Embark on an enchanting family railway adventure during the Halloween Witches of Watercress Woods on Thursday 29th October to Saturday 31st October 2026! Hosted aboard The Watercress Line at Alresford Station (SO24 9JG), this immersive Halloween experience features steam train departures daily at 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM BST. Your journey begins at Alresford with welcoming Sweet Sellers offering goodie bags for every child before the train chuffs off toward Alton. Onboard, passengers meet a grown-up Hansel and Gretel and join an interactive story to protect the train from the mysterious Witches of Watercress Woods. Designed to offer Halloween excitement without frightening young ones, this 1 hour and 40 minute round trip includes character photo opportunities, onboard refreshments, and fancy dress fun for all ages.
Halloween Witches of Watercress Woods Dates
Schedule and train departure details for Halloween Witches of Watercress Woods:
- Event Dates: Thursday 29th October – Saturday 31st October 2026.
- Train Departure Times: Departures from Alresford at 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM BST daily (Full experience lasts 1 hour and 40 minutes; please allow 2 hours).
What to Expect at Halloween Witches of Watercress Woods
Key highlights and interactive family features:
- Return Steam Train Journey: Immersive round-trip journey on a heritage train traveling from Alresford to Alton and back.
- Interactive Onboard Story: Join Hansel & Gretel as they work alongside passengers to protect the train from the Witches of Watercress Woods.
- Welcome Goodie Bags: Goodie bags for every paying child provided by the Sweet Sellers at Alresford Station, including a colouring activity and an edible treat.
- Character Photo Opportunities: Take photos with costumed characters appearing along the journey and at stations.
- Food & Refreshments: Onboard buffet car serving hot and cold drinks and snacks, plus refreshments at the West Country Buffet (Alresford) and Alton Kiosk.
- Fancy Dress: Costume dress-up is warmly encouraged for all young witches, wizards, and swashbucklers.
Halloween Witches of Watercress Woods Tickets
Official ticket rates and booking guidance:
- Standard Ticket (Seating for 1): £35.00 per person.
- Under 2 Years: FREE (Must sit on an adult’s lap; does not include a goodie bag unless a standard ticket is purchased).
- Booking Fee: A £2.50 transaction fee applies per booking checkout.
- Group & Accessible Bookings: Standard seating is arranged around tables of 4. Discounts are available for groups of 15+ via direct contact with the venue.
Halloween Witches of Watercress Woods Address
Departure location and station travel routes:
Alresford Station Location
The Watercress Line, Station Road, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9JG.
How to Get to Alresford Station
- By Car: Located just off the A31 between Winchester and Alton; easily accessible from Southampton and Winchester.
- By Public Transport: Local bus connections run regularly from Winchester station and surrounding Hampshire towns directly to Alresford.
Halloween Witches of Watercress Woods Accessibility & Facilities
Station amenities and pushchair policy:
- Pushchair & Buggy Policy: Due to narrow heritage carriage aisles, pushchairs and buggies cannot be taken aboard the train and must be left at the station at the owner’s risk.
- Accessible Bookings: Dedicated accessible seating options can be arranged prior to booking by contacting the reservations team directly.
Alresford Station Parking
Parking details near the departure station:
- Pay & Display Parking: Winchester City Council pay-and-display car park available at Alresford station (Cash or RingGo app location 42519), including disabled parking spaces and EV charging points.
Discover More Local Events
Looking for more exciting things happening across the region? Check out our complete list of What’s On in Southampton to discover steam railway journeys, Halloween events, family adventures, and local community activities near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the Halloween Witches of Watercress Woods event taking place?
- The event runs daily during October half term from Thursday 29th October to Saturday 31st October 2026.
- Where does the train journey start and finish?
- The train departs from and returns to Alresford Station on The Watercress Line, Station Road, Alresford, Hampshire (SO24 9JG).
- What times do the trains depart?
- Trains depart daily from Alresford Station at 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM BST.
- How long does the train experience last?
- The return train trip lasts approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Visitors are advised to allow 2 hours in total for the full experience.
- How much do tickets cost for the event?
- Tickets cost £35.00 per person (seating for 1). Children under 2 years of age attend for free (sitting on an adult’s lap). A £2.50 booking fee applies per transaction.
- What is included in the child’s ticket price?
- Child tickets include a return steam train trip from Alresford to Alton, interactive onboard story-telling with Hansel & Gretel, photo opportunities, and a welcome goodie bag with a colouring activity and sweet treat.
- Is the event scary for young children?
- No, the experience is designed to offer Halloween excitement without being frightening, making it family-friendly and suitable for young children.
- Can pushchairs and buggies be taken on the train?
- No, due to the narrow aisles in the heritage carriages, buggies cannot be brought onto the train and must be left at Alresford Station at the owner’s risk.
- Is parking available at Alresford Station?
- Yes, pay-and-display parking operated by Winchester City Council is available at Alresford Station (Cash or RingGo app location 42519), including disabled parking spaces and EV charging points.
- Who organises the Halloween Witches of Watercress Woods?
- The event is hosted and managed by The Watercress Line (Mid Hants Railway) in association with Bad Moon Design.