Crewe Heritage Centre has opened its 2026 season with record-breaking visitor numbers, as large crowds attended its opening weekend.

Supported by spring sunshine and a vibrant Easter atmosphere, the site attracted families, railway enthusiasts and first-time visitors eager to experience its combination of heritage exhibits and interactive attractions.

Guests took part in miniature train rides and explored Crewe-built locomotives up close, contributing to the Centre’s strongest opening day on record. Events continue into the following weekend, with a ‘kids go free’ promotion and the launch of new unlimited annual tickets.

The opening weekend also featured visits from the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Crewe Town Council, alongside creative workshops hosted by Creative Crewe. Building on this successful start, the Centre is now preparing for a free-entry day on 8 April as part of the town’s Spring Festival of Fun.

Planned highlights for the free entry day include an interactive Butterfly Conservation workshop, offering families the chance to learn about the importance of butterflies and moths, as well as a related craft activity for children.

Visitors can also look forward to an expanded café menu, an updated shop, and the return of the miniature railway. The reopening of the Advanced Passenger Train Exhibition is already generating strong interest, while live demonstrations at Exeter West signal box further enhance the visitor experience.

“This year’s opening day was nothing short of extraordinary. To break our visitor record right at the start of the season is a huge boost for our volunteers and the whole site. It proves that Crewe Heritage Centre continues to be a place where history, engineering and family fun come together. We can’t wait to share even more with our visitors in the months ahead.”

Gordon Heddon, Crewe Heritage Trust Chairman.