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East Midlands Steam Railway Holiday

Great Central Railway

Great Central Gala

An overdose of steam

Holiday date: Friday, 6th October 2023
UK
England
4 days for  £689 per person
£1378 for two people sharing
Single supplement £90
Tour reference: GG4/1

A brilliant (even if we do say so ourselves!) trip in and around the East Midlands that coincides with the magnificent Great Central Railway Steam Gala. There are so many scenic, nostalgic and heritage attractions in the area that this could be an 8-day holiday – here, condensed, is the pick of the best!

Holiday Highlights

The Great Central Autumn Steam Gala
A cruise in Newark on the River Trent
Steaming in the Peak District with…Peak Rail
A trip to the stars at the National Space Centre
Step back in time with a visit to the National Tramway Museum at Crich
Great scenery from the Matlock Branch Line in the Derwent Valley

Holiday Itinerary

Day 1 - Friday

Our jaunt starts at Nottingham Station just before midday and our first afternoon is at a relaxed pace. We are going to treat you to lunch alongside the river before cruising the River Trent in Newark aboard the Edwardian River Cruiser M.V. Sonning. We then nip round to Newark Castle Station, take a train to Nottingham and modern tram to the hotel.

Meals: Lunch,Dinner
By Richard Nevell - Newark Castle, 06-2013 (13), CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=114509150
Day 2 - Saturday

Off to Derbyshire’s Peak District today. We start with a train trip, via Derby, to Duffield where we switch onto the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for a nine mile journey through the fields to Wirksworth. Time for a look around here and, hopefully, an ascent of the Ravenstor Branch before moving on to Matlock where we can have a nose around the town and find some lunch. Meeting up back at the station our steam this afternoon is courtesy of Peak Rail between Matlock and Rowsley South. We enjoy a full round trip and then return to Nottingham by train on the Matlock Branch Line with riverside views and passing a series of old mills.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 3 - Sunday

This morning we are headed for Leicester and start off with a cosmic experience at the National Space Centre followed by Abbey Pump Station where there are beam engines, nostalgic memorabilia and a narrow-gauge railway. The rest of the day is devoted to the Great Central Railway Autumn Steam Gala – and what an experience it is! Armed with rover tickets and itinerary suggestions to maximize your time enjoy an extensive passenger timetable, goods trains, postal trains and original stations along the line. It’s like being transported back to the heyday of the railways!

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 4 - Monday

Last but by no means least we head back to the hills for a fitting finale at The National Tramway Museum, Crich. Replica street scenes, “country” tram rides, a pub, restaurant, tea room and major museum presentations will absorb you until it is time to leave for Nottingham and homeward bound trains mid-afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast

Railways

Coming soon!

Our Hotel(s)

4 Star

The Hilton Hotel, Nottingham

This characterful hotel is a Victorian building located in Nottingham City Centre that boasts all the modern amenities one might expect including an indoor pool. It used to be a railway hotel and part of the long since departed Nottingham Victoria Station – now a shopping centre!

Features and Facilities

HDTV
Radio alarm clock
Black-Out Curtains
Lever Door Handles
Work Desk with Adjustable Lamp
Hand-held shower
Hairdryer
Iron/ironing board
Crabtree and Evelyn(R) bath amenities
Evening Room Service Available
High Speed Internet Access
Tea/Coffee Making Facilities
Telephone - Auto Wakeup

What's included

Transport

All heritage railway rides
All public transport journeys, in standard class accommodation
Private coach transfers throughout the holiday

Entertainment

All entrances
Detailed itinerary/information pack
Services of courier throughout

Accommodation

Hotel accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis

Treats

Cream tea on the Trent

What's not included

Travel to/from the holiday start point
Personal holiday insurance
Porterage
Other Lunches
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