Days out at the Great Central Railway (GCR) in Leicestershire have become more affordable with children’s tickets for £1 throughout the summer holidays.

The railway’s Summer of Discovery starts this Saturday, 25th July, and allows up to three children to travel for just £1 each when they are accompanied by a full-fare-paying adult.

As well as being able to enjoy unlimited travel on heritage trains across the railway’s four unique stations, there are many family-friendly activities to keep children entertained. The railway has free activity packs for different age groups, whilst before setting off along Britain’s only double-track, main-line heritage railway, children have the chance to dress up as railway staff, as explorers, or in their favourite costumes.

Families can search the line’s stations for their cat’s mischievous kittens as part of Jumbles’ Missing Kitten Hunt, or tackle the quizzes, puzzles, and hands-on challenges in the GCR Explorer Activity Packs.

To mark the launch of the Summer of Discovery, on this Saturday, 25th, and Sunday, 26th July weekend, there will be guided tours and behind-the-scenes shed visits at Loughborough Central, and at Leicester North, there will be the chance to step onto the footplate of a steam locomotive. Also, at each station on the line, there are picnic areas and cafés.

On Sunday 26 July, iconic Ford performance cars will be on display at a Classic Ford RS Show in the station yard at Quorn.

Further information about the Great Central and ticket bookings is online at www.gcrailway.co.uk.

Last December, the Great Central Railway won the 2025 award for “Leicestershire’s Best Day Out” at the Visit Leicester Tourism & Hospitality Awards. The railway is currently running an appeal to raise funds for the repair of its Stanford Viaduct.

“The Summer of Discovery is all about giving families more reasons to spend time together and experience everything the Great Central Railway has to offer. From travelling behind magnificent steam locomotives and exploring our four heritage stations to taking part in our activity packs and family trails, there’s something for visitors of all ages to enjoy throughout the school holidays. We know families are looking for memorable days out that offer great value, so with children travelling for just £1, we hope even more people will climb aboard and discover what makes the Great Central Railway such a unique attraction.”

Malcolm Holmes, Managing Director, the Great Central Railway