Packaging Options
All orders are sent in plain packaging so as not to ruin the surprise.
Premium Gift Pack
Our Premium Gift Pack includes a stylish gift box, which holds your personalised gift voucher and your activity voucher guide booklet. The premium choice.
£4.99 (+ £3.95 shipping charge)
Standard Gift Pack
Our Standard Gift Pack comes with a smart envelope that includes your personalised gift voucher and your activity voucher guide booklet.
Included in the £3.95 shipping charge
E Voucher
Our E Voucher is an instant voucher delivered by email, with your personalised email message and a downloadable .pdf of your personalised gift voucher.
FREE
Extra 20% off e-vouchers under £250! Use code 20GIFT at checkout! - T&Cs apply
What's Included
- Three-course lunch with coffee and mints served aboard The 'Carolean'
- Enjoy a leisurely steam train journey through Charnwood's countryside
- Your meal is served during the journey aboard the first class restaurant cars
- There is generally a pause on Swithland viaduct with views across the reservoir to Charnwood Forest
- A 'runabout ticket' allowing unlimited rail travel for the day
- Opportunity to roam around the platform and museums
- Your table on the steam train luncheon departure is reserved for you
- Seating is generally on tables accommodating two or four people
- The train journey lasts approximately two hours
What Can I Expect
Great Central Railway Saturday lunch - all aboard the Carolean for a superb Saturday steam train lunch in Loughborough! This year-round luncheon service is one of the most popular of all our experiences!
The beautifully restored carriages of the Carolean (named after the King Charles III era) immediately transport you back to the truly golden age of steam trains. As you roll gently out of Loughborough, sit back in your large, armchair-style comfy seat, watch the plumes of steam billowing from the train's locomotive and enjoy the unspoilt countryside.
Your three course Saturday luncheon meal will be served at your table by the courteous and smartly dressed service team. You have a choice of main dishes in a classic British cuisine style, with vegetarian options too. What you might not realise is that there is a kitchen car onboard, where all the food is prepared and plated - quite a feat!
Midway through your steam adventure, the train will glide to a halt on one of the loveliest spots in the Loughborough area - the viaduct that spans the Swithland Reservoir. Chances are you'll see wildfowl enjoying the tranquillity of the water and we think there is no better way to spend a Saturday lunch time than this!
Once you arrive at the end of the line in Leicester North, your plates will have been collected and you'll most likely fancy a little stroll. So here's where you can get off the train to have a look around the station. You can watch the steam loco ‘runaround' and then hop back onboard for your return journey and your coffee and mints.
Every diner booked on the Great Central Railway Saturday steam train lunch from Loughborough also has a first class 'runabout' ticket. This gives unlimited travel for the day of your experience, so you can make the most of it and see all the attractions on the eight miles of mainline track and three other stations.
When Is It Available
- Most Saturday lunchtimes from February through to November
- Departures are at 13:00, returning at approximately 15:00
- On booking, the operator may ask for you to make your menu choices in advance
- Due to popularity please book in advance to avoid disappointment
Vouchers are valid for any of the scheduled dates, subject to availability.
Request your preferred date when booking in for your experience.
2025 Schedule
- Saturday 22nd February
- Saturday 8th March
- Saturday 22nd March
- Saturday 5th April
- Saturday 19th April
- Saturday 10th May
- Saturday 24th May
- Saturday 14th June
- Saturday 28th June
- Saturday 12th July
- Saturday 26th July
- Saturday 9th August
- Saturday 30th August
- Saturday 20th September
- Saturday 11th October
- Saturday 25th October
- Saturday 8th November
Location
- The trains depart from and returns to Great Central Station in Loughborough
- Head south, for around 4 miles where the train pauses to take in the beautiful views from the Swithland viaduct, near Rothley
- The train follows the same route North back to Great Central Station
- The Central station has good access from the M1 (J23) and A6
Suitable For
- Minimum age 5
- Under 18s must be accompanied by a participating adult
- There are disabled facilities available on site
- The dining car is not suitable for wheelchairs
Spectators
- Spectators wanting to see off the train will need to buy a platform ticket which allows access to the museums
Anything Else
- There are full facilities on board the trains and at the stations
- The operator can also assist and advise on local accommodation in the area
Menu
2025 Menu
__________
Choice of Starter
Garlic Baked Mushrooms with Ricotta and Pesto
Prosciutto Wrapped Charred Asparagus with a Toasted Pumpkin Seed Crumb
Choice of Main
Chicken Supreme with a Sundried Tomato, Chorizo and Butterbean Sauce
Braised Blade of Beef with Caramelised Onion Jus and Celeriac Puree
Pea and Spring Onion Risotto (Ve)
Roasted Cauliflower and Harissa Tart (V)
Served with Chef's selection of Seasonal Vegetables
Choice of Dessert
Sticky Toffee Pudding with a Butterscotch Sauce and Chantilly Cream
Peach & Strawberry Charlotte
Chocolate Cherry Torte (Ve)
Tea, Coffee and Chocolate Truffles
Please be aware that all our dishes are prepared in kitchens where gluten, nuts and other allergens are present, therefore, we cannot guarantee that any food item is completely ‘free from’ traces of allergens. Some dishes may contain alcohol which may not be listed on the menu.
Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Average Rating: 4.7
Total Reviews: 123
Total Reviews: 123
Find out what other customers think of the experience
Reviews
Vicky Boulton
Excellent experience. My husband needed gluten free meal and this option was available and arranged...
Alison Steggall
Everything was amazing, the train the staff and the food was wonderful would definitely recommend
James McCulloch
Myself and my wife enjoyed the whole experience so much that we will be rebooking for my brothers b...
Pauline Silvester
1 Months ago
Absolutely fabulous experience.
The station was wonderful, just like the set of the Railway Child...
Beverley Strickland
5 Months ago
My husband and i was bought this experience for our Christmas present , by my daughter and son in ...
Michelle Walton
5 Months ago
Easy to book, great menu choice and experience
Sally
6 Months ago
Amazing , how do they manage to keep the food warm and good qualuty i dont know! Great experience
Mark Edgar
8 Months ago
Despite some confusion with the wine list the experience as a whole was very enjoyable.
colin
we had a brilliant day on Great Central Railway the meal was superb and the staff brilliant. train ...
margaret moore
everything was well organised even when little blips arose which where no fault of the staff. excel...
Lynda
We had a great day, excellent food and service. Friendly, helpful staff and the train was spotless.
Clare
Lovely relaxing day, the food was tasty and the dining experience great. The staff were friendly an...
Nigel Wharton
This was the first day back for luncheon on The Great Central Railway so not everything went as the...
lena parisi
had wonderful journey on the steam train. the food was excellent and beautifully served. couldn't...
Richard
This was a really great experience for me and my fiancée. The whole thing was excellent. The staff ...
Alan Sutton
The romance of travelling in a Pullman Car, hauled by a British-built steam locomotive, was enhance...
Graham Daniels
What a great way to spend a lunchtime. Hauled by a steam locomotive with excellent food, wine and s...
Betty Burrows
Enjoyable gift to receive.revived old memories of the way we used to travel wonderful smell of the ...
anthony dodson
Service and food excellent
Viv
It was excellent , stepping back in time the service and product was first class would recommend to...
John Fitzpatrick
A really good day out. The food was excellent and the staff very helpful. Nothing like the sound an...
Alan
We had a wonderful time. The train ride was good, the food was very good and the waiting staff were...
Dave and Chris Appleby
Very enjoyable day, despite the rain! The experience was very well organized, the staff were effici...
margaret bargus
lovely meal on the train, we really enjoyed the experience
Allan Wendy Plowright
Train meal etc.
Excellent overall day
ALLANPLOWRIGHT
Pete and Jo
Thoroughly enjoyed the experience, the railway, the journeys, the food, the service and the company...
Yvette
A perfect afternoon from start to finish, the food was delicious and the waiting staff were very go...
R Marfleet
A well organised trip on the Great Central Railway. The meal was excellent and the service outstan...
Mrs Pamela Paddy
Fantastic meal and service. A lovely gift and interesting experience.
Amanda
I brought the steam train experience as a 50th wedding anniversary present for my parents. They lo...
David Youdan
The Journey was impressive and the meal a real treat. The service was exceptional and always availa...
Roger Burns
A lovely gift for my birthday. Good location, very interesting, with a pleasant run through the cou...
Diana
Had a really great day. The lunch was excellent and so was the total experience. Really took us b...
Simon Graham.
We had a lovely day on the steam train at Loughborough, food was great as were all of the people lo...
Pam Nickerson
This was a lovely experience. A fantastic location
and a beautiful meal served promptly by effici...
Helena Melbourne
Absolutely fantastic. Very welcoming staff and amazing food. Loved every minute of it. Thanks to ev...
Richard Browne
Enjoyed it but the choice was limited and the lamb very fatty. As a meal out it wasn't brilliant an...
Elizabeth
I love steam trains and was very excited to receive this gift of Christmas Lunch and a steam train ...
Susan nemeth
Lovely experience! And what a lovely gift!
Only downside we had to share our carriage with 3 other...
Mrs June Wallace
Enjoyed the experience everything went smoothly from booking to steam train. My husbands birthday p...
Andy Coekin
Very nice experience lovely staff and food would definitely recommend this to other people
Emily
Food was really good and staff were all friendly and professional and would definitely recommend
Jess
Amazing few hours out! Really enjoyed it, food was beautiful! Would definitely recommend and will b...
John Larley
It was a thoroughly excellent experience stepping back in time with station master and guard dresse...
Kay Chadburn
We enjoyed the experience very much. The service was excellent and the servers were all very polite...
Julie Smith
Staff are polite and those organising the meal were extremely efficient. No mean feat to provide 80...
Doreen and Roy Smith
What a fabulous experience. We thoroughly enjoyed everything about our trip and luncheon on the ste...
Claire Hillman
We spent a lovely day, and had a superb meal. The staff were excellent and friendly, the service on...
Terry Kemoe
A great day out the great central railway have it just right.my only comment would be children shou...
Jan & Ray Hutchinson
Excellent - service, journey and food all very good
G. Sturman
A most enjoyable experience. We were already familiar with the Great Central Railway, having visite...
Graham Sewell
Definitely one of the best themed days out that we have ever had. The lunch was excellent, the ser...
Jill Kenyon
We had a wonderful day and a superb meal. The staff were all friendly and helpful. I would certainl...
A Griffith
A brilliant day with good food, recommended
A & M
A new experience for us. A real treat to be able to travel on a Steam Train. Food excellent and sta...
eileen hope
the food and the ambiance was spot on, as was the service. the actual steam train experience was la...
Ian Barry
We had a really lovely time. It was all organised really well and smoothly. The food was great an...
A Roberts
Our experience was pleasant, did feel it was abit rushed, food was ok,i had the lamb but felt it wa...
Michael Smith
Has an experience it was truly great. It brought back many memories of how I remember the the huge ...
Ian Darbyshire
Very enjoyable day
Reginald Smith
A very enjoyable afternoon all staff so pleasant food excellent 10 out of 10 I will certainly recc...
Jennifer Lawrencej
A most enjoyable couple of hours on the Steam Train, the staff were excellent, very attentive and v...
Ian Spillett
A wonderful day out given as a Christmas present. Plenty of steam engines and great atmosphere of a...
Sarah Law
Lovely Christmas pressie for my 75+ parents.
Train lovely staff and their service friendly and goo...
Steve Longrigg
A great day out. Lots of locomotives in steam on the day and really good food on the train. Would r...
Wendy
Booking was not great . Operator at great central operator did not know facts. Was told to go to ti...
Martin Ward
A great trip and would definitely do it again
Patricia Fensom
What a lovely day we had! The sights and sounds and smells of the station and trains brought back ...
Patricia Brookes
Great staff, very comfortable. Delicious piping hot meal. What a treat
k. lumsden
A very enjoyable experience. The meal was beautiful. The seating was very comfortable. The only dow...
Karen Walker
Such a lovely experience, we had a very enjoyable day, its definitely worth arriving early and expl...
john watts
Food staff and service was fantastic .only thing that let it down was not much scenery on route .
Denise Benham
Excellent trip. Loved all the authentic touches such as old suitcases on the platform and all the o...
Emma Cartledge
Good
Tricia Bowler
Very good service and excellent food. Really enjoyed it. Only criticism was that the dessert said w...
Beryl Thompson
We really enjoyed ourselves and felt as if we had stepped back in time. The food was first rate an...
Dave
Excellent food on a lovely steam train friendly staff
Helen Deaton
Booking the day was quick and easy. Everyone at Loughborough Station was very helpful and there was...
Mrs Anne Hawkins
We had a fantastic time food was excellent the service was great and very friendly all in all we co...
Paul Davies
We had an amazing day all round!
Des Boyle
An experience to remember. The service was excellent, the food great and the staff were very accomo...
M J Geer
Enjoyable, staff excellent, journey too short, especially as it had taken 1.5 hours to get there
Reg. Harper
An wonderful day out. Lunch was perfect, service outstanding. Only adverse comment I have is that t...
Andrew Collins
Fantastic day all the people we met were brilliant - the dining experience was brilliant the food w...
Peter Harper
Fantastic time.staff and service excellent
Antony Gadsby
Fanatastic experience along with a real feel of nostalgia from start to finish. Food was excellent ...
Kim Hardy
We had an absolutely wonderful day. The service was fantastic and the food was lovely. Would defini...
Helen Williams
A lovely day out, the dining experience was first class. The staff looked after us really well, re...
Kirstie Law
Lovely experience, with enthusiastic and very helpful staff. It just wasn't long enough - got to th...
Jacqueline Gilbert
We had a fabulous time, the food was excellent and the staff really pleasant would easily recommend...
Betty Pape
Relaxing ,enjoyable experience. The staff were friendly and helpful. A lovely day out
Mrs. G.L. Brazier
Wonderful day, staff all helpful, friendly and efficient. Food was excellent. Even the weather was...
Mrs. Preston
STAff were courteous. I was impressed with the catering being able to accommodate my dietary requir...
Anne and Mick
Beautiful day. Lovely gift. Excellent experience and fantastic customer service.
Mrs E. Hulme
A very enjoyable experience a very welcome gift
Ian Hughes
Excellent trip, waitress service excellent, staff charming and polite. The restaurant car was profe...
pamela beehoo
i thought the hole experience was very good and just what my husband wanted for his birthday very v...
tracey
what a lovely day on the steam train , the Yorkshire man , and fantastic food served hot and yummy,...
Melvyn & Rosemarie Arkell
Exploring the station site was very interesting and the fine dining on board "The South Yorkshirema...
Lorraine
We thoroughly enjoyed the trip, the food was well prepared and presented and the staff were excelle...
Russell
We had an amazing day. The experiance was beyond our expectations. Everything went like clockwork, ...
Suzanne Brennan
I bought this as a gift for a friend we enjoyed the experience very much and thought the station an...
iris and john martin
We had an excellent day, staff were very helpful and the food was excellent and lots of it..
Peter & Anita Brown
We had an amazing day and really enjoyed the experience. The staff were really friendly and nothing...
Steve
We really enjoyed this experience it was well organised and we were really well looked after. The f...
Sarah Gordon
Interesting little journey with friendly staff. The Sunday lunch was disappointing.
Steve
We had a really great day the staff were very friendly and helpful, food was out of this world very...
Matt
it was a great experience, from the friendly staff to the enjoyable food, the only downside was tha...
Allan Salisbury
Brilliant day cracking lunch .great experience .
Jeff Burgess
First class day. Everything I was Looking forward to and more. The food and the staff were really g...
Simon Brittain
Really good freshly prepared meal, nicely timed and excellent staff.
Peter Helm
Meal very good. Very comfortable and enjoyable.
Guest review
I booked a steam train lunch in Leicester for me, my Mum, Dad and brother as a special treat as we ...
Caroline, Leicester - by email
Having been given an Into the Blue activity gift token, I decided (being the good daughter that I a...
Customer Review
Service rating - excellent: well organised, impeccable service and really friendly staff. A wonderf...
Louise Webb, by email
I bought my partner the experience as he is a real steam train fan. However, as I am not, I was a l...
Mrs Coull, Northampton - by email
I'm just emailing to say thank you for the excellent service from Into the Blue. I ordered a steam ...
Joe Dawson
Excellent day. Meal was fantastic and Staff were so friendly.
The whole experience was great.
Dave Dyment
Lovely surprise for my wife. A trip back in time on a sedate journey through the countryside. Lov...
Linda
We had a really lovely time on our train experience . The lunch was very nice and the staff were fr...
Phil Hughes
Excellent day out, staff were all very helpful !!
special thanks to Mike the guard
