Visitors
Other Things to Do in Leeds
After visiting the Middleton Railway, why not make a day of it in Leeds? There is so much more to see in the ‘Capital of the North’, and any of these attractions should be of interest. Note that any links to their web sites will open in new browser tabs or pages.
Thackray Museum of Medicine
The Thackray Museum of Medicine
Web site: https://thackraymuseum.co.uk/
Address: Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7LN.
Email:
Telephone: 0113 244 4343.
Follow the story of medicine as you wander through the grimy streets of Victorian Leeds, watch gruesome operations taking place in our 19th-century operating theatre, chart how well the world responds to crisis, and discover the medical innovations that changed the world.
Temple Newsam
A room in Temple Newsam House
Web site: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/temple-newsam/.
Address: Temple Newsam Road, Leeds, LS15 0AE.
Email:
Telephone: 0113 336 7460.
Discover Temple Newsam and explore the Tudor-Jacobean mansion filled with hidden treasures, encounter rare breed farm animals in the historic farm and stroll through the impressive grounds and gardens. Come along and get up close to your favourite farmyard friends including piglets, geese, guinea pigs and loads more.
Thwaite Mills
A view of Thwaite Mills from across the river Aire
Web site: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/thwaite-watermill/.
Address: Thwaite Lane, Stourton, Leeds LS10 1RP
Email:
Telephone: 0113 378 2983.
A fully restored working water-powered mill built in 1823-25, harnessing the power of the River Aire, and claiming to be "one of the best last remaining examples of a water-powered mill in Britain". Café and picnic grounds beside the River Aire.
Leeds Industrial Museum
A piece of textile machinery in the Industrial Museum
Web site: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-industrial-museum/.
Address: Canal Rd, Armley, Leeds LS12 2QF.
Email:
Telephone: 0113 378 3173.
Uncover the untold tales behind the greatest creative innovators of our time. From Scootacars to steam engines and space food to Spirograph, explore the inventions which shaped Leeds; the City of 1,000 Trades. Featuring objects and stories from great inventors both past and present, including Washington Teasdale, famed for creating what may have been Leeds’ first "selfie"! See working textile machinery and find out how Leeds bought fashion to the high street.
Abbey House Museum
A street scene in the Abbey House Museum
Web site: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/abbey-house-museum/.
Address: Abbey Walk, Abbey Rd, Kirkstall, Leeds LS5 3EH.
Email:
Telephone: 0113 378 4079.
A family-friendly museum exploring social history and childhood in Victorian era Leeds. Step back in time and wander through the enchanting streets, shops and houses to experience life as a Victorian in Leed; visit the childhood galleries to see toys from the past.
Meanwood Valley Urban Farm
A View of Meanwood Valley Urban Farm
Web site: https://www.mvuf.org.uk/
Address: Sugar Well Rd, Meanwood, Leeds LS7 2QG.
Email:
Telephone: 0113 262 9759 (but please do check the Frequently Asked Questions on their web site before telephoning).
A working farm in Leeds, open 365 days a year for the public to visit the animals, gardens, and flourishing woodland. It has been around since 1980 as a city farm, when it was established with the goal of reconnecting urban people with their food. Farm produce is sold in the shop.
A Child-Friendly Railway
In the last few years, we have been delighted to have been given awards in two different competitions that were specifically to recognise visitor attractions which provide good facilities for children and young people.
Child Friendly Leeds
One of these competitions was for the "Child Friendly Leeds" awards. These are made at the beginning of each year, and for 2019 we were nominated in the category for "Best Place in Leeds for Children and Young People"
These awards are sponsored by Child Friendly Leeds, which is run by Leeds City Council, and this was the sixth year in which they had been made. More details of these awards can be found at Leeds City Council's page for the Child Friendly Awards (which will open in a separate browser tab or window).
Shown below is the certificate recording our nomination.
Family Favourites
The other competition was for the "Family Favourites" awards, and is run by the organisation "Days Out with the Kids". For 2018 we were one of six finalists from Yorkshire in the category "Best event at an attraction". This recognised the success of our event "Walk in the Woods", which ran in that year on Sunday 6th and Monday 7th May.
More details of these awards can be found on the website for Day Out With The Kids, at their page for their Family Favourites Awards (which will open in a separate browser tab or window). These awards could obviously not run during the coronavirus pandemic, and details of the 2022 awards are still awaited.
Shown below is the badge recording our award.
Other Awards
As well as these, we have been successful in two other award competitions, as follows.
One of these is the Yorkshire in Bloom competition, where each time that we have entered we have won a Gold Award in the category for Tourist Attractions. A separate page gives more details of this award.
The other is the "Welcome to Yorkshire" competition for their White Rose Awards, where our best result has been Highly Commended (effectively, runner up) in the category for Small Visitor Attractions. Since then the coronavirus pandemic has done significant financial damage to 'Welcome to Yorkshire', and currently it is not clear what the future of the White Rose Awards will be. In particular they are currently having to rebuild their website, and this link to it will open in a separate browser tab or window.
More Information
Other pages provide more information about:
- other attractions as part of a visit to our railway;
- how to find our railway;
- our train services;
- highlights of our museum collection;
- railway-themed DVDs and videos (including ones of events that we have run);
- railway-themed books (including the railway's history and stock list);
- the book "Bert's Tales of Middleton";
- other kinds of souvenirs;
- our museum collection;
- our portfolio of development projects; and
- how you could get involved.
Yorkshire in Bloom
Yorkshire in Bloom is a competition that is run within Yorkshire by the Royal Horticultural Society. It is for communities, community facilities (such as parks), charitable organisations, businesses and tourist attraction, and encourages them to make a positive and lasting improvement to their local environment for the benefit of local people. It is not just about planting flowers and hanging baskets, but also seeks to encourage more general environmental awareness. Entries are assessed by local judges, and are awarded either Gold, Silver Gilt, Silver or Bronze standards.
The Middleton Railway comes in the category for Tourist Attractions, and in 2022 we won a Gold Award, as we did in 2019 and 2018. The competition did not run in 2020 or 2021, as the corona virus pandemic meant that judging could not be organised.
Here is some of what the judges said about the railway in 2022. "Indoor and outdoor accessible areas were maintained to a high standard". "All planted areas were of a high standard ... with obvious thought & consideration had gone into the selection of plants". "The volunteers clearly cared for the railway and their pride shone throughout … from the spotlessly clean Engine House & all the local history information to the immaculately kept engines & exhibits in the museum".
Charles, our chairman, in the presentation of the results for 2022.
2019
The flower display outside the entrance to the Engine House, in September 2019. Note the "MRT" picked out in white bricks, in traditional railway fashion (but partly hidden by the flowers).
Picture © Tony Cowling, 2019
In 2019 the judges had obviously enjoyed the whole of their visit, as they said "What an experience this was, the passion of the team is absolutely infectious. the history and heritage is wonderful. Well organised, fantastic interpretation.". For the floral displays themselves they said "The planting around the station is wonderful, well cared for and all adds to the overall experience.". They particularly liked the newly planted area in front of the entrance to the Engine House, and the fact that we had implemented the suggestions that they had made in 2018.
Unfortunately, Mike, our gardener, was not able to attend the awards ceremony for 2019. So Ian Smith, as our Vice President, represented him, and is seen here with our award certificate at the awards ceremony at York Racecourse on 10th September 2019.
Picture © Yorkshire in Bloom, 2019
But here is Mike, in a characteristic pose, watering some of the flower displays on our platform in mid-August 2018.
Picture © Ian Smith, 2018
2018
One of the flower displays on the platform, at the beginning of May 2018.
Picture © Ian Dobson, 2018
2018 was the first time that we had entered the competition, and the judging was due to take place only two days after the setback caused by the fire at a neighbouring builder's merchants. Fortunately the judges made allowances for this, and in particular they said "The platform is the WOW factor to this entry, filled with colourful planters and hanging baskets. The planters have been made by a local school and are of a good quality and have been looked after year on year. The platform fencing is well kept and in keeping as is the fencing on the boundary..". They also made some useful suggestions for how we might improve things further.
Mike, our gardener, with our award certificate at the awards ceremony at York Racecourse in September 2018.
More Information
Other pages provide more information about:
- other attractions as part of a visit to our railway;
- how to find our railway;
- our train services;
- highlights of our museum collection;
- railway-themed DVDs and videos (including ones of events that we have run);
- railway-themed books (including the railway's history and stock list);
- the book "Bert's Tales of Middleton";
- other kinds of souvenirs;
- our museum collection;
- our portfolio of development projects; and
- how you could get involved.
How to Find Us
A southbound train emerging from the tunnel under the M621 motorway
Where we are ...
Satnav data ...
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Google map showing the location of the Middleton Railway and the main roads leading to it.
To obtain travel directions, click the “Directions” button in the top left panel of the map, and input a postcode for your starting point.
Arriving by Car
The entrance to our site,
approached from M621 junction 5
From the M621 northbound ...
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The entrance to our site,
approached from the south along Moor Road
From the M621 southbound ...
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Arriving by Public Transport
Sketch map showing the location of the Middleton Railway and the roads leading to it
Get directions from the Traveline website ...
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From Leeds Station ...
Back to Leeds Station ...
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Sketch map of the City Centre, showing the locations of the main bus stops for routes to and from Middleton Railway
Local Public Transport ...
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More Information
Other pages of our site ...
Visit Us
Train Rides
Visitors enjoying a train ride
Train rides are ...
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A diesel train leaving the Moor Road platform
Normal services ...
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The 60th anniversary train leaving the platform
20th June 2020
with the same locomotive as our first passenger train in 1960
An important health precaution ...
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A special train for a gala, in the Moor Road platform
Please check the timetable ...
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See what others say about us ...
Or comments that they sent to us ...
April 5th 2017.
Visited for the first time today with my 19 month old train mad son. Very impressed. Excellent value for money. Good, clean facilities (toilets/rubbish bins), friendly staff. Lovely little shop and cafe. Quaint & tidy platform. Lots of trains to have a look at, plenty of entertainment for a toddler!
Find out more ...
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When You First Arrive
The entrance and ticket office window
Buying your tickets ...
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The introductory gallery
In the introductory gallery ...
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The Display Hall
One of the locomotives in the display hall.
The steps allow you to visit the cab
This contains our museum collection ...
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Middleton Park
Bluebells in Middleton Park
Next to our Park Halt ...
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The replica horse gin in Middleton Park
(but no horse to work it!)
Historic features ...
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Passengers at Park Halt,
watching the locomotive run round the train.
Friends of Middleton Park ...
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Special Events
A mixed train being run as part of a special event
Special train services that we run ...
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The saloon coach decorated for a party.
The table at the end can be used for catering
Party trains ...
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Refreshments and Souvenirs
The café and shop
Temptation in the café
Our Café and Shop ...
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For Enthusiasts
A volunteer member at work
Of special interest ...
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