How much does it cost?

From £725 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $979 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes. Rail travel and seat reservations from your home station to Birmingham, in Standard or First Class, are included, along with rail and coach transfers throughout.

Is it escorted or independent?

It is an escorted tour with a Tour Manager throughout.

All four nights at the Holiday Inn in Birmingham City Centre.

Which heritage railways are included?

The Severn Valley Railway, the Shakespeare Express, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, and the Toddington Narrow-Gauge Railway.

The only departure currently listed is in August 2027, priced from GBP 725 per person.

Railtrail Tours · Escorted tour

Steam in England's Beautiful Shires 2027

5-day escorted steam tour through England's Midlands and Cotswolds

Steam in England's Beautiful Shires is a 5-day escorted tour from Railtrail Tours based at the Holiday Inn in Birmingham City Centre for all four nights. Day 2 travels by rail to Kidderminster for a steam run on the Severn Valley Railway, following the River Severn for 16 miles to Bridgnorth, where free time allows a ride on England's oldest inland funicular railway. Day 3 brings the Shakespeare Express, a steam-hauled journey through the Warwickshire countryside to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace, with time to explore the market town. Day 4 transfers by coach to Cheltenham Racecourse for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway's run through Cotswold scenery to the village of Broadway, followed by a ride on the Toddington Narrow-Gauge Railway. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, with rail travel from your home station, coach transfers, and admissions included. This short break suits railway enthusiasts and first-time visitors to the Midlands and Cotswolds who want several heritage lines combined with historic towns in one fully escorted trip.

What to know before you look closer

Railtrail Tours currently lists only one departure for this tour, in August 2027, priced from GBP 725 per person.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Holiday Inn, Birmingham City Centre
Arrival in Birmingham
Journey from your home station to Birmingham and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Holiday Inn Hotel, our hotel for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Holiday Inn, Birmingham City Centre
Severn Valley Railway to Bridgnorth & The Engine House
This morning, we travel by rail to Kidderminster for a scenic steam excursion on the Severn Valley Railway through 16-miles of beautiful countryside closely following the River Severn to Bridgnorth. Here, we enjoy free time in this charming, historic town and you can explore its independent shops, relax at the quaint cafes, or take a ride on England's oldest and steepest inland funicular railway. Afterwards, we continue by steam to Highley for a visit to The Engine House Visitor Centre, home to fascinating railway exhibits and heritage locomotives, before retracing our steps back to Birmingham.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3railovernight: Holiday Inn, Birmingham City Centre
The Shakespeare Express to Stratford-upon-Avon
Today, we will experience the iconic Shakespeare Express, a fantastic steam-hauled journey through the Warwickshire countryside to Stratford-upon-Avon. Sit back and savour the nostalgic sight, sound, and atmosphere of mainline steam travel to the historic birthplace of William Shakespeare. On arrival in Stratford, we enjoy time at leisure in this beautiful market town on the banks of the River Avon and you may wish to visit Shakespeare's birthplace, explore hidden gems and iconic buildings, stroll the quaint side streets with unique shops, or discover the open parklands along the river before we return behind steam to Birmingham.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4railovernight: Holiday Inn, Birmingham City Centre
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway & Toddington Narrow-Gauge Railway
After breakfast this morning, we board our coach and transfer to Cheltenham Racecourse for our nostalgic steam journey aboard the heritage Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway through spectacular Cotswold scenery, passing rolling hills, wooded landscapes, and charming rural stations to Broadway. We enjoy a little free time in this picturesque Cotswold village before departing to Toddington Narrow-Gauge Railway where an enjoyable visit includes a ride over their half mile line together with access to the locomotive shed, signal box, and impressive garden railway. Afterwards, we return by coach to Birmingham for our final evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
Homeward Journey
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Birmingham and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The Severn Valley Railway runs 16 miles of steam-hauled track closely following the River Severn to Bridgnorth, home to England's oldest and steepest inland funicular railway.
Day 3The Shakespeare Express, a steam-hauled mainline train, carries the group through the Warwickshire countryside to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
Day 4The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway runs through Cotswold scenery of rolling hills and wooded landscapes from Cheltenham Racecourse to the village of Broadway, followed by a ride on the Toddington Narrow-Gauge Railway.

Included

4 nights bed & breakfast plus 1 evening meal
Services of experienced Tour Manager
Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)
Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described
All excursions & admissions as detailed

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £725 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $979 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes. Rail travel and seat reservations from your home station to Birmingham, in Standard or First Class, are included, along with rail and coach transfers throughout.
Is it escorted or independent?: It is an escorted tour with a Tour Manager throughout.
Where do you stay?: All four nights at the Holiday Inn in Birmingham City Centre.
Which heritage railways are included?: The Severn Valley Railway, the Shakespeare Express, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, and the Toddington Narrow-Gauge Railway.
When does it run?: The only departure currently listed is in August 2027, priced from GBP 725 per person.