/ Isle of Wight School Trip Activities / Transport / Isle Of Wight Steam Railway
A living, working museum with a heritage steam railway passing through 5.5 miles of unspoilt countryside.
Step back in time to a bygone age. The Train Story interpretative museum has lots of hands-on exhibits for the group to try before their train ride.
All groups are assigned an experienced tour guide for the duration of the visit.
Isle Of Wight Steam Railway is great for all ages, but perhaps a little overwhelming for the very youngest visitors
Here's some of the most frequently-asked questions about school visits to Isle Of Wight Steam Railway, posed by teachers and other group leaders
We will pre-book your visit for you and your entry charges will be paid directly by Education Destination. All you need to do is show up at the agreed time, line the kids up outside, identify yourselves to staff and you'll be in the hands of your tour guide in no time!
To make the most of a trip to the railway, a good half day is needed although there's enough to do here to fill a whole day if taken at a slower pace and best use is made of the play areas and woodland walk adjacent.
There are picnic tables available in various spots around the grounds at Havenstreet, and an amphitheatre in the woodlands adjacent which can also be used. There's a cafe serving hot meals and snacks, and an ice cream shack in the warmer months too.
There are toilet facilities at Havenstreet - the main station on the line. Because of their age there are no toilets on board the trains, but journeys don't last much longer than around 40 minutes maximum. There are no toilets at either Wootton or Smallbrook stations, but trains depart here regularly for Havenstreet.
The trains themselves consist of original 19th and early 20th century carriages however there are always helpful staff on hand to assist with boarding and alighting. The station grounds are generally on the level and paved. Within Train Story a wheelchair lift is available. The only area that might present difficulties is the optional woodland walk as this is uneven hardened mud or loose aggregate paths for the most part.
The following Isle Of Wight Steam Railway educational resources are FREE to use when you book your trip with Education Destination. Some include pre or post-visit classroom work, others are on-site activities. All are accompanied by detailed Teacher Notes and some even have sample lesson plans!
Prepared by our expert team of teachers with local Island knowledge, each resource addresses a specific National Curriculum topic. Click on any image for full details.
KS2 Teacher with a group of 25 Upper KS2 students
KS2 Teacher with a group of 26 Lower KS2 students
