Summer fantastic for families at Severn Valley Railway

The SVR is launching its first family ticket offer – the Family Summer Saver, enabling families to enjoy a whole day out on the railway for just £39, as opposed to the usual on the day family ticket price of £55.50.

Families can enjoy unlimited steam train travel up and down the line during the day, plus free entry to the Engine House Visitor Centre, with its wealth of interactive exhibits and outdoor play area.

On offer throughout the summer holidays, from Saturday to September 4, the Family Summer Saver is valid for a range of family groupings of up to two adults or seniors and up to four children (aged up to 15) and can be pre-booked online or purchased on the day.

As well as an intensive service of heritage steam trains, running daily along the line throughout the summer, the railway is also launching its Engine House Fun Days, running every Wednesday during the holidays, starting next week.

These family-friendly, themed days run from 11.30am – 4pm, and start with Meet the Owls, on next Wednesday. Children can get up-close to the SVR's friendly group of owls, have their faces painted and take home their very own piece of owl pottery (tiles £7.50 each, owl pots £10 each).

Cakes and Craft on August 3 offers creative youngsters the chance to make a cardboard clock, decorate a fairy cake and have their faces painted.

Dress-up fun follows on Pirates & Princesses Day, on August 10.

A best-dressed pirate and princess competition, face-painting, storytelling and pirate pottery painting (£7.50 per tile) are all on the agenda.

Chris Vine, author of the popular Peter's Railway books, will be on hand to meet children and sign copies of his books on Peter's Railway Day, on August 17.

Visitors will be able to meet miniature locomotive Bongo, star of the books as well as enjoying face-painting, storytelling and a picnic.

Garden Explorers rounds-off the schedule on August 24.

Budding gardeners can meet the bees and their beekeeper, chat to volunteers from the RSPB, buy their own pollenating plant, plant a seed and watch it grow, paint a piece of wildlife pottery (£7.50 per tile) and have their faces painted.

Throughout the holidays, children can also pick up one of the SVR's Treasure Hunt books and enter a colouring competition.

If all that isn't enough, the SVR also has some fantastic events planned. Visitors can admire an array of classic and vintage cars, on display at stations all along the line, during Classic Vehicle Day on Sunday.

From Austins to Brabhams, Crestas to Caravanettes, vehicles of all shapes and sizes will be on show.

Steam-powered vehicles of all varieties will be the stars of Steam on the Road, on August 13 and 14. Steam rollers, traction engines and steam wagons will be on display and Kidderminster Station will host its very own mini beer festival, with more than 15 local beers and ciders on offer.

The SVR's very own bus rally takes place on September 4.

On the Buses features a range of buses from across the country, on show at Bewdley Station.

Visitors can enjoy a ride around Bewdley Town Centre, enjoy a hot pork roll and browse a range of memorabilia stands.

The summer events schedule will be rounded-off with a visit from Paddington Bear on Sunday, September 11.

Passengers can take a fun steam train trip to see Paddington, who will be making appearances at intervals throughout the day at The Engine House.

The Railway's heritage steam locomotives are now in full steam daily, taking passengers on exciting journeys along its picturesque 16-mile span from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth, stopping off at the six, beautifully-restored stations en-route.

Children and adults alike can help to 'Spot the Mouse' hidden in the paintings, thanks to the latest exhibition at the Engine House Visitor Centre, focusing on the work of renowned railway artist Terence Cuneo.

The Family Summer Saver offer launches on Saturday and runs until Sunday, September 4.

For more information about the Family Summer Saver and the SVR, visit the website www.svr.co.uk, call 01562 757900 or see the Severn Valley Railway Families page on Facebook.