Photo of Epping Ongar Railway in East of England1 / 3
Trains & Railways

Epping Ongar Railway

📍 Ongar, East of England

★4.6(1,096 Google reviews)👶All ages

Essex heritage railway running steam and diesel trains through countryside on former London Underground lines. All-day travel tickets include vintage London bus connections from Epping station.

✓ Heritage steam trains✓ Vintage bus connections✓ Halloween specials✓ Christmas trains✓ Enthusiast volunteers

🏆 Funzaroo Verdict

Best for train enthusiast families and those seeking a genuinely nostalgic day out with authentic heritage railway atmosphere. The Halloween and Christmas specials are particularly strong for children, with themed train decorations and activities on-board.

ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go

💡Use the library public car park near Ongar if the station car park is full
⏰Buy combined train and bus tickets — the 339 bus adds significant flexibility and value
🎟️Use onsite toilets before boarding as there are no facilities on the trains
🚗Book Halloween, Christmas, and steam gala events well in advance — capacity is sparse by venue size

💬 What Families Are Saying

View all reviews →
4.6
★★★★★

1,096 Google reviews

G Reviews from Google

C

Captainpubwatch

7 months ago

★★★★★

“The day out gets five stars - but - to get the most of the visit I’d recommend using both the trains and the buses. The ticket covers both and the 339 bus is a great ride. On the day we visited trains were not serving Epping Forest meaning a long wait at North Weald, but the 339 filled this in perfectly. The train journey was great, very relaxing and the vast Essex countryside gives weight to this - incredible to think that this was part of the tube many years ago! There is so much history on display, from representing the Great Eastern Railway, to the LNER, right up to British Rail and of course London Transport. This railway is unique to capture so many different genres in its time and it all works so well, the mainline steam/diesel across to London Transport buses. A winning combination. Great day out and top marks, cheers!”

M

Melanie Harrison

3 months ago

★★★★★

“Lovely time to sing along and be merry. Bring your own drinks and food or buy from the burger stall (which got really busy so be prepared to wait) make sure you use the toilet before the train departs as no toilets on the train. You get a light up wrist band that is controlled on the train and changed colour/flashes in time with the music. The host (pre recorded) is great. Good hour out of the house well spent.”

A

A Lowden

5 months ago

★★★★★

“Went on the railway for the first time today for the Halloween event and was so impressed with the whole experience. All the staff were absolutely amazing and the train and old London buses were brilliant. Will be back for a general ride and also the Christmas event. Thank you to everyone who helped make our day so enjoyable”

💬 What parents mention

Authentic heritage railway experienceExcellent volunteer staffSpecial themed eventsParking challenges at Ongar

Overview

The Epping Ongar Railway operates heritage steam and diesel trains through Essex countryside on former Underground tracks between Epping and Ongar. Standard tickets include vintage London bus connections, all-day travel, and access to period stations along the route. Special events cover Easter egg hunts, steam galas, Halloween trains, Christmas specials, driver footplate sessions, and signalbox experiences. Volunteer staff run the railway in period uniform throughout.

🕐 Opening Hours

Wednesday10:00 – 16:30
Saturday10:00 – 16:30
Sunday10:00 – 16:30

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