on a train ride

Obvious I know but we couldn’t ignore this one. You can purchase a family ticket which will allow you unlimited rides on the trains for the day. Make sure you pick up a train timetable so you can see when they are running. During the holidays and at weekends there is normally more than one train running. Both are included in the ticket price. The staff are so friendly and even let Harry punch the tickets on the train.

We tend to board at Alresford Station as it is one end of the line. This is probably the main station from a heritage perspective. Since Alton station at the other end is also a mainline station and so you have this in the background. There are four heritage stations on the line including Medstead & Four Marks Stations which is the highest station, operational in the South of England. By boarding at Alresford station, you also get the chance to pick up hot drinks in the cafe. Also modelled around a bygone age with rows of bench seats outside.

The boys love going on a real steam train and the fact that you can spend the whole day going up and down the historic railway makes it the perfect activity if the weather is a little iffy. They also run special days where you can go on diesel trains.

Visit the signal box

If you also board at Alresford make sure you spend some time in the signal box. Try and arrive early before the first train is due into the station. As it means that you can watch as the train comes in. Seeing how the different lights in the panel above the leavers light up and then the order you have to pull them in. The whole line is staffed by volunteers all passionate about the trains. When we visited the signal man told us exactly what he was doing and how it worked which the kids were completely engaged in.

Try out the free activity sheets

One thing I missed initially but was able to pick them up later was the activity sheet. This is a great way to keep younger children engaged while travelling up and down the railway. There are several to choose from with the main activities all linking to the railway. You can also purchase an activity book from one of gift shops, costing only £3 it was enough to keep Harry entertained all the way around even including stickers.

Enjoy the locomotive playground

At Ropley station there is a railway-inspired play area. With a large wooden train climbing frame, slide and fireman’s pole. The boys really enjoyed it. There is a cafe right next to it but also a picnic area, meaning that it is very popular around lunchtime. It does have things for different ages although I would suggest it is best suited for 6+. Although there is also a giant swing and railway cart which the younger kids could enjoy.

Kings Cross Bridge

This was a bit of a shock since the boys are a little Harry Potter-mad. We have been visiting a number of the filming locations of the Harry Potter films. So I am not sure how we had previously missed the iron footbridge that was used in the filming of the Philosopher’s Stone. But we did until our most recent visit, the boys enjoyed walking in Harry Potter’s footsteps as well as waiting on it for the next train on the bridge. We discovered that by standing on this bridge you will get covered in the steam as the big trains pass below. Which you could even pretend is the Hogwarts Express. When you are seven and eleven this is the ‘best thing ever’.

Spend your pocket money in the gift shop

There are several different gift shops along the line. But the largest is at Alresford Station. With a wide selection of pocket money toys and souvenirs. It has something for most age groups. As well as a selection of items for building your own model railways and various books.

Be amazed in the Loco Yard

Also located at Ropley are the train sheds. Where you can see the conservation work being undertaken by the volunteers as they rebuild steam engines. There is a viewing platform and also some interactive exhibits for the kids to try out. When we last visited there was a school event so we could not see the whole area. But there is also an opportunity to see some impressive engineering workshops at certain times. There are signs which will direct you to the best way around the engine yards as well as some information plaques explaining the things you can see.

Take ride on the Miniature Railway

A new discovery for us is the miniature railway. When I first saw the signs I thought it was a Model railway. However, when we went to investigate we found a sit-on miniature narrow-gauge railway. There is a suggested donation of £1 per person per ride and the ability to pay by card. The track goes in a straight line and runs alongside the main steam line. Which means you can race the engines if you time it right. Although not that long the boys really enjoyed it.

Visit the beautiful village of Alresford

If you are looking for somewhere to stop for lunch then the pretty village of Old Alresford is perfect. With little rows of pastel-coloured houses and lots of great independent shops and plenty of places to stop for food. You can pick up some locally produced gifts and tasty treats. Long Barn Lavender is not far from the high street where you can wander amongst the different types of lavender in their gardens.

Enjoy a Day out with Thomas

If you have little ones that enjoy Thomas the Tank Engine then I can recommend their Thomas event. It is such a fantastic day, where you can actually ride on Thomas and meet many of his friends on the tracks. One of several special events that they run throughout the year. There are normally vintage fairground rides, shows and a chance to meet the fat controller as well as many other activities linked to the favourite character. See their website for details of upcoming dates.

Christmas Events

We have also been fortunate to visit Father Christmas for one of their Santa Special events. It is such a festive day out with Christmas songs, mulled wine, Christmas trees and a mince pie for the adults. The children get to meet the big man on the train and receive a special gift. With something for the whole family, it is the perfect way to get into the festive spirit. I would suggest booking this one early though as it is usually a sell-out.

Steam Illuminations

If you are looking for something a little different then instead of your traditional visit to Santa you may want to give the Steam Illuminations a go. We have not tried this at the Watercress Line although have at the Bluebell Railway. We really enjoyed racing through the countryside on a train covered in brightly coloured lights. However, in comparison, the Bluebell Railway is much shorter in distance. So next time I think we will try the Watercress Line and enjoy the full forty minutes from one end to the other.

There really is so much to do at the Watercress Line for kids, you do need to allow a full day to get your money’s worth.

Have you visited the Watercress Line with kids? Let me know about your experience in the comments below.