2025 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. Find out how Winchester is celebrating!
Winchester district has a fascinating railway history, from The Mid-Hants line's vital contribution to Hampshire's watercress industry to the forgotten railways closed during the Beeching cuts. Use this handy guide to discover more about Winchester's stations and railways during Railway 200.
1. Get up close to heritage stations and locomotives on The Watercress Line
The Watercress Line gets its name from its role in transporting the crop to London in the early 20th century. It runs for 10 miles through the idyllic Hampshire countryside, along the South Downs National Park, between the market towns of Alton and Alresford.
From 25 to 27 April, visitors are invited to take part in The Spring Steam Gala! The railway is welcoming brand new guest locomotives to its tracks and is introducing its newly-restored flagship engine 35005 Canadian Pacific to celebrate Railway 200.
Visitors can experience the thrill of riding behind a stellar line-up of guest and home-fleet locomotives, while exploring all four of the beautifully restored heritage stations along the line. And, with an exciting daily timetable, fascinating guided tours, restoration projects on display, and various exhibits, there’s plenty to see and do for rail enthusiasts and families alike!
Highlights include: free Behind the Scenes Tours around the Engineering Works at Ropley (pre-booking required), for a chance to see steam restoration in action; Queen Mary brake van rides on the Goods Train, miniature railway displays and a Goods Shed exhibition at Medstead & Four Marks Station; and the chance to operate the DS58 Steam Crane (pre-booking required, 18+). Book with your gala ticket.
If you're visiting after April, don't fret! You can experience the joy of locomotives with standard travel through Hampshire's breath-taking countryside and market towns, hopping on and off throughout the day. Be sure to stop by Alresford to enjoy a selection of independent shops, eateries and places to spend the night.
The Watercress Line also has a series of events and themed days taking place throughout the year. Celebrate VE Day with a 1940s party, get the train to Alresford for the annual Watercress Festival, or meet Thomas & Friends during a Day out with Thomas!
2. Walk along the old railway tracks on the Meon Valley Trail
Once a railway line running from Fareham to Alton, the Meon Valley Trail spans 11 miles through picturesque countryside, from West Meon in the north to Wickham in the south.
The Meon Valley Railway was opened in 1903, and was primarily used for transporting local livestock and agricultural produce. During the First and Second World Wars, it was also used to move troops and supplies. Allied leaders, including Winston Churchill, were transported to Droxford station via the railway for a conference at nearby Southwick House in preparation for the D-Day Landings.
The trail begins at West Meon, from the car park off Station Road. This Hampshire village has a rich history dating back to the Iron and Bronze Ages and can be explored before you set off! Grab a bite to eat from The Thomas Lord or stroll around the village churchyard.
Much of the trail follows the course of the River Meon, a chalk stream which provides a vital habitat to Hampshire's wildlife. Shallow and crystal clear, its alkaline waters are pure due to the constant filtering through the chalk for thousands of years. Combined with a stable water temperature, steady flow and lack of sediment, this river is home to otter, water voles, brown trout, and kingfisher.
Finish the route at Wickham, a charming village which combines ancient history and beautiful countryside. From the railway line, you'll spot St Nicholas’ Church (dating back to to 1120) sat on a sacred mound. Spend the rest of your afternoon browsing antiques at Chesapeake Mill or rewarding yourself with a meal at one of The Square's delicious pubs!
You can make your way back to West Meon via regular bus services. Visit Stagecoach to plan your journey (67 from Petersfield to Winchester).
3. Explore Shawford Station with a pitstop at Platform 1
Travel to Shawford Station where you'll find Platform 1, a café based in the station's old ticket office serving a mix of speciality coffee, Italian gelato, local beers and homemade bakes. It is the perfect spot for meeting up with friends and family or as a pitstop for dog walkers and cyclists before setting off to explore Shawford Down. They don't take bookings, so pop by and grab a seat!
Shawford Down is just a 10 minute walk from the railway station and can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a larger walk. The reserve has examples of strip lynchets, a medieval agricultural technique of parallel, stepped terraces. Today, the strip lynchets are home to various flora and fauna, including wild parsnip, red bartsia, cowslip and common rock-rose.
For a slightly longer walk, complete a section of the Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail, from Shawford to Winchester (around 1 hour). Begin at Shawford Down and walk via The Bridge Inn, a lovely riverside pub. Once on the trail, you’ll pass various Winchester landmarks such as Compton Lock, a popular spot for wild swimming, Hockley Viaduct, a restored Victorian railway viaduct, and St Catherine’s Hill, an Iron Age hill fort.
Once in the city, you can explore our wide range of heritage attractions, independent shopping experiences and delightful cafes and restaurants. Or, use Winchester as your base for a day of railway adventures! Visit the nearby Watercress Line or take a guided walking tour of the old Chesil Railway - more information below!
4. Take a guided walking tour of the old Chesil Railway
The perfect way to celebrate the history of Winchester's railways is with an expert in tow! Take a guided walk exploring the relics and route of Winchester’s “other” railway, the old Didcot, Newbury and Southampton line operated by the Great Western Railway. It travelled through Winchester Chesil station, which opened in 1885 and closed in the 1960s during the Beeching cuts.
Starting at the Winchester Visitor Information Centre, the tour explores the old Winchester Chesil Station site, the route of the line, what remains of the railway’s former buildings, a long forgotten GWR footbridge and the old Bar End goods yard. It ends by going inside the disused Chesil Railway tunnel, one of the city’s hidden treasures.
The tours take place once per month, at 10:30am and 1:30pm. You can find upcoming dates here:
• Saturday 26 April, Book now
• Saturday 17 May, Book now
• Wednesday 11 June, Book now
• Thursday 10 July, Book now
• Saturday 30 August, Book now
• Saturday 27 September, Book now
Explore more Winchester’s rich heritage with a Winchester Tourist Guides themed tour, including Privies, Pots and Pits: not a bog standard guided walking tour, Jane Austen's Winchester, and In flagrante delicto: Regency Scandals. Find all Winchester Tourist Guides themed tours here.
5. Discover the history of your local railway station
On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May, join Micheldever Station for talks, activities and exhibits to celebrate Railway 200 and 185 years since the Railway arrived in this remote part of the Hampshire downs.
Saturday's programme is free, and features a textile time-line of train travel by The Watercress Line, a guided tour of the station's WWII Oil Terminal, a 4-mile windpump walk and a special children's competition!
Sunday's events include a series of talks, including From Stockton to Micheldever: 185 Years of Micheldever Station, placing the station in the context of the development of railways across the country; Thomas Brassey: The Greatest Railway Builder in the World, a closer look at Micheldever Station's engineering; and Trains of Thought and Moving Words, looking at the contribution made by the railways to the English Language.
Across the district, Bishop's Waltham is celebrating the short-lived Botley to Bishop’s Waltham Branch Line Railway as part of Railway 200. There will be an exhibition at Bishop's Waltham Museum from 3 May to 26 October, featuring photos and objects relating to the buildings, rolling stock, staff, users and the builder of the railway, Arthur Helps.
Want to plan a day out in Bishop's Waltham? Discover walks, independent shops and dining experiences in this historic market town using our Bishop's Waltham Guide.
