Kent & East Sussex Railway

Hastings

A truly historic and memorable day out awaits you on the Kent & East Sussex Railway

Hop aboard one of the beautifully restored steam locomotives or historic diesel trains and sit back in comfort to enjoy the 50-minute each way journey from Tenterden, enjoying vistas of the unspoilt Wealden countryside finishing in sight of the magnificent Bodiam castle - a view unique to rail passengers.

The line runs from Tenterden to Bodiam, through 10 miles of the beautiful Rother Valley, part of an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Opened as the first ‘light railway’ in Britain by Col Holman F Stephens at the turn of the 19th Century, today the KESR operates as a charity and is one of Britain’s most loved heritage railways. On average it carries as many as 80,000 passengers every year and receives stunning TripAdvisor reviews.

The station also holds regular special events such as its popular Fish and Chips Supper services, Real Ale and Cider trains, Young Engineer experiences and Santa Specials at Christmas, not to mention elegant table service dining experiences aboard the Wealden Pulman for Sunday lunches and most Saturday evenings from April to November.

As well as enjoying a nostalgic train journey, there’s always plenty to see at Tenterden station itself, including: the award-winning Railway Museum telling the story of the railway’s founder Colonel Stephens through interactive displays; the model railway room and, of course, the gift shop and cafe.

Whether on board or looking around, the friendly station teams, who are mostly volunteers, offer visitors a warm welcome and will be only too happy to answer questions and make a visit as enjoyable and interesting as possible. 

Visit the website kesr.org.uk for all event details, train times and to book tickets and save.