Leicestershire Families: Don’t Miss Great Central Railway’s Five Pounds Children’s Summer Adventures

Published on July 19, 2025

The Great Central Railway (GCR) is providing families with an all-new summer adventure where families can take their kids for just £5 per child – a great value and fun day out during the school holidays! The brand new Explorer Experience is a special day for families to relive old train journeys and enjoy educational activities and masses of hands-on fun on the GCR’s historic stations.

Those seeking a cheap way to enjoy the summer holidays will find the Explorer Experience is an ideal option for wandering families. The £25 train ticket/adult and £5 per child includes travel on trains hauled by heritage steam and diesel locomotives, with fun activity packs, storytelling, and entry to the railway museum all set at the atmospheric GCR’s heritage stations. The GCR’s dedication to fun-filled trips that won’t break the bank for families is clear with this great new concept that they hope will make happy memories without any worry about extras or the expense.

The Explorer Experience runs on chosen weekends and school holidays, so it’s a great opportunity for families of thrill-seekers to add a little bit of ‘oomph’ to their summer holiday plans! The whole package, which comes to only £35 for one adult and two children, gives families a day of discovery and adventure at a low cost. Malcolm Holmes, General Manager at GCR, said: ‘The Explorer Ticket has been developed to make the world of heritage rail travel more accessible to families during the peak summer holiday season.

A Budget-Friendly Day of History and Fun

The Explorer Experience takes you from either Loughborough Central or Quorn and Woodhouse, two of GCR’s stunning stations. Upon arrival, families receive a welcome guide and watch a short film that introduces the adventure ahead. Families then start a nostalgic and educational journey that continues to some of the railway’s most famous sites.

As families chug along on the locomotive, they can see, hear, and learn about the historic transportation of another generation and participate in activities on the way. The adventure is an exhilarating blend of treasure hunting, creativity, and exploration, perfect for kids and adults. The stunningly preserved stations are themed across the ages, and families can go ‘back to the future’ and enjoy the appeal of the railway’s history.

Malcolm Holmes, Chief Executive of GCR, added his response to the project: “We understand just how crucial it is for families to be able to enjoy fun, value-for-money days out – no more so than at half term and school holidays. That’s exactly what the Explorer Ticket does – you get a full day with something completely different for just £35 for one adult and two kids, and with straightforward and affordable pricing.”

Games and Learning Fun for Kids

And the Explorer Experience isn’t only about all aboard those trains – it’s about on-track, hands-on learning for children, too. Included as part of the package, children get given an activity pack including I Spy games, treasure hunts, and other fun tasks to keep children entertained and learning about the history and heritage of the railway.

One of the highlights of the day is taking part in the Explorer Badge Challenge – kids getting involved in a range of activities in a bid to win an exclusive badge. This badge signifies their achievement and can be worn with pride as a reminder of their journey. Kids who complete the challenge victoriously make it to the exclusive Explorer Club, where they receive special privileges and discounts on their future visits – it’s a one-of-a-kind experience that families can come back to again and again.

Family Fun, Fun, Exciting Day for the Whole Family

It’s more than a day out; it’s a day that family members will never forget. The blend of history with educational and hands-on fun will provide a unique, engaging, and memorable experience for you and your family. With the summer holidays fast approaching, families are constantly on the lookout for stimulating, affordable activities, and the GCR’s Explorer Experience provides just that.

By providing a unique opportunity to experience the nostalgia of old trains, and learning about the past of the Great Central Railway, the GCR allows children and families to appreciate the magic of travel the way it should be – educating whilst entertaining. At a great value, there’s value and family-friendly fun that the Explorer Experience is offering as a unique summer outing this season.

Malcolm Holmes, Director of Rail Operations, said accessibility was a key factor for the project: “Our ethos with the Explorer Experience is to provide families with a cost-effective way to enjoy the enchantment of heritage rail travel. “We think this unique aspect of our British heritage is something that everyone should be able to experience and enjoy, and this offering provides that opportunity.

Anticipating Next Family-Friendly Adventures

Explorer Experience through the Leicestershire countryside, like the GCR’s has become a new family-focused thing to do on a budget throughout the school summer holidays. When the desire for family friendly and memorable experiences is increasing, the GCR is passionate about creating affordable and memorable year-round adventures for children of all ages including children of all ages including parties, educational experiences, travel, school groups, and reunions.

“As families increasingly look for interesting, enriching ways to spend quality time together, the Explorer Experience demonstrates the heights of adventure that heritage railways can provide – a vibrant, educational and often unforgettable day out delivering entertainment alongside education in equal measure. Choose what you’d like to do with the kids, be it a treasure trail or working towards an Explorer Badge, and every second spent on the Great Central Railway is going to be one that’s remembered forever.

(Source: Great Central Railway, TTG Media)