Transport Shows

Getting around in South Oxfordshire

For those who recall the days when rail travel meant romantic cross country journeys, fine dining and adventure, then South Oxfordshire has a range of specialised railway events.

The Woodcote Steam Rally returns for the 43rd time to provide a weekend of vintage and veteran transport and lots of family fun.

The village of Woodcote gets rather steamy over a weekend in early July as its annual steam rally comes to town, bringing with it the largest collection of steam traction engines ever seen in South Oxfordshire. Attracting thousands of visitors every year, the rally features hundreds of vintage, veteran and classic cars, motorbikes and tractors, all in working order.

Passengers boarding the stream train at Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway can enjoy a free bowl of strawberries and cream, as part of the Railway's special event days.

Starting and ending at Chinnor station, the train completes a seven mile round trip encompassing some glorious views of the countryside, as well as some historic sights and places such as the Upper Icknield Way - a green lane that pre-dates the Romans and was once travelled upon by William the Conqueror.

Another option to experience the history of the railway is through experience days at Didcot Railway Centre. Railway experience days, steam days and special event evenings take place on a regular basis throughout the summer. A Railway Experience Day is the chance of a lifetime to realise a childhood ambition and drive a steam train. Enjoy two and a half hours with the steam train, driving and firing the locomotive and being guard of the train. On steam days, visitors can spend the day with one of the guides - viewing the Centre, taking a look behind the scenes and experience standing on the footplate of the engines. You can enjoy the smell, sound and smoke of the smaller steam engines and travel in the 1930s carriages.

Special event themes include Victorian dinner and pudding evenings and the chance to sample up to 14 different traditional English puddings, artist and modellers weekends, Halloween and Santa Specials.