Celebrating Railway200 on the Great West Way

In 2025, Railway200 will be celebrating the past 200 years and future of modern railway. With a huge part of the Great West Way accessible by rail, now is the perfect time to travel along the historic Great Western Railway and explore England's rich locomotive heritage, stunning countryside and railway villages.

There are plenty of ways you can learn about the heritage of rail across this route, with a variety of museums, exhibitions and iconic railway destinations stretching in and around the Great West Way.

Great West Way Discoverer Pass

Travelling by train can be one of the fastest, easiest and most enjoyable ways to experience the Great West Way, especially using our Discover pass. It includes unlimited off-peak train travel from London Paddington/Waterloo along the route to Bristol Temple Meads via Reading and or Basingstoke routes with options to branch off towards Oxford and Kemble. It also includes unlimited travel on the bus services along the route. Choose from a one, three day or week-long ticket to enjoy your Great West Way adventure.

Train Travel from London to Bristol

If you’re travelling from London to Bristol, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the view as the train navigates through 3 stunning National Landscapes including The Chilterns, over the North Wessex Downs and into the Cotswolds. The entire journey takes just 1 hour 45 minutes.

But if you want to explore slowly, which we would recommend, why not hop off at a station along the way. Reading offers plenty of history with its famous Abbey Ruins and Museum. Chippenham in Wiltshire is one of the West Country’s most vibrant towns. Or Bath, a World Heritage City home to the Roman Baths, eclectic streets, Jane Austen and Bridgerton!

Cotswold Festival of Steam

Taking place during May’s second bank holiday is Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway’s Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala. Get ready to embark on a journey through time, where the past comes alive and the heritage of steam locomotives is showcased in all its glory, a perfect way to celebrate Railway200.

The Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala is a spectacular event that brings together railway enthusiasts, families, and adventure seekers. Held amidst the charming Cotswold countryside, this gala showcases the elegance and power of steam locomotives, offering a unique experience for visitors of all ages.

Steam Museum, Swindon

Showcasing the history of the individuals who built, operated and travelled on the Great Western Railway, STEAM Museum offers the perfect day out as you celebrate Railway200 this year.

Located in North Wiltshire is STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway. Get up close to magnificent locomotives, be a signalman in the GWR interactive Signal Box and even drive the steam train simulator as you and your family travel through STEAM’s collection of story-telling displays!

Village of Box, Wiltshire

The village of Box is uniquely situated in the Cotswolds National Landscape, and along the historic Great Western Railway line. Although regrettably there is no longer a train station at Box it can be easily accessed by bus from Bath and Chippenham. National Express also runs direct coaches to and from Box from London Heathrow Airport and London Victoria Station. One of the bus and coach stop off points in the village is conveniently located opposite the viewing platform to Box Tunnel.

The tunnel showcases a wonder of the Victorian age to village visitors and is one of the finest sites of a historic railway line in the country! The Tunnel Portals at Box, and Middle Hill also in the Parish of Box, are both fitting gestures of the railways approach to the World Heritage City of Bath, only 5 miles west of Box. Learn more about Box Tunnel, the iconic railway landmark here.

Box also lays claim to being the birthplace of Thomas the Tank Engine! This popular entertainment character, known world wide, was conceived by Rev Awdry when he lived at Lorne House in the village. This building still survives and is only a 4 minute walk from the public viewing platform which affords great views of the iconic Brunel’s Box Tunnel. Middle Hill Tunnel can be seen from Brunel's road bridge, which crosses the railway, near the viewing platform. Showcasing past, present and future, a visit to the village of Box is a must during Railway200.

Travel by Train to the World Heritage City of Bath

The Great Western Railway through Bath was described by English Heritage in 2006 as, "one of the most impressive and varied sections of urban railway landscape in the world."  The railway through Sydney Gardens is one of the many features Brunel constructed in Bath to visit and admire. Sydney Gardens, at the end of Great Pulteney Street in Bath, is a historic park and garden dating back to the Georgian period, providing a fitting theatrical setting for his railway. It was seen by Brunel as forming one of the attractions of the garden with a balustrade promenade and attractive bridges over the railway line. Both Box and Bath are a railway enthusiast delight!

Steam Railway Experiences on the Great West Way

Did you know that, thanks to passionate volunteers, there are a still few heritage steam railways running on the Great West Way!

Avon Valley Railway, Bristol

Just outside Bristol is the Avon Valley Railway. Here you can ride 3 miles of preserved track from the Victorian Bitton station through the valley.

Swindon & Cricklade Railway, Wiltshire

Near Swindon, you’ll be able to spot the Swindon & Cricklade Railway rising above the Taw Valley. Enjoy a ride for more than 2 miles from Taw Valley Halt to Blunsdon on an iconic heritage steam train.

Find out more about travelling the Great West Way by rail here.