All Aboard for a 'Summer of Fun' on the Kent & East Sussex Railway
Extra fun for Creative Explorers
(Copyright text and images KESR/Alison Miles, reproduced with kind permission)
Image 1 credit Marc Taylor
Image 2 credit Brilliant Bricks
Image 3 credit Steve Hedges
Image 4 credit Craftybasketery
Image 5 credit Peter Mould/Stagesnaps.com
From budget-saving offers to fun events with a difference there is something for everyone, whatever their age, to experience and enjoy on the award-winning Kent & East Sussex Railway this Summer.
Extra fun for creative explorers
A brand-new FREE experience Bricks on the Move arrives this May Half Term with a regular railway carriage transformed into a hands-on creative play space, filled with thousands of LEGO and DUPLO bricks ready for building, imagining and exploring.
Children (and grown-ups too!) are invited to take a seat, dive into the bricks and build their own railway-inspired creations. From trains and stations to landscapes, bridges and all manner of inventions, there are endless possibilities! Thousands of mixed bricks are available for each session with creative suggestions to spark ideas in a relaxed space for families and friends to build together. Perfect for all ages, this experience is free with a travel ticket. However, spaces are limited so pre-booking is essential.
Alternatively, how about joining Marianne of 'Craftybasketry' for a willow-weaving workshop? With her expert tuition, children can create their very own dragonfly (one-hour workshop for 8-12-year-olds) or bird feeder (two-hour workshop for 12-15-year-olds) to take home. Children attending a workshop travel for FREE when accompanied by a fare-paying adult or senior who will also receive a ticket discount. Again, pre-booking is essential as places are limited.
Lots more children's activities will be on offer throughout the Summer - from the Teddy Bear Express and the Great Train Mystery to a Circus Skills workshop and the return of Bricks on the Move - so visitor should keep checking the website www.kesr.org.uk for dates and details.
Summer offers
Senior Saver tickets will be available throughout May (excluding the 1940s Weekend on 16th and 17th May), for passengers aged 60+ at £20, when bought in advance.
'Kids Go FREE' also comes back over the Summer holidays (21st July until the end of August). This offer is applicable on regular services, excluding special events and character experiences. Up to three children under 16 can travel free with a fare-paying adult, with unlimited journeys on the day of travel.
And there's a bonus on all these tickets, as they enable passengers to claim a discount on the cost of same day entry to Bodiam Castle, a few minutes' walk from Bodiam Station.
Running alongside these offers, local residents in certain TN postcodes can purchase a Season Ticket. For around a third more than the price of a standard one-day Adult or Senior freedom ticket, these provide unlimited travel over the entire Summer period. Proof of ID and postcode address will be needed when you travel, along with your season ticket.
For those looking to add some drama to their evening – especially Agatha Christie fans - a K&ESR Murder Mystery Evening could be just the ticket! Step aboard for a journey of intrigue, deception and high drama. Will you uncover the culprit or will they walk free? You can even enjoy a delicious two-course dinner while you try to solve the mystery. Specially written for the K&ESR and performed by the Bexhill Light Operatic and Dramatic Society, there are four Friday evenings to choose from: 29th May, 26th June, 31st July and 28th August. Prices: Non-dining £47 (Adult) £25 (Child 15yrs and under); Dining £71.50 (Adult) £32.95 (Child 15yrs and under).
For adults only, become a mixologist at an exclusive cocktail-making class on board the late afternoon departure from Tenterden on Saturday 20th June. Learn to create two different cocktails (or alcohol free 'mocktail equivalents) under the expert tuition of mixologist Marc Taylor. You can then drink your creations, accompanied by delicious nibbles, as you travel through the beautiful Wealden countryside between Tenterden and Bodiam in the elegant luxury of premium dining carriage 'Diana'. Tables for two or four: £99 / £198. Tables for two or four: £99 / £198.
Fish and Chip Specials will also be running on selected mid-week dates throughout the Summer and into September. Early booking is recommended as these dining experiences are very popular and sell out quickly. Prices vary according to your food choice but for Cod & Chips it's £49.50 (Adult) and £16.00 (Child) including travel.
Snap happy
Always wanted to take great photos of steam trains with expert tuition and capture life behind the scenes at a heritage railway? Join one of three photography courses taking place over the Summer on Saturday 27th June, Wednesday 8th July and Thursday 6th August.
Each morning course - for groups of up to six people - is led by professional photographer of 30 years' standing Steve Hedges, who will share his expertise and provide plenty of tips on how to get that perfect shot.
The morning starts with the opportunity to photograph the 'steam up' activities at Rolvenden Station, followed by a light breakfast in the Station Refreshment Rooms back at Tenterden and then a steam train trip to Bodiam to photograph the 'run around' and re-coupling procedure before the return to Tenterden.
And there's more...
Added Tenterden Town Station Summer attractions include: Road Traction Engines on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June; a vintage Bus Rally on Sunday 9 August; a Model Railway Exhibition on Saturday 22nd August and, courtesy of the K&ESR's partnership with Fox and Edwards Events, a special visit from children's character Zog, 'the brave little dragon' on Monday 17th August.
Information and booking details for all the latest events can be found at: www.kesr.org.uk
Further Information
About the Kent & East Sussex Railway: The Kent & East Sussex Railway is a renowned and award-winning heritage railway based in Tenterden, Kent, UK, operating as an educational charity. Built by Holman F Stephens, it was the first light passenger railway in Britain in the early 20th century and is today one of Britain's most loved and original heritage lines. With a rich history spanning over 120 years, the K&ESR offers visitors an authentic steam and diesel-powered railway experience through 10½ miles of Wealden countryside in the beautiful Rother Valley, a designated National Landscape (formerly known as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). Staffed almost entirely by volunteers, the railway prides itself on preserving railway heritage, operating a diverse range of locomotives, and providing a unique glimpse into the golden age of rail travel.
A regular award winner, the K&ESR gained a coveted Trip Advisor Travellers Choice Awards in both 2024 and 2025, placing it among the top 10% of listings of places to visit around the world on Tripadvisor according to verified visitor reviews. It was also voted Best Family Experience in Kent by the public in the 2025 Muddy Stilettos Awards and is a finalist for 2026. The Dwarves of Steam Gala in 2025 took Gold as Event of the Year in the 2025 Beautiful South Tourism Awards, with the Wealden Pullman collecting a Bronze Award in the Restaurant of the Year category.
