Steaming Days 2026
A Victorian steam engine in motion, plus exhibition, café and a free vintage bus.
Why come?
Explore the Beam Engine House at your own pace while our Victorian steam engine, Prince Consort, is in motion.
The Octagon is one of the interiors in London to see once in a lifetime. Cast-iron galleries surround the space. The beam engines stand around it. On a Steaming Day, volunteers will be more than happy to share their knowledge and enthusiasm. Stay for talks, films and The Great Stink exhibition.
On the day
- Prince Consort, a massive beam engine, running under steam
- The cast-iron Octagon
- The Beam Engine House to look around
- The Great Stink exhibition
- Talks and films about Crossness
- Small engines working in the Valve House
- Ness Café, Bexley Brewery bar and the shop
- Children’s trail, plus crafts on many dates
- Free vintage bus from Abbey Wood Station
- Take our volunteer-run narrow-gauge RANG Railway (opens in a new tab) from the visitor entrance to the museum.
Times
Book an AM or PM arrival, then stay until we close.
- AM entry: 10am–12pm
- PM entry: 12pm–3pm (12pm–2pm in Nov/Dec)
- Closing: 4pm (3pm in Nov/Dec)
Good to know
Getting Here
Catch the free vintage shuttle bus from Abbey Wood Station. Open a tab below to see the best way of getting to us.
Abbey Wood Station is the closest station (Elizabeth Line, Southeastern and Thameslink).
- Take the free vintage bus from the station. Times are here.
- If you prefer to walk from the station, see information here.
The bus to use is our free vintage service from Abbey Wood Station.
Through October
From Abbey Wood Station: 9:45am, then every 30 minutes until 2:45pm
From Crossness: 11:30am, then every 30 minutes until 4:30pm
November and December
From Abbey Wood Station: 9:45am, then every 30 minutes until 1:45pm
From Crossness: 11:30am, then every 30 minutes until 3:30pm
Park in the visitor car park on Bazalgette Way, then walk in through the pedestrian entrance. Taxis can use What3words charmingly.cure.tone (opens in a new tab).
- This is the car park for this event. Walk in through the pedestrian entrance.
Walking from Abbey Wood Station takes about 40–45 minutes.
We are within cycling distance of Woolwich, with Uber Boat, DLR and Elizabeth Line connections. The Thames Path is a pleasant ride along the river.
There is secure cycle parking on site, by the large pond next to the Thames Path.
- The Thames Path Gate (opens in a new tab) is open for this event.
- You can also follow the pedestrian way in from Abbey Wood Station or the visitor car park.
Blue Badge bays sit beside the pedestrian gate in the visitor car park on Bazalgette Way. From there, a handrail path leads towards the railway when it is running.
If you need to park beside the museum, email us when you book at [email protected]. Tell us about access needs so we can plan the best route with you.
Steaming Day dates
Choose a day, then book that date.
Month
Select a highlighted day to see what’s on.
