Bressingham Steam and Gardens

About the museum

The collection at Bressingham grew from the enthusiasm of Alan Bloom, a nurseryman who had settled at Bressingham Hall after the Second World War. In 1961 he bought a Burrell traction engine called Bertha, and within two years he had gathered thirteen traction engines and steam rollers. He then turned his attention to railways, laying narrow-gauge lines through the grounds and collecting locomotives from Britain and mainland Europe.

The Fen Railway opened in 1966 as the Nursery Railway, followed by the Waveney Valley Railway in 1973 and a smaller garden railway that runs through the Dell Garden. In 1967 Bloom bought the Gallopers, a steam-driven fairground roundabout built by Frederick Savage of King’s Lynn in 1897. A change in the rules for private museums in 1971 allowed him to set up his own charitable trust, which still looks after the collection today.

Today visitors can ride the railways, see engines in the locomotive shed and walk through the gardens, which remain privately owned by the Bloom family. The museum also holds a national collection of vehicles from the television series Dad’s Army, shown on a reconstruction of the high street of the fictional town of Walmington-on-Sea.

Highlights

• Narrow-gauge railways, including the 15-inch Waveney Valley Railway
• Gallopers fairground roundabout built in 1897
• Locomotive shed with steam engines from across Europe, including the Krupp engine Rosenkavalier
• Traction engines and steam rollers, including the Burrell engine Bertha
• Dad’s Army street with vehicles from the television series
• 17-acre gardens next to the museum

Permanent exhibitions

• Steam museum and railways – Steam locomotives, traction engines and rollers, with trains running on narrow-gauge lines through the grounds.
• Dad’s Army – A reconstruction of the high street of Walmington-on-Sea, with vehicles and displays from the television series.
• Gallopers – A steam fairground roundabout built in 1897 that visitors can ride.

Founded

1961

Operated by

Bressingham Steam Preservation Company Limited

Admission & discounts

Prices are for an Explore & Rides ticket on a steam-timetable day, which includes entry to the museum and gardens and unlimited rides on the railways and Gallopers. Entry-only Explorer tickets and event days are priced separately. Rides tickets are sold online, and Gift Aid can be added for UK taxpayers.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Dogs are not allowed on site except assistance dogs, because steam trains run through the grounds.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Playground / play area

Children can ride the narrow-gauge trains and the Gallopers, and the site has an outdoor play area. Children aged 0 to 2 enter free.

Getting there & parking

Sat nav postcode IP22 2AA.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Refreshments and a souvenir shop are available on site.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Venue hire is offered; enquiries go through the museum.

Plan your visit