Audley End Miniature Railway

From Lord Braybrooke's Estate to Enchanted Railway

The story of Audley End Miniature Railway begins in the early 1960s, when Lord Braybrooke commissioned railway engineer David Curwen to build a miniature line through the woodland of his family's estate near Saffron Walden. Curwen, already renowned for his work on miniature railways across Britain, designed a 10 and a quarter inch gauge track that would wind through ancient trees alongside the River Cam. On 16 May 1964, racing driver Sir Stirling Moss cut the ribbon and the railway carried its first passengers through the Essex countryside.

The original track was shorter than today's route. In 1979 the line was extended to its current one and a half miles, adding the two tunnels and the crossings over the River Cam and River Fulfen that remain highlights of the journey. Over the following decades the Braybrooke family steadily developed the site, adding the fairy and elf walk, the adventure playground and the woodland cafe. In 2011, Lord Braybrooke's daughter Amanda Murray took over management of the railway, expanding the programme of seasonal events and introducing themed experiences at Easter, Halloween and Christmas. By February 2026 the attraction was rebranded as Audley End Enchanted Railway, reflecting its evolution from a simple miniature train ride into a full woodland family park drawing over 130,000 visitors annually.

What to See and Do

The train ride remains the centrepiece. Passengers board miniature carriages hauled by scaled-down steam or diesel locomotives and travel one and a half miles through woodland that has stood on the Audley End estate for centuries. The route follows the bank of the River Cam, crossing it and the River Fulfen on purpose-built bridges before passing through two tunnels cut beneath the tree-lined path. The canopy of oak, ash and beech changes dramatically with the seasons, from the bright greens of spring to the deep golds and reds of autumn.

After the ride, families head to the Enchanted Fairy and Elf Walk, a woodland trail lined with dozens of handcrafted miniature houses tucked into tree roots, hollows and branches. Children collect a wand and tick off the creatures they discover along the route. The walk is updated seasonally, with new installations appearing throughout the year. The adventure playground sits in a woodland clearing and gives children space to climb, swing and explore. A nature corner introduces young visitors to the wildlife and habitats found across the estate, with interactive activities that change with the calendar. The woodland cafe serves homemade cakes, light lunches and hot drinks using locally sourced ingredients, including ice cream from Saffron Ice Cream, a local producer.

Planning Your Visit

Audley End Miniature Railway operates seasonally, with the main season running from late March through to early October, followed by half-term and Halloween specials in late October and Christmas events from late November to Christmas Eve. The railway does not open daily outside peak periods, so checking the website calendar before travelling is essential. All tickets must be pre-booked online; there is no walk-up admission. The site accepts card payment only.

Getting to the railway is straightforward. Audley End station, served by Greater Anglia from London Liverpool Street in around 55 minutes, is the nearest rail connection, with the railway a 20-minute walk or short taxi ride from the platform. By car, the M11 junction 9 leads directly to the B1383 and Audley End Road, with the journey from central London taking roughly an hour and a quarter outside peak traffic. On-site parking is available. Allow two to three hours for a visit covering the train ride, fairy walk and playground. The nearby market town of Saffron Walden, with its medieval streets, independent shops and excellent pubs, is well worth combining with a railway visit for a full day out in northwest Essex.