Watercress Festival
The Watercress Festival will return to the streets of Alresford on Sunday 17 May 2026
This event is not organised by The Watercress Line. However, we will be providing a ‘park and ride’ service from Ropley field to Alresford station and back. Visitors can park at Ropley field for a fee of £10 per vehicle. Here you will be given a ticket that entitles you to one return journey to Alresford, either by train or shuttle bus. You do not need to buy a ticket from this website.
If you would like to travel up and down the line from Ropley to Alton, you will need to buy a train ticket for the day. Tickets are available here. Please remember to select the 17 May when buying tickets. Please note that our steam service will differ on this date.
Click here for the Watercress Festival website to find out more details about what is going on and the parking arrangements.
Train Shuttle Timetable
Click here for the train timetable – please note that only the services labelled ‘DIESEL’ are part of this offer. The train timetable to and from Ropley and Alton is for those who have bought a ticket to travel the line through the day.
Train timetables for this day will be available around 3 weeks before this event.
What's on
• Cookery demonstrations with renowned world-class chefs
• Check out the Kids Zone featuring ‘circus skills’
• West Street, Station Road and Broad Street in the heart of Alresford will be filled with many local independent traders. With a variety of stalls, there will be something for everyone.
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• Test your watercress chomping abilities in the World Watercress Eating Championships!
• Plenty more to see and do throughout the day!
• For more information on The Watercress Festival, click here.
