Abbey Pumping Station Christmas Steam Day

Event Description

Christmas at Abbey Pumping Station!

Join us for a fun, festive day out for all the family at the 2026 Christmas Steam Day at Abbey Pumping station!

Enjoy vintage vehicles and toys from Christmases past, a festive bass band, crafts and so much more!
See the majestic steam powered Gimson Beam Engine in action, originally built in 1891 and expertly restored to working order.

Kids and adults alike can enjoy a ride on our Christmas railway, £1 per ride.

An array of vehicles will be on display in the grounds including the Leicester Museum’s collection of historic Fire Engines, Leyland and Renown Leicester buses, Hoskins Beer Lorry, Frears & Blacks Bread van. Top it all off with chips from our working coal fired fish and chip van.

Here’s just some of the exciting activities to enjoy:

• Brass band and festive music


• Train rides on our festive railway


• See our rare working example of Woolf compound rotative beam engines built by Gimson and Company in full steam!


• Historic Fire Engines and vehicles!


• Food and drink – tea, coffee and cake from our volunteer run cafe and chips from our working vintage coal fired Chip Van


• Christmas shopping with crafts


• Glimpse into Leicester’s past as a centre for hosiery with demonstrations of the museum’s framework knitting machine.

Visitors can also enjoy our exhibits including the steam shovel, Morris crane and Leicestershire Tardis.
Book in advance online for the best ticket price or pay by cash or card on arrival.

Ticket Prices:
Online Booking:
Adult (+16 years) £7
Concession (Over 65, Student) £6
Child (5-15 years) £3
Under 5 Free

Family (2 adults and 2 children) £17

On the Door:
Adult (+16 years) £8
Concession (Over 65, Student) £7
Child (5-15 years) £4
Under 5 Free

Family (2 adults and 2 children) £20

Customers who require assistance to attend abbey Pumping Station events can apply for a free companion ticket. Please email the team at aps@leicester.gov.uk or call us during opening hours on 0116 299 5111 for more information.

Event Parking: Parking is located at the National Space Centre situated next to the museum. The Space Centre car park is on Exploration Drive, post code LE4 5NS. The walkway entrance to Abbey Pumping Station is clearly signposted next to the car park.

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