Name: Devon Railway Centre
Rating: 5.0

Devon Railway Centre

Devon Railway Centre, Bickleigh, Tiverton, UK

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

Devon Railway Centre is a unique family attraction in Bickleigh offering a fun-filled railway experience for all ages. Visitors can enjoy unlimited rides on two different railways, explore detailed model displays, and discover a variety of indoor and outdoor play areas. Set on the former Exe Valley Railway site, it combines heritage, entertainment, and hands-on activities in one location.

Attractions include a 2ft narrow gauge railway running alongside the River Exe, a 7¼” miniature railway to the riverside picnic area and Magic Wood, and a huge model railway exhibition with 14 layouts and 40 trains in motion. Families can explore the Edwardian model village and funfair, visit the heritage museum coach, and enjoy multiple indoor play areas including the Play Shed soft play (up to 148cm tall), ball pool, sand pit, wooden railways, and build ‘n’ play area. There are also three outdoor play areas, crazy golf, a climbing frame at the picnic site, and Buffers Café serving hot and cold food.

Admission prices are £14.00 (Adult), £13.00 (Child 3–15), £13.50 (Senior 65+), £52.70 (Family), and £64.80 (Super Family), with season tickets and group discounts available.

Overall, Devon Railway Centre offers a full day of entertainment blending trains, history, and imaginative play. With unlimited train rides, extensive model displays, and varied play facilities, it appeals to both railway enthusiasts and families. It is an engaging and memorable day out in the heart of Devon.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY: Our 2ft gauge railway takes you on a delightful ride alongside the River Exe and around the centre. Rebecca, our steam loco, along with Ivor and Fred (both diesels) will regularly take you for unlimited rides. Children (and adults) are encouraged to volunteer to wave the flag to start the train which takes visitors to our riverside picnic area. Enjoy watching the wildlife whilst the children work off energy on the climbing frame located in this picturesque spot.
MODEL RAILWAY: Take a journey through our superb model railway exhibition, all housed in full sized railway coaches. Experience the delights of a miniature world with 14 layouts and 40 trains in motion. Our layouts have been built by some of Britain’s top modellers. Great attention has been paid to detail and capturing the atmosphere of the period. Come and see for yourselves!
MINIATURE RAILWAY: Our 71/4’’ gauge railway will take you on a journey to our riverside picnic area and then along to Magic Wood. Enjoy the characters who live there and delight in there quirky, colourful homes! There’s always something different to spot on every journey.
INDOOR PLAY AREAS: Our indoor play areas offer great entertainment whatever the weather! The play coaches are designed for children from 18 months up to 7 years old. The Play Shed which houses our soft play area caters for children up to 148cm tall. Adults are also permitted to explore the Play Shed.
MODEL VILLAGE & FUNFAIR: Experience the delights of a world in miniature in the Edwardian era. Our model village was designed and built by our skilled team of model builders here at the Railway Centre. It gives visitors a chance to go back in time to view horse and carts, caravans, detailed shop scenes and hundreds of folks going about their daily business. We have built a townscape, a village, a tin mine and a funfair all of which are operated with a series of push buttons. Play a game of I spy and challenge yourself to find all the answers to clues created by the Devon Railway Centre. This is truly a gemfor you to enjoy time and time again during your visit.
OUTDOOR PLAY AREAS: There are 3 different play areas to suit all ages and abilities at the Devon railway Centre. The castle themed play area which will delight our younger visitors is situated alongside our café. Our Twister play area provides a challenge for all children and our picnic site play area is particularly suited to pre school age children.
HERITAGE: Devon Railway Centre lies on the site of the former Exe Valley Railway which was closed in 1963 by Dr Beeching. It lay empty and was owned by the council until the Railway Centre opened in 1998. There is a museum in one of our coaches dedicated to the history of the station site we now occupy and the history of the narrow gauge railway equipment we now own. Devon Railway Centre has a large narrow gauge collection.

Facilities

Food & Drinks: Buffers café is housed in the former Victorian station and offers a range of hot and cold food. We stock a range of locally made cakes and treats. We have Gluten Free and Vegan options and our staff will also advise on allergens in our products.

What to see

INDOOR PLAY AREAS

THE PLAY SHED: The Play Shed is housed in the former Goods Shed which has been extensively refurbished for our fantastic railway themed soft play area. Built on three levels and specifically designed for the Devon Railway Centre, the Play Shed offers plenty of opportunities for children to climb, slide, twist and turn and more importantly, have great fun! Suitable for children up to 148cm tall.
BALL POOL: The ball pool provides a great area to burn off energy. Playing with friends or making new ones in this fantastic space housed in a full sized railway coach.
BUILD ‘N’ PLAY: This area allows children to explore a wealth of imaginative play. Lots of different wooden buildings, vehicles to build and wooden figures to create a range of different scenes.
WOODEN RAILWAYS: Our large wooden railway layout allows lots of children to play together or alongside each other to enjoy taking the wooden trains on journey after journey!
SAND PIT: Our sand pit is very popular! Children love to play with our toys and enjoy digging, making sandcastles and simply having lots of fun!