Holiday Railway Days in July
2025-07-15 11:30 - 2025-07-29 16:00 (Europe/London)
Every Tuesday from July 15 to July 29, the Narrow Gauge Railway will be running.

Admission to the Museum site is free.

Trains operate between 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM. There is a small charge for train rides, currently £0.50. Under 3 years old can travel for free. You can pay for your ride at the Station – pay with cash or pay by card.

Holiday Railway Days in August
2025-08-05 11:00 - 2025-08-19 16:00
Every Tuesday from August 5th to August 19th, the Narrow Gauge Railway will be running.

Admission to the Museum site is free.

Trains operate between 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM. There is a small charge for train rides, currently £0.50. Under 3 years old can travel for free. You can pay for your ride at the Station – pay with cash or pay by card.

Summer Family Fun Day
2025-08-17 12:00 - 16:30
A day out for all the family. Abbey Pumping Station is hosting a number of stalls and exhibits, something of interest for all the family. The Forget-Me-Not model railway will be operating – come and have a look at the steam models, smash some crockery, wander through the stalls and the larger exhibits. Don’t forget to have a look at the magnificent Gimson Beam Engines.

Admission Charges apply, please click here for details

The Narrow Gauge Railway will be running, with Leonard the Steam Loco at work. There is a small charge for rides, £0.50 per person, but children under 3 years can travel for free. You can get your ticket at the Station and pay by cash or card, or at Reception where you can pay by card.

Food and Craft Fair
2025-09-20 11:00 - 2025-09-21 16:00
Abbey Pumping Station is hosting the Food and Craft Fair for 2025. There will be over 50 stalls with many food and crafts ideas. The Museum coal-fired chip van will be serving chips and the Narrow-gauge railway will be running. There will be lots of other food-related vehicles also on show at this event.

There is a small charge for train rides, £0.50 per person, but children under 3 years can travel for free. You can get your ticket at the Station and pay by cash or card, or at Reception where you can pay by card.

For more information, please click here for details

Please note: LMTA Membership cards are not valid for entry to this event

Railway Day with Models
2025-10-04 11:30 - 16:00
Modellers get busy! Be inspired by modellers of all ages, building models large and small. From small model railways, Meccano and Lego to scratch-built dioramas. Come and have a look and be inspired. The long, winter nights await your efforts.

Entrance to the museum is free.

The Narrow-Gauge Railway will be running, with Leonard the Steam Loco in charge of the train. There is a small charge for train rides, (£0.50 per person), children under 3 years can travel for free.

Get your ticket at the Station – pay with cash or pay by card.

There is a museum themed playground and sand pit for the children, with seating located near by. You can sit with a snack and drink from the Switch Room Cafe, located in the Beam Engine House. Pay with cash or by card.

Car Parking is available on the National Space Centre Car Park, currently £4.00 per vehicle.

All Engines and Working Exhibits are subject to availability and safe working.

Holiday Railway Day
2025-10-21 11:30 - 16:00
Come for a ride on the Narrow-gauge Railway. Peter the Diesel loco will be in charge of the train.

This event is an affordable day out with the children.

Entrance to the museum is free. Train rides are £0.50 per person, under 3 yrs travel for free. Get your ticket at the station, pay with cash or pay by card.

At this event Peter will be the engine running on the railway, make sure you say hello to Peter and even get your photo taken with him!

There is a museum themed playground and sand pit for the children with seating located near by. You can sit there with a snack and a drink from the ‘Switch Room’ Cafe, located in the Beam Engine house. Pay with cash or pay by card.

There are also interactive exhibits that both children and adults can use in the Gallery.

Car Parking is available on the National Space Centre Car Park, currently £4.00 per vehicle.

All Engines and Working Exhibits are subject to availability and safe working.

Steam with the Team
2025-10-25 11:00 - 15:00
Saturday 25th October 2025

Admission to museum galleries is free but tours of the Beam Engine House is by ticket only.

Maximum group size per tour is 20. Recommended for those aged 10 years and above.

Please click here for Ticket Prices

Tours start at 11.00am, 12.15pm, 2.00pm and 3.15pm and each take approximately one hour. This is your chance to question the tour guides on the engines and their function whilst walking round the whole Beam Engine House, including the basement, all whilst one of the engines is running.

To book tickets, please click here

Steam with the Team
2025-11-29 11:00 - 15:00
Admission to museum galleries is free but tours of the Beam Engine House is by ticket only.

Maximum group size per tour is 20. Recommended for those aged 10 years and above.

Please click here for Ticket Prices

Tours start at 11.00am, 12.15pm, 2.00pm and 3.15pm and each take approximately one hour. This is your chance to question the tour guides on the engines and their function whilst walking round the whole Beam Engine House, including the basement, all whilst one of the engines is running.

To book tickets, please click here

Christmas Steam Day
2025-11-30 11:30 - 16:30
At the end of November we have our traditional Christmas Event.

Admission Charges apply, please click here for details

Come down and hear the band playing music in the Beam Engine house with one of the beam engines running.

The Transport Shed will be full of exhibits, including the 3-rail layout in the ‘Smiths Bookstall’ from Leicester London Road Station.

The site Narrow-gauge steam railway will be running with decorated coaches and Leonard in charge. Train rides are 50p per person, under 3 years go for free.

You can pay for your ride at the Station – cash only, or you can buy a train ticket at Reception and pay by card.

The Café will be open serving light refreshments throughout the event in the Switch Room, pay with cash or pay by card.

In the Gallery is a model railway with buildings from around Leicester, how many can you remember?

Several Museum Vehicles will be displayed around the site.

Come and see Thomas and friends on the Forget-Me_Not Garden railway at the front of the museum. He will be running with decorated wagons.

Half Term Railway Day
2026-02-17 11:30 - 16:00
The first outing of the Year for our Narrow-Gauge Railway.

ntrance to the museum is free. Train rides are £0.50 per person, under 3 yrs travel for free. Get your ticket at the station, pay with cash or pay by card.

At this event Peter the Simplex Diesel will be the engine running on the railway, make sure you say hello to Peter and even get your photo taken with him!

There is a museum themed playground and sand pit for the children with seating located near by. You can sit there with a snack and a drink from the ‘Switch Room’ Cafe, located in the Beam Engine house. Pay with cash or pay by card.

There are also interactive exhibits that both children and adults can use in the Gallery.

Steam Toys in Action
2026-02-22 12:00 - 16:30
This is our 36th year of this popular event – See our one of our Beam Engines in steam and enjoy the many miniature steam engines, boats and trains on display

Admission Charges apply, please click here for details

Leicester’s only narrow gauge railway will be giving rides. Leonard our Steam Loco is out of service at the moment, so the trains will be diesel-hauled. Train tickets are available at the station, pay by cash or by card, and at the Museum Reception, pay by card. Tickets are £0.50 per person, children under 3 years travel free.

Enjoy a hot cuppa and a cake in the LMTA café, a perfect end to a perfect day. Please note the Cafe can now take card payments

All events may be subject to change without prior notice. All engines and working exhibits operate subject to availability and safe working.

Car parking is available on the National Space Centre Car park, currently £4.00 per vehicle.

Steam with the Team
2026-02-28 11:00 - 16:00
Admission to museum galleries is free but tours of the Beam Engine House is by ticket only.

Maximum group size per tour is 20

Recommended for those aged 10 years and above

Please click here for Ticket Prices

Tours start at 11.00am, 12.15am, 2.00pm, 3.15pm and each take approximately one hour. This is your chance to question the tour guides on the engines and their function whilst walking round the whole Beam Engine House, including the basement, all whilst one of the engines is running.

To book tickets, please click here

Steam with the Team
2026-03-28 11:00 - 16:00
Admission to museum galleries is free but tours of the Beam Engine House is by ticket only.

Maximum group size per tour is 20

Recommended for those aged 10 years and above

Please click here for Ticket Prices

Tours start at 11.00am, 12.15am, 2.00pm, 3.15pm and each take approximately one hour. This is your chance to question the tour guides on the engines and their function whilst walking round the whole Beam Engine House, including the basement, all whilst one of the engines is running.

Holiday Railway Day
2026-04-07 11:30 - 16:00
Come for a ride on the Narrow-gauge Railway. Peter the Diesel loco will be in charge of the train.

This event is an affordable day out with the children.

Entrance to the museum is free. Train rides are £1.00 per person, family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) £3.00, under 3 yrs travel for free. Get your tickets at the station, pay with cash or pay by card.

At this event Peter will be the engine running on the railway, make sure you say hello to Peter and even get your photo taken with him!

There is a museum themed playground and sand pit for the children with seating located near by. You can sit there with a snack and a drink from the ‘Switch Room’ Cafe, located in the Beam Engine house. Pay with cash or pay by card.

There are also interactive exhibits that both children and adults can use in the Gallery.

Car Parking is available on the National Space Centre Car Park, currently £4.00 per vehicle.

All Engines and Working Exhibits are subject to availability and safe working.

Emergency Services Day
2026-05-17 12:00 - 16:30
Come and see Emergency Service vehicles from the past and the present. Try on some firemen’s uniforms for a photo opportunity and have a go with a stirrup pump.

Admission Charges apply, please click here for details

The Narrow Gauge Railway will be running, with Leonard in Steam. There is a small charge for train rides (£1.00 per person), children under 3 years are free. Get your ticket at the station, pay with cash or pay by card. Family tickets are available ( 2 adults + 2 children) for £3.00.

The Switch Room Cafe will be open for light refreshments, pay with cash or pay by card.

Bring your own picnic and enjoy your day, our picnic tables are distributed around the grounds. The Museum themed playground and sandpit are nearby.

Car Parking is available on the National Space Centre Car Park, currently £4.00 per vehicle.

All Engines and Working Exhibits are subject to availability and safe working.

Half Term Railway Day
2026-05-26 11:30 - 16:00
Entrance to the museum is free. Train rides are £1.00 per person, under 3 yrs travel for free. Get your ticket at the station, pay with cash or pay by card. A Family ticket is available for £3.00, for 2 adults + 2 children.

At this event Peter the Simplex Diesel will be the engine running on the railway, make sure you say hello to Peter and even get your photo taken with him! One of our other IC locos may also be around or even in charge of the train. Come and have a ride!

There is a museum themed playground and sand pit for the children with seating located near by. You can sit there with a snack and a drink from the ‘Switch Room’ Cafe, located in the Beam Engine house. Pay with cash or pay by card.

There are also interactive exhibits that both children and adults can use in the Gallery.

Car Parking is available on the National Space Centre Car Park, currently £4.00 per vehicle.

All Engines and Working Exhibits are subject to availability and safe working.
