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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

The East Anglian - September 2026

Seven-day steam railway tour of Norfolk based in Norwich and King's Lynn

Illustration of The East Anglian - September 2026

The Railway Touring Company's East Anglian tour is a seven-day escorted journey through Norfolk's heritage railways and coastal landscapes, departing in September 2026. You start at London Liverpool Street, travel north in First Class to Norwich, and base yourself there for four nights before moving to King's Lynn for two nights. The itinerary centres on riding four steam-hauled heritage railways: the Bure Valley, Mid Norfolk, Wells & Walsingham, and North Norfolk lines. You also take a mainline steam-hauled day excursion (destination confirmed nearer the time), cruise on the Norfolk Broads, visit Sandringham House and its gardens, tour a local gin distillery, and explore medieval Norwich and historic King's Lynn. Days combine escorted coach transfers, structured activities such as the Sandringham visit and boat cruise, and free time in towns. A Tour Manager accompanies you throughout. Accommodation is in 4-star hotels with breakfast included; most dinners are served in the hotels, and meals are also provided on trains. This tour suits repeat rail travellers, history lovers, and couples who value guided comfort with a mix of structured sightseeing and leisure time.

What to know before you look closer

  • The mainline steam excursion destination is not confirmed until the 2026 UK Day Trip programme is finalised; previous years have visited Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester, and York
  • Hotels listed as 4-star; confirm exact properties with the operator before booking

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Norwich

    From London to Norwich in First Class comfort; Tour of Norwich Castle

    Your tour starts at Liverpool Street Station, London, with a greeting from your Tour Manager. You travel north in First Class through the East Anglian countryside to Norwich, checking in to a centrally located 4-star hotel, your base for the next four nights. After check in you depart on a tour around Norwich, with refreshments provided. A welcome dinner is served at your historic hotel this evening.

  2. Day 2overnight: Norwich

    Mainline steam hauled excursion

    Today you travel on a mainline steam hauled day trip excursion; the destination will be confirmed once the 2026 UK Day Trip programme is finalised (previous years have visited Stratford-upon-Avon, Worcester and York). The journey commences at Norwich station, travelling in Premier Dining class, with breakfast served at your seat. On arrival you have time to explore, and the return journey retraces the outward route with a four-course, silver-served dinner at your seat.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Norwich

    Free time in historic Norwich; Steam hauled to Wymondham Abbey

    The morning is free to explore the medieval city of Norwich. After lunch, a private coach takes you to Dereham for a steam hauled trip on the Mid-Norfolk Railway to Wymondham Abbey, with a cream tea served at your seat on the trip back to Dereham, before returning to Norwich and your hotel for dinner.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Norwich

    Steam hauled on the Bure Valley Railway; Boat cruise on the famous Norfolk Broads

    After breakfast you travel by coach to Aylsham and board a steam hauled train on the Bure Valley Railway to Wroxham, on the Norfolk Broads, followed by an afternoon of cruising on the Broads' rivers and lakes. You return to Wroxham to explore, before heading back to your hotel in Norwich for dinner.

  5. Day 5railovernight: King's Lynn

    Day trip to Wells-next-the-Sea; Steam hauled along the North Norfolk coast

    You depart by coach to Wells-next-the-Sea, then travel steam hauled on the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway to Walsingham and back, with a leisurely lunch at Wells. You travel by coach to Sheringham for a steam hauled trip on the North Norfolk Railway to Holt and back, then transfer by coach to King's Lynn, checking in to a 4-star hotel for dinner.

  6. Day 6overnight: King's Lynn

    Visit to Sandringham House and Gardens; Local gin distillery tour

    Following breakfast you depart by coach to Sandringham, home of the King's Norfolk Country House, to explore its history, elegance and gardens, with lunch served in the restaurant. On arrival back at King's Lynn you visit the 'What A Hoot' gin distillery for a tour and gin tasting; dinner is served back at your hotel.

  7. Day 7rail

    Exploration of King's Lynn; Return to London

    After breakfast you spend the morning exploring and shopping in King's Lynn town centre, one of England's most important ports since the 12th century. You then transfer to the railway station for your return journey, arriving London King's Cross.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Arrive at Liverpool Street Station in London and travel north in First Class through East Anglia to Norwich; guided tour of Norwich Castle in the afternoon
  • Day 2Mainline steam-hauled day excursion from Norwich in Premier Dining class with breakfast served at your seat; destination confirmed nearer the time
  • Day 4Steam hauled on the Bure Valley Railway to Wroxham, followed by an afternoon boat cruise on the Norfolk Broads' rivers and lakes
  • Day 5Steam-hauled journeys on the Wells & Walsingham Light Railway and the North Norfolk Railway; coastal visit to Wells-next-the-Sea
  • Day 6Extended visit to Sandringham House and Gardens, the King's Norfolk country estate, with lunch in the restaurant; gin distillery tour and tasting in King's Lynn

Included

  • 6 nights accommodation with breakfast in 4-star hotels
  • 5 breakfasts in hotels and 1 on the train
  • 2 lunches
  • 5 dinners in hotels and 1 on the train
  • All train travel as detailed in the itinerary
  • Seat reservations and coach transfers
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes First Class rail from London Liverpool Street to Norwich, a mainline steam-hauled excursion in Premier Dining class, and four heritage steam railway journeys (Bure Valley, Mid Norfolk, Wells & Walsingham, and North Norfolk lines). Seat reservations are included.
What is included in the price?
Six nights in 4-star hotels with breakfast, five dinners and two lunches, all train travel and seat reservations, coach transfers, a Norfolk Broads boat cruise, visits to Sandringham House and Wymondham Abbey, a gin distillery tour, and the services of a Tour Manager throughout.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes, a Tour Manager travels with you throughout the seven days. A guided tour of Norwich is included on Day 1; other days combine coach transfers, heritage railways, and free exploration time in towns such as King's Lynn.
Where are the hotels?
Norwich for four nights (your base for the first four days) and King's Lynn for two nights. Both are 4-star properties.
When does this tour run?
September 2026. One departure is currently listed.
What is the starting point?
Liverpool Street Station, London. The tour ends at King's Cross, London, on Day 7.

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