South Devon Railway is already a unique experience in itself. It recreates the golden days of travel between the 1930s and 1960s as it takes you on a trip back in time on a traditional Great Western Railway branch line running along the river between Buckfastleigh and Totnes.

But to add to this nostalgic magic, the attraction hosts a huge calendar of special events throughout the year. And as an Easter treat it hosted the Mad Hatter’s Travelling Tea Party on April 6 and 7, 2024.

This was our first trip to the railway and I was surprised at how much was there. With the backdrop of Dartmoor and beautiful Devon hills, Buckfastleigh is the railway’s headquarters and, with ample free parking, this is where most people start their journey. Here you can find the museum, historic steam and diesel locomotives, a children’s play area, award-winning gardens and a gift and model shop. Dartmoor Otters and Buckfast Butterflies is also just across the road. The cafe is an attraction in itself. Beautifully decorated and fully licenced, it has an extensive menu ranging from sandwiches and cakes to fully-cooked breakfasts that looked plentiful as they were delivered to tables. If we’d had more time, we would have ordered something from the kitchen, but instead opted for sandwiches and snacks, mindful that the Queen of Hearts would not take kindly to tardiness on her train.

READ MORE:

It was the Queen, in full regalia, who met us as we queued for the train. Threatening beheadings while encouraging picture opportunities, she gave passengers a taste of the theatrics to come.

We hopped on the train and were met by the Mad Hatter, the March Hare and the Knave of Hearts. We were served our ‘tea’ in teapots (this was water to add to cordial marked ‘Drink Me’ on the tables), a box of cakes and activity books which my four-year-old daughter immediately started to colour.

The clue is in the name - it’s the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, and it was all a bit, well, mad. If you were expecting a relaxing train ride through the beautiful countryside with a little bit of theatre along the way, you could think again. This was a full-on immersive crazy tea-party experience from start to finish.

Armed with microphones and with music in the background, the characters kept passengers entertained as they bounded through the carriages. As we journeyed towards Totnes, the theatricals were a little loud and while we stopped at Totnes for a 15-minute break, some passengers relayed this feedback to the event team.

The Mad Hatter's Travelling Tea Party at South Devon Railway

On the return journey, the volume was adjusted and I think everyone relaxed a little more. And this is where the fun really began. We met new characters (cleverly played by the same actors). Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee made their entrance and we finally met Alice and the White Rabbit. The interaction in this section was brilliant for kids and adults alike. The Tweedle twins led a game of ‘Tweedle says’ - my daughter loved following the instructions - as did we all. We then had to pass a hedgehog and a flamingo down the carriages in a croquet race. There were a lot of laughs although things did get a little competitive. Two volunteers were also called up to do battle with sponge swords. A young girl and an older man dutifully took their positions and the pair ‘fought’ in the aisles with honour, with the man admitting defeat and falling to the fall - cue more laughter.

We disembarked feeling slightly off our heads with sugar and theatrical overload. It was a truly unique experience.

And there are more experiences to come throughout the year. There are Murder Mystery events on numerous occasions from April through to September. You’ll get an evening of immersive entertainment on board the train, watch as the story unfolds, listen out for clues and question the cast to try to piece together the puzzle.

There’s a family fun day on the weekend of May 4-6 which includes free entry into the Totnes Rare Breeds Farm, Dartmoor Otters and Buckfast Butterflies plus loads of family entertainment.

From May 24 to 27 the Rails and Ales Beer Festival takes place at Staverton Station.

In July you can step back to the 1940s and enjoy the fashion, music and vehicles of the era. And of course, rounding the year off is the magical Polar Express train ride.

For more information on South Devon Railway’s events, click here .

⚠️ Want the latest Devon breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join our WhatsApp group. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice ⚠️