Steam and afternoon tea recommendations

[mjc]

Good evening all, hoping for some recommendations (or places to avoid!)...it's my 40th birthday next April and I don't want a party/big fuss etc but would like to mark it with something special...so thinking a weekend away (me, Mrs, and children who'll be 5 and 2.5) including a trip of a steam train with afternoon tea and I'm looking for recommendations. We're in Stoke so have a fair reach across North and mid-wales, Midlands and The North and would welcome any recommendations please (or if somewhere to avoid I'd understand a private message).
My first preference would be North Wales or at least somewhere we can also go to the seaside but I'm not set on it.
And I'm not a complete tight-wad but no £250 per person type trips please... I'm sure it's lovely but the budget doesn't go that far!
Many thanks in advance.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Have you considered the Churnet Valley Railway? Right on your doorstep, no seaside admittedly but still rather scenic nonetheless and I think they have now reinstated these type of services.

 

[mjc]

Have you considered the Churnet Valley Railway? Right on your doorstep, no seaside admittedly but still rather scenic nonetheless and I think they have now reinstated these type of services.

Thanks, we're off to see Santa on the Churnet Valley, and depending how the world is by April we might not be able to go further afield anyway... I would, however, like to make a weekend of it if we can.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Thanks, we're off to see Santa on the Churnet Valley, and depending how the world is by April we might not be able to go further afield anyway... I would, however, like to make a weekend of it if we can.

Enjoy!

 

[WesternLancer]

I really enjoyed one on Peak Rail but it's a smaller scale operation in terms of the overall line / locos etc so that may be a consideration. I can not fault their afternoon tea in any way however!

 

[fairlie]

Hard to know what services will be running next year but I always love the Llangollen Railway and their Cream Tea option looks nice and reasonable! https://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/on-board-dining/

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

This is quite topical, I had a birthday with a zero in it earlier this month, as did a mate of mine. He and his wife did an afternoon tea trip recently on the Blue Bell Line and I have been given some vouchers for that line, so will try either afternoon tea or ploughman's or perhaps one of their lunch trains. When things get better.

In your area, as well as the Churnet Valley which is a good line, the Ecclestone Valley is another good line, as is the Severn Valley line. Enjoy whatever you do.