Having not been to Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway for 15 years since I last worked there in the refreshment cafe, I was delighted to see that the charm and unique appeal of this lovely attraction has not changed. The steam railway is great for big kids (me) and children alike. My niece loved the playground which is well equipped, and begged us to go in the maze again. The nature walk around the lake is as pretty as i remember it with places to stop for a picnic and watch the wildlife and trains (both big and small) go by.

We could have stayed all day if we had the time too and I think the entrance fee is well worth the money! Must remember to take 20 pence's for the model railways which are worth viewing!

Thank you for a lovely couple of hours and a trip back down memory lane!

This place is fantastic for young children. Our two year old had such a fun day at a reasonable price. We bought one unlimited train ride ticket and one single ride - this meant far fewer tantrums and endless begging for "more trains" as one of us was able to take him on as many rides as he liked while the other stood back and took some pictures!

I would recommend taking a bag of 20p pieces as there are a number of 20p model trains to set off around miniature tracks in the sidings or at the side of the track - the Thomas model train was a particular favourite with our son. He stood watching this for ages and mastered putting the 20p into the slot too!

The walk around the lake was beautiful and we bought food in the cafe and took it around the lake for a picnic. When we visit again, we will definitely take a picnic. Another bonus feature for a train enthusiastic toddler was watching the Eastbourne mainline track go past several times while we were eating lunch at the far corner of the lake.

The playground was excellent - plenty to do and a well varied section for under-5s that was sectioned off. Lots of play houses both in the playground and around the site for added playtime fun.

The maze, gnome garden and pond were also lots of fun. We didn't visit the gift shop (or notice it to be honest) which just sums up how uncommercial this little gem of a place is. A refreshing thing for parents and children.

If you are looking for things to do in the area and you want a very reasonably priced day (family of 4 ~£18.50) this is the place - beats the more commercial, expensive attractions nearby (Paradise Park, Drucillas etc...) hands down and will make some lovely memories for you all.

We spent about 5 hours there and the place was kept clean and tidy throughout with lots of attentive staff - a family run affair.

Thank you EMSR for an excellent day!

The train experience is exactly what you get - my kid is crazy about trains so he got his fix! Big train for the family to ride on top, with crossroads, bridge, tunnel and the expected smoke of the steam engine. It has a huge playground with lots of entertainment for the little ones and nice facilities. The food could be better though as well as the souvenir shop, as it felt like a Thomas and friends outpost. Overall a great experience- the little ones enjoyed it and the parents too :)

Cheap but not tacky. Nice little train ride and playgrounds for kids up to the age of 10. In my opinion if you know you are going to visit 2, 3 or more times in a year? Get the year pass, it's so cheap and you get a ticket for a train ride free. Once you're a yearly member you can purchase a train ticket for £5 which gives you 6 rides. Take a walk around the lake and picnic by it. Then walk off those calories in the maze. Our kids love it.

We visited today and couldn't of had more fun! This place is perfect we can't wait to come back!
It's easy to find. Very affordable! With two under 3 year olds it cost us £14.50 for two adults with unlimited train rides! Facilities are clean and family friendly.
You can buy food and drink but it's not jumping out in your face if you'd rather take a picnic! They have some great playgrounds a maze and a gnome garden which my children loved!
It really was a great day with no pressure for it to cost an arm and a leg!
Also a thank you to Alan the train guard who was so patient and friendly to all children and adults! Alan you really added to making it a great day :)

If you're looking for family fun for the under 8's this is THE place, at £18.50 for a family of 4 it's pretty good in the pocket too (compared to say cinema £40, legoland £200).i have been visiting regularly for 7/8 years with my kids, they loved it when they were 1 and 3 and love it now at 9 and 11. This attraction is family built, family run and for the family. It has managed to retain that feel as the site has grown and developed.

Central to the park is the miniature steam railway that circles a substantial lake, (it is a railway too, not just a train), there are 2 platforms, a goods yard, sidings, engine sheds and a fully working turntable, the boys will love to wander around the yard. The Train journey will follow the landscape through a tunnel and across a bridge for about 5 minutes before returning home to the starting point. The landscaping is manicured, beautiful, easy on the eye water features and plants, a superb adventure playground full of swings, slides, climbing frames, there is a junior park too that is "fenced off" so the little ones can roam safely. Plenty of wooden huts dotted around the site too for the kids to play in.

Food and drink is available at not too expensive prices, (around £2.50 for a sandwich, £2 for a coffee) although I would recommend a picnic, loads of picnic space either at the "action" end of the site, (station, park, toilets, shop etc) or as you wander around to the quieter spots.

Visit the well constructed, but not too challenging bushy maze or take the 20 minute nature walk around the lake. On a fine day a slow walk around and a few train rides combined with a picnic and a play can keep you there all day,

Lovely clean toilet facilities, well stocked toy shop, pleasant catering. This place is an absolute Jewel and there is nothing but positive things to say about it

Have been coming to Eastbourne for years and never been here so thought we'd give it a whirl.

A beautiful spot the is well landscaped, the walk round the lake was gorgeous.

The miniature railway was fun and you can pay an extra pound for unlimited rides.

The maze was great and the playground was good but did get busy.

Some bits were definitely more for the 'buffs' than kiddies.

Think a slightly older child than our toddler would get more out of it.

Food was ok, toilets were clean but smelt a bit damp.

We spent two very pleasant hours here.

Top tip - if your child likes the miniature stream train the unlimited ticket is well worth it.

Particularly impressed - lovely walk round the lake.

Could do better - the loos

This is a little gem tucked away in Lottbridge Drove at the back of Eastbourne. There is a lovely miniature railway to ride on with steam at weekends and in the school holidays, a short country walk, play areas for younger and older children as well as snacks and drinks. Family run it is well looked after and very friendly. Our 5 year old granddaughter was visiting and we ended up going twice in three days. We spent a lot of time sitting watching her play on everything as well as enjoying unlimited steam train rides for a very reasonable price.

What a lovely gem of a place this is. Spent the afternoon here, kids loved the train and the playground. Then took a stroll around the lake, nature trail and maze. The grounds are beautifully kept. Only wished we'd brought a picnic as there are loads of benches and nice spots to stop and chill. Best enjoyed on a nice sunny day.

We go here quite a lot everytime we visit Eastbourne which is about two or three times a year so far, to visit friends. We get the unlimited rides ticket, stay the day and love going on the trains round. We watch our daughter on the adventure playground and have a lovely day out. We keep going there.

We visited on a Monday in the school holidays, not crazily busy but a steady flow of visitors young and old.
We were a family group of a 6 year old, parents and grandparents and we all enjoyed a good 4 hours here with something for everyone who is young at heart.
The whole park is clean and very neat and tidy - someone spends a lot of time on the plants and Grandmas Garden looked very recently done.
We paid for unlimited rides on the miniture steam train that goes around the lake. The queue was never that long, although they do have the ability to have 2 engines running which I presume they have at peak times/weekends. (This is the only train ride here).
Great train ride around the lake, the team here have gone to a lot of trouble with crossings, bridges and a tunnel. You can walk around the lake too and there are a couple of places for the children to play as you go around - but the main play area for children is near the entrance and has plenty to climb/slide on etc.
The maze isn't one where you are likely to get lost for hours, but bearing in mind the park is aimed at younger children this too was just right.
Cafe reasonably priced, not a massive choice but all sandwiches/potatoes/toasted sandwiches freshly made - or take a picnic - there are plenty of places to sit.
There are a few model railway sets that are 20p each to activate - not a lot compared to other places where it seems to be £1 for everything.
We don't think anyone over 8/9 would love it as much but our 6 year old had a great day. We all had smiles on our faces on the train and no one got fed up waiting in a queue.Overall a very reasonably priced 3 or 4 hour visit where you can tell the owners (family) actually take pride in what they offer and not just want to rip you off.

Set is a lovely location this little railway is great fun with its our station and shop. Me and my wife went along and had a good couple of hours there. I would advise taking a picknick with you on a sunny day. This place is well worth a visit.

Love going fishing there Mike & his family do such a great job of keeping the place neat tidy & well maintained.
If you've got kids the park area is great with lots of thing to do, the trains to take you on a scenic ride around the fishing lake.
There's a café & a shop

Have visited many times over years with grandchildren.Recently took latest 2year old had lovely time latest additions great improvement still immaculatly clean staff a delight .

The title sums it up, from the actual miniature train and the amazing drivers who always have a smile on their faces (I imagine difficult at times) to the play park to short walk with sheep, geese, rabbits and other wildlife to the 20p operated trains my son is in heaven. For me, the separate exit to the shop (thank-you!), reasonable (cheap) entrance fare, reasonable food prices and friendly staff this place is 5*.

The only improvement I think needs to be made is the maze, there are quite a lot of stinging nettles in an enclosed area where children are running... Not ideal.

At the end of a great day out, although aimed at younger children my teenagers loved the day . Bought unlimited train so went on 8 times and has a lovely walk around with different thing en route , was such a peaceful calming day . They serve good food at reasonable prices .

We've just returned from a lovely day at the EMSR. There is a lot to see and do and the grounds are fantastically well maintained.

Also, the staff are very friendly and helpful which turned a four star review into a five star one. We will go again.

Omg its amazing especially little children and they will love the train ride mintier 😘

This was our third visit and it just gets better and better. Our grandchildren, aged 2 & 4, loved the train rides and the model railways. There is enough here to keep them amused for hours, what with the adventure playground, maze and lake walk. Facilities were clean and staff very friendly and helpful. We spent 4 hours here but could easily have stayed longer. Admission is reasonable especially when compared with other similar attractions.

Great for picnics with young children. Several picnicy areas to choose from as well as a little cafe. Lovely walks around the area. The mini train is a hit with the kids and it's relatively cheap for a day pass including unlimited rides!

This is not one of the more well known places to visit IMO and I live in Eastbourne. It is very well kept and clean, with lots of things for children to do. The food is good too.

If you are going to go more than a few times i would recommend joining for the year and buying bulk train rides as it helps with the cost which is very affordable anyway.

Our boys - aged 4 and 6 - loved this place. We did 3 rides on the miniature train, and spent nearly 4 hours here in total, mainly playing in the 3 play parks, but also having lunch in the café, the maze, and a walk around the lake. There were lots of toddlers here, and it was very family-friendly. I'd highly recommend a visit if you have young children - over 7 and they might feel a bit grown up for it.

This was our first visit and my two year old grandson loved it! As commented before this attraction is well kept and well thought out. It has everything for young children - a train ride, country walk, maze, and adventure playgrounds! Yes two one for toddlers and one for older children as well as picnic areas dotted around the grounds with their own little play area. There is a fishing lake where one can fish so therefore parents must be vigilant with little ones when near. The cafe sells fresh hot and cold food at reasonable prices and there is a shop. They also offer an annual pass which is also very reasonably priced for those who live locally and want to visit more often.
This attraction is family owned and there is a sense of pride about the place. We all enjoyed our visit and will definitely go again!

We found this place by luck rather that judgement and it was great fun. The grounds are beautiful with a fishing lake, play areas, picnic areas and a coffee shop that sells hot and cold snacks too.
Good value for a very old fashioned day out which will remind you of childhood memories.
Staff are excellent and very friendly.

We came here for the first time with our young son. We enjoyed the woodland walk and was pleased with the facilities for children but feel the train ride was on the expensive side. The food was good and good for a budget. The staff were not very nice to approach and was quite abrupt in nature but would not put us off returning