Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway
Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway
Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway
4.5
About
Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway, sometimes known as the 'secret railway', is the only operational 1915 heritage steam narrow-gauge railway ‘loop’ within the M25. The railway has a fascinating heritage story to tell of supplying clean drinking water to London in the early 1900s and is set against the backdrop of the magnificent Kempton Steam Museum, housing the world’s largest 1,000-ton pumping engine. With plenty of parking, countryside picnic tables and play area with a children's static train, it's a great day out for families, friends, and enthusiasts of steam. Check our websites for details of our exciting events programme from March to November Sundays only. Railway diesel locomotive operating until May/June.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
57 reviews
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43
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13
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0
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0
Geoff P
2 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
What a brilliant afternoon. Took our daughter, her partner and the 2 (young) granchildren to the Christmas train event. I was a bit sceptical before attending but the volunteers who run this really put their heart and soul into it.
£8 for an adult ticket saw a free tea/coffee/cocolate/juice and biscuit or mince pie for all on arrival, then 3 times round the track on the train including a station stop to meet santa's helpers and then the train is joined on the station platform by Santa and (nice touch!) - age matched bag of quality presents are given to the children.
Only last about 30-40 minutes but we all loved it. Worth every penny!
£8 for an adult ticket saw a free tea/coffee/cocolate/juice and biscuit or mince pie for all on arrival, then 3 times round the track on the train including a station stop to meet santa's helpers and then the train is joined on the station platform by Santa and (nice touch!) - age matched bag of quality presents are given to the children.
Only last about 30-40 minutes but we all loved it. Worth every penny!
Written 11 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John B
Brisbane, Australia131 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
I attended the 10th annioversary gala day. The ride may be a straightforward one but greater accessibility and interest has been created on the site by providing public access to the shed and workshops area so that all the rolling stock and locomotives on site can more readily be viewed. There is seating available for picnics in a pleasant grassed area. The organisation of the event was of a high standard with a miniature train ride and refreshments on sale. The day seemed popular with parents and children and the staff went out of their way to make an enjoyable and memorable day. The intention is to extend the line along a pleasant wooded corridor and Thames Water and the railway society should be congratulated on the development of this public amenity.
Written 22 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CarlaMcD-01
London, UK1 contribution
Jul 2018 • Family
I went in July 2018 with a 2 1/2 year old who loves trains.
It's a nice circular route and one ticket gets you three loops on the circuit.
It's not the longest route in the world, but long enough for young children.
The museum is also lovely and a sweet little tea shop.
The exterior of the museum was used to film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang sweet factory
Remember to have your QR scanner ready in the museum as you can download extra audio at each museum point
It's a nice circular route and one ticket gets you three loops on the circuit.
It's not the longest route in the world, but long enough for young children.
The museum is also lovely and a sweet little tea shop.
The exterior of the museum was used to film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang sweet factory
Remember to have your QR scanner ready in the museum as you can download extra audio at each museum point
Written 22 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie W
Feltham, UK27 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
Visited Kempton Steam Museum with my husband as they were doing the last steam train for the year, had a fun trip on the train before visiting the museum, although it was busy as there was a Christmas craft fair at the time there was plenty of Tom to wander round and listen to the various talks by people who volunteer there, it was a fascinating place to visit topped off with tea and cake in
the cafe, if it’s something you are interested then we’ll worth the visit
the cafe, if it’s something you are interested then we’ll worth the visit
Written 6 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie,
Thanks for you're positive review! The Santa Specials are now about to take place but they have been fully booked for some time. We reopen next year on Saturday 17th March, when the Great Engines will also be In-Steam. And from then-on we will be running every Sunday until late-November 2018. We hope to see you again next season.
Douglas
Written 8 December 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tony H
London, UK62 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
We live close by and often stop by at the weekend to watch the trains and have a cup of tea and cake. There are two attractions on site. The 2' gauge steam railway, open most weekends in the summer and the Great Engines which previously pumped water across London. That's not running so often but you can visit, and have the cup of tea, for free when not operating. Easy parking under the A316. Plenty of space for the children to run about and a model train to climb on.
The railway is planning to extend onwards towards Hampton.
The railway is planning to extend onwards towards Hampton.
Written 12 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review!
The Railway is open every weekend on Sundays, with a "Special Event" approx once a month, and we are running whenever the Kempton Steam Museum (Great Engines) is open on Saturdays.
We hope to see you on the train (and drinking tea!) more often.
It will all help us to achieve our goal of reaching Hampton - we have just stated!.
Douglas
Written 15 November 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LoobyLouNearHeathrow
Sunbury-On-Thames, UK11 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
This is our second visit to the railway for the teddy bears picnic.
We attend with our 3 year old son who loved running around, playing on the toy train and of course riding the railway to see the real life horses and all the other toy animals around the track, all with his teddy bear!
Its so cute to see all the bears and the volunteers are all lovely and interact so well with the children.
There are plenty of picnic tables but not much shade so you need to bear that in mind but is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday.
At £2.50 a train ride for adults and under 5's riding for free its good value and you support a good cause
My only recommendation is to advertise more as you would never stumble across it you have to know its there and you can tell that there is much they would like to do but as its a charity they need our support.
We attend with our 3 year old son who loved running around, playing on the toy train and of course riding the railway to see the real life horses and all the other toy animals around the track, all with his teddy bear!
Its so cute to see all the bears and the volunteers are all lovely and interact so well with the children.
There are plenty of picnic tables but not much shade so you need to bear that in mind but is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours on a Sunday.
At £2.50 a train ride for adults and under 5's riding for free its good value and you support a good cause
My only recommendation is to advertise more as you would never stumble across it you have to know its there and you can tell that there is much they would like to do but as its a charity they need our support.
Written 9 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nigel S
Lightwater, UK5,133 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
We have seen this building every time we visit Kew Gardens or Kingston off the side of the dual carriageway, then last week it had a banner saying about visiting the museum. The whole experience was fascinating and totally unexpected. Parking is under the flyover near to the building. The cost of entry for adults was £6 and £5 for over 60s. The building is magnificent with a lot of it being original and inside are two massive triple expansion steam engines, one used for functional shows seven times a year (they started it every hour when we were there) and the other engine used for the free tours. The tours are restricted to eight people, but there are a regular opportunity. They take you right up to the top of the device and explain every element in detail and then down to the basement. The total time on the tour was one and a half hours and if you have problem with heights it may be disconcerting.
There is a café there where you can get a cup of tea/coffee for around £1.50 and the same for a piece of cake.
There is a nice little steam railway on site too.
There is a café there where you can get a cup of tea/coffee for around £1.50 and the same for a piece of cake.
There is a nice little steam railway on site too.
Written 21 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter J
Chichester, UK465 contributions
Apr 2017 • Family
This pair of triple expansion vertical steam engines located within an architectural edifice is a truly magnificent piece of British Engineering and well worth a visit. We visited on a steaming day when one of the two engines was working and in steam. In addition we went on one of their guided tours which lasted 1 hour 20 mins, this was fascinating and we went up to the top of these 65 ft high engines and down into the basement to see the pumps and mercury arc rectifiers.
Written 22 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ilovemygadgets
Ashford, UK99 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
If your into massive steam engines this is an ideal day out, costing £7.00 each entrance with a free guided tour run by expert volunteers, meet the people who maintain this unique site, there is a nice little cafe,with tea and coffee and delicious home made cakes and savouries. There is also a narrow gauge steam railway, which the kids would love, and a picnic area.
Written 22 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graham W
Staines, England, United Kingdom164 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
The Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway is a must see for anyone interested in the industrial history of this country. The main gallery contains a fantastic pumping engine (which was used as the engine room of the Titanic in the film of the same name). The staff are brilliant, all coming from an engineering background, full of knowledge that they are more than happy to share with visitors. The tour does involve a lot of steps and the top viewing gallery is a real challenge to anyone with vertigo (like me) but more than worth the challenge. On days when the engine is running you get to feel the power and majesty of this amazing machine. The grandchildren really enjoyed the train ride (and I have had to buy them a train set so they can re-enact the day). It is a shame that this attraction is not open more frequently but the work the staff has to put in to 'getting things going' must be quite a challenge. A must see and well done!
Written 15 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
On a Tuesday we are 'open' in that volunteers are working on the railway, probably running 'goods' trains for maintaining and/or developing the Railway; but not passenger trains for the general public. We are open for the public every Sunday until mid-November, as well as a few Saturdays - all dates are on our leaflets and on the website.
Written 24 October 2018
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