Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC Reviews 

14,069
TrustScore 5 out of 5

4.8

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 4,620 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently praise the incredibly friendly and attentive staff who consistently go out of their way to ensure a memorable, pleasant journey for everyone on board. Additionally, people thoroughly enjoy the delicious food options, excellent service, and the truly wonderful nostalgic atmosphere of the vintage train rides. However, some people mentioned that the enclosed carriages could become uncomfortably hot during warm weather days without any adequate cooling. A few consumers also noted that certain stops or shortened journey lengths felt less engaging due to unexpected delays and extended waiting times.

What people talk about most

Staff

Clients share positive opinions on staff, consistently praising their welcoming and helpful attitude.... See more

Service

Customers had positive experiences with service, consistently praising the staff for being exceptionally... See more

User experience

Customers consistently note positive experiences with user experience, highlighting the beautiful... See more

Product

Reviewers express high satisfaction and delight with the food and overall dining experiences provided on the... See more

Quality

Consumers find quality to be positive, consistently expressing delight with the excellent food and... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The setting at Froghall station is beautiful. The locomotive and rolling stock magnificent.The staff very friendly,helpful and engaging.We had booked for the cream tea experience.Trip scheduled 1.30-... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It was first experience of Churnet Valley Railway, but hopefully it won’t be my last. Due to the extreme weather conditions they were running to an Emergency Timetable and couldn’t go across the moor... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent, the staff and volunteers work so hard, the train was lovely, with a beautifully set table, the table service excellent and the food exceeded my expectations. I’ll be honest I was half expec... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Yet another fantastic trip on the Churnet Valley Railway. Took my granddaughter on the breakfast train for her 17th birthday, went on the new part of the line to Leek it’s a little bit shorter than th... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Tourist Attraction
  2. Breakfast Restaurant
  3. English Restaurant
  4. Heritage Preservation
  5. Railroad Company

About Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Written by the company

Churnet Valley Railway: A Journey Through Time and Scenic Beauty

Hop on board Churnet Valley Railway, Staffordshire’s premier heritage railway, for an unforgettable journey through England's scenic countryside. Catering to a wide range of audiences, Churnet Valley Railway offers not just a trip, but an experience designed to delight all ages.

Entertainment for Everyone: Whether it’s a fun-filled day out with the kids, who will be thrilled by special children's events like The Mad Hatters Tea Train Party, an exotic and romantic lunch excursion for couples, or their tipsy Rail Ale Trail for you and your mates – there's something for everyone at Churnet Valley Railway. Seasonal events like their PolarExpress™ Christmas Train Ride or the Midsummer Murder Mystery evenings offer entertainment that stays fresh throughout the year.

Heritage Presentation: Operated primarily by a dedicated team of volunteers, Churnet Valley Railway takes immense pride in preserving and showcasing the golden age of British rail travel. The meticulously restored steam locomotives, along with vintage carriages, offer passengers an authentic glimpse into the past.

Partnerships Galore: Beyond providing a thrilling day out, Churnet Valley Railway collaborates with external partners to bring Staffordshire some of its most loved events. From bringing festival-goers to villages accessible only by rail to hosting engaging and interactive educational events for children, Churnet Valley continues to offer new and exciting options to the communities they serve. Hop on board and experience the unique blend of nostalgia, scenic beauty, and warm hospitality that only Churnet Valley Railway can offer.


Contact info

4.8

Excellent

TrustScore 5 out of 5

14K reviews

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Asks customers to review

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Replied to 97% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 48 hours

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4.8

All reviews

(14,069)

4,476 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

What a wonderful morning we had today

What a wonderful morning we had today. I decided to book the breakfast train for my Dads 80th Birthday. All 7 of us had a wonderful time. All the staff were so welcoming and friendly and lots wished my Dad a happy Birthday. The food was amazing too. I will certainly be recommending to anyone wanting a relaxing family get together or simply a nice couples day out.
Thank you

16 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Thank you so much for taking the time & trouble to give us such a lovely review.
We’re so pleased that you enjoyed your trip with us.
All of the team at the Churnet Valley Railway work really hard to ensure that all of our visitors have a wonderful & memorable time.
Please visit us again soon.

Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Breakfast train

All staff very friendly lovely atmosphere breakfast excellent xx

16 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Thank you, please visit us again.

Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Sunday lunch

We had a lovely Sunday lunch on board Nicholas for my mum’s 80 birthday. There decor was really lovely, with comfy armchair seats. All the staff were friendly serving the delicious 3 course meal. From start to finish it was a memorable and enjoyable experience and mum didn’t want it to end! Thank you.

16 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review about your trip with us! We’re delighted to hear that our service surpassed your expectations. Providing high-quality service is at the heart of everything we do, and your feedback reassures us that we’re on the right track. We truly appreciate your trust. Should you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us anytime. 
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Greek evening on CVR

We were welcomed and had a look around the lovely shop. Then we had a drink in the cafe, which had a decent selection of beers and wines. Due to the threat of wildfires, we could not travel to the moorland, however, the double journey one way did not detract from the experience. The table was set nicely and the service was brilliant. Everyone was very smiley and helpful. The only tiny negative was that it was a 'Greek' evening and the food was not very reminiscent of Greece - although little was left.

14 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Dear Susan, T
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our shop, our excellent selection of beers, and the table setting. It is also wonderful to know that our lovely staff took such good care of you. We appreciate your constructive comments regarding the Greek meal; we aim to deliver an authentic dining experience, and your feedback is invaluable as we refine our menus. Your notes have been shared directly with our kitchen team for review. Thank you once again for your patronage, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the near future.

Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Food and service was amazing

Food and service was amazing! However a four mile journey on a diesel train was not what was expected. The tickets were purchased as a gift to my Father in Law after he had said traveling on a steam train was something he has always wanted to do, but not had the opportunity. A two hour journey on a DIESAL train, actually consisted of a 4 mile trip with the majority of time spent at a stand still.

8 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

"Dear Lisa, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are absolutely delighted to hear that you found our food and service to be amazing. However, we are deeply sorry for the disappointment caused by the use of a diesel locomotive instead of a steam engine, especially as this journey was a special gift for your father-in-law. While we always aim to run our scheduled steam services, we occasionally have to substitute locomotives due to essential heritage maintenance or operational requirements. We understand how disappointing this must have been for a special occasion and we hope to welcome you and your family back for the true steam experience you intended using the free of charge No Steam Voucher you will have received.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Food was not as good as we have had…

Food was not as good as we have had before

We had pie & mash it was very sloppy and the gravy was running out of the bottom and also didn't like the wooden knife and fork

15 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Dear Maxine, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. While we are glad you chose to journey with us, we are very sorry to hear that the food did not meet your expectations on this occasion. We also appreciate your comments regarding the wooden cutlery; we are constantly balancing our environmental initiatives with guest comfort, and your feedback is invaluable as we review our onboard dining presentation. Your notes have been passed directly to our catering management team for review. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back on board in the future.

Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Everything was lovely

Everything was great, service, staff.
My egg bacon benedict however, it was cold but I didn't want to spoil the experience for my friend so I didn't mention it on the journey.
All the food was tasty and the two young staff were brilliant.
Helen 🙂

16 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Thank you so much for taking the time & trouble to give us your review.
We’re so pleased that you enjoyed your Breakfast trip with us. please do mention if you are not happy with anything so that we can rectify it.
All of the team at the Churnet Valley Railway work really hard to ensure that all of our visitors have a wonderful & memorable time.
Please visit us again soon.

Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Everything was beautiful except when we…

Everything was beautiful except when we had stand of cakes etc they were very runny
They should have been in fridge at all times

12 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Thank you so much for taking the time & trouble to give your review.
Please do mention if you are not happy with anything so that we have the chance to rectify it.
All of the team at the Churnet Valley Railway work really hard to ensure that all of our visitors have a wonderful & memorable time.
Please visit us again soon.

Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We had a fabulous day on the railway…

We had a fabulous day on the railway celebrating my son’s 60 th birthday He has learning disabilities and required a wheeyto get on the train. Everything we needed was catered for the staff couldn’t do enough for us. They were very friendly and made our experience very special. Will be back

15 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review about your trip with us! We’re delighted to hear that our service surpassed your expectations. Providing high-quality service is at the heart of everything we do, and your feedback reassures us that we’re on the right track. We truly appreciate your trust. Should you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us anytime. 
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Food was excellent along with service…

Food was excellent along with service in the shop and on the train, everone we met on our journey made it special and also easy to book. An excellent way to spend an evening.

15 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Wow, thank you for the fantastic review about your trip with us! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that you were impressed with our efficient and high-quality service. Our team works hard to ensure every customer has an exceptional experience, and it’s wonderful to know we’ve succeeded in doing so for you. Your feedback motivates us to continue delivering the best experience possible.

Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Birthday surprise

This was a birthday gift for a close friend who is poorly and wheelchair bound 80%of the time.
The night run smoothly and there was no problem with the wheelchair being held at the back of the carriage but close to our table. We were able to take a balloon and and a table decoration.
The food was hot and delicious,and served by very helpful and friendly staff. A very pleasant experience.

15 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Thank you so much for your kind words regarding your trip with us! We’re so happy to hear that you had a great experience with our service. Our team strives to provide exceptional service, and knowing that we’ve met your expectations truly means a lot to us. We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again in the future. If there's anything else we can do for you, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Everything from start to finish ran…

Everything from start to finish ran smoothly everyone was polite & friendly & the food was lovely

15 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review about your trip with us! We’re delighted to hear that our service surpassed your expectations. Providing high-quality service is at the heart of everything we do, and your feedback reassures us that we’re on the right track. We truly appreciate your trust. Should you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us anytime. 
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!!

Loved it!!
What an amzing day out! The quality of the food, to the quality of minor details of the internal train.
All the staff are amazing too! Thank you for making the visit fab!
A must experience for all.

12 July 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Wow, thank you for the fantastic review about your trip with us! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that you were impressed with our efficient and high-quality service. Our team works hard to ensure every customer has an exceptional experience, and it’s wonderful to know we’ve succeeded in doing so for you. Your feedback motivates us to continue delivering the best experience possible.

Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Staff were friendly and cheerful

Staff were friendly and cheerful. We booked for just a return journey, and staff came through the carriage selling delicious bacon and sausage baps. Also snacks and drinks were sold onboard.
A lovely day out with beautiful scenery from the train.
Would recommend this journey.

12 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review about your trip with us! We’re delighted to hear that our service surpassed your expectations. Providing high-quality service is at the heart of everything we do, and your feedback reassures us that we’re on the right track. We truly appreciate your trust. Should you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us anytime. 
Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A great experience

A great experience. The staff were all very pleasant and happy to answer any questions. The service was great along with the breakfast which was faultless. Would definitely do it again.

16 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Thank you so much for your kind words regarding your trip with us! We’re so happy to hear that you had a great experience with our service. Our team strives to provide exceptional service, and knowing that we’ve met your expectations truly means a lot to us. We appreciate your support and look forward to serving you again in the future. If there's anything else we can do for you, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic day

Fantastic day! Absolutely faultless.

16 August 2026
Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC logo

Reply from Churnet Valley Railway (1992) PLC

Thank you, please visit us again.

Kind regards
Kaaren
01538 360522

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