Horsted Keynes Station

Please Note: Horsted Keynes Station is currently undergoing restoration work as part of the “Jewel In The Crown Project“, this will inevitably cause some disruption at the station over the coming weeks. We are ensuring disabled access to Platforms 3 and 4 will always be available.

Our catering facility, The King George V Buffet is not guaranteed to be open during this time, so you may wish to have your own provisions just in case.

Horsted Keynes Station was built in 1882 by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway.

It was a large junction station in the 1930s, with a line branching off to Haywards Heath via Ardingly.

Today, the station has been restored to the Southern Railway period – mid 1920s. This station is particularly popular with film and television companies, and used as filming location for Downton Abbey, The Woman in Black and Muppets Most Wanted.

Hop off at Horsted Keynes to see all the station has to offer.

Carriage and Wagon Workshop

Horsted Keynes is the home of our award-winning Carriage and Wagon department, which is where all our carriage restoration takes place including metal fabrication, woodwork, marquetry, upholstery and painting. You can visit the carriage works viewing gallery and display which is accessible from platform 5.

Opening times are available here.

Elephant Van

The Elephant Van, which was originally used to transport circus elephants, has now been transformed into a bright red play carriage especially for our younger visitors. Bring the kids along and let them enjoy soft play in this safe environment, with fun activities ideal for children up to 7 years old. The Elephant Van is located on the dock at the South end of Platform 5 next to the Gallery Carriage, which is open on event dates and weekends through the Summer and features artworks by local rail artists.

Carriage Shop

The Bluebell Railway Carriage Shop is located on Platform 1 of the Horsted Keynes Station.

Selling pre-loved railway and transport books, photographs, models, DVDs, magazines, and other collectibles. All proceeds go towards funding projects at the railway.

All second hand books are in good condition, with some harder to find titles that are now out of print. There is also a large selection of Railway Photographs, OO Model Railway Locomotives, Carriages, Wagons and Track, Model Cars & Buses, Transport DVDs and many other Railway & Transport items.

In its over 25 year existence Carriage Shop proceeds have helped to fund many worthwhile projects across The Bluebell Railway. Previously donations have been made to carriage & wagon restoration projects, waste removal at Imberhorne Cutting, Operation Undercover, canopy restoration at Horsted Keynes, re-surfacing of the dock outside the Carriage Workshops and many other smaller ventures that might otherwise never have been able to get started.

Many of the goods sold come from generous donations and we will always be pleased to accept any Railway related items

You can find out more on the Carriage Shop’s Facebook page. For opening times click here.

King George V Buffet

See ‘Today At The Railway‘ page for opening days and times.

In addition, light meals are available at weekends and during school holidays.

Disabled Access, Toilets & Baby Changing Facilities

The station has disabled toilet facilities. Baby changing facilities are available in the Ladies cloakroom on platform 5.

At the midpoint on the railway, the toilet facilities all date from the 1880s, and are spacious but otherwise not converted. Being based around old railway coaches, the various exhibitions and shop on Platform 1 are not wheelchair accessible, but the new carriage exhibition is. The shop and buffet on platforms 3-4 are small but none-the-less are at platform level, as is part of the public viewing area in the carriage workshops at the south of platform 5. Parking may be arranged with the station staff on arrival.

Car Parking

There is a hard surface car park, with parking for about 30 cars. An additional, adjacent field is available for parking in summer, with space for up to 100 cars.