Cheltenham Society of Model Engineers
Best for Little train fans
Top tip Arrive early. You might even get a parking space on site, and they sometimes stop letting people in when the site is at capacity, so it's best to be there early to avoid the queues.
I must have driven past this place hundreds of times and never knew it was there, but hidden right beside Asda in Cheltenham is the Cheltenham Society of Model Engineers, operators of the Hatherley Miniature Railway.
This is a private club, but they host regular open days where you can visit, have a coffee and a snack on the lawn, and have a ride on one of the trains. There are also smaller model trains running, and model boats on the lake.
E loved watching the small models and riding on the bigger ones, and the whole day was very kid-friendly. It was extremely well attended, though, so the ice creams sold out early, and there was a wait to get in and for the coffee.
There's limited parking on site, but it all filled up very quickly. There's some street parking nearby, but that's limited too. There's plenty of parking next door at Asda, and while leaving the site breaches their rules, you can pay for a space through an app (JustPark) to make sure you don't get a fine.
What we loved
- Steam train rides
- Watching the model trains
- Chatting to the members about steam engines
- Cake! Cake!
Worth knowing
- Parking on site and on nearby streets is limited
- Parking at Asda next door while you're at the event breaks their rules and risks a fine, but you can book a space through the JustPark app
- Assistance dogs only
- Keep little ones off the safety fences
- The Ultra Systems car park opposite is no longer available
- Model boats are on the lake when the water level allows
- Refreshments are on sale in the club house
Last visited May 2026. Prices and times change, so check before you go.