Ellis Visitor Centre, Café & Gift Shop

General News

● September 4, 2026

The Gateway to Rothley Station & Charnwood Heritage

Step into the history of the Great Central Railway at the Ellis Visitor Centre. Located in the former coal and grain merchant’s premises at historic Rothley Station, the centre brings together rich local railway heritage, interactive museum exhibits, a grab-and-go café, and a gift shop.

Whether you’re catching a steam train, exploring the Charnwood Geopark , or dropping in for a quick bite on the platform, the Ellis Visitor Centre is your perfect stop.

Open: Weekends when trains are operating between 1100 and 1500.

What to Discover at Ellis:

Visitor Centre

Our Visitor Centre is a good starting point to get to know the railway. We are currently installing displays and this work will be completed in late 2026.

The Ellis Café and Gift Shop

Our café is designed for speed and convenience, our café serves hot bacon and sausage baps, hot cheeseburgers, baguettes, sweet treats and ice creams alongside barista-brewed 200 Degrees coffee and classic Yorkshire Tea. With minimal waiting times, you can grab your food and enjoy it on the platform before your train arrives or in our picnic area.

You can also pick up exclusive Great Central Railway souvenirs, railway books, local heritage keepsakes, pocket-money toys, and artisan gifts to remember your visit. We also stock Rothley Wines – locally produced!

How you can help

Support the future of the Great Central Railway by donating today.

Your generous contribution helps safeguard this unique heritage line, not only through the landmark Reunification project—which will reconnect two separate heritage railways to create an eighteen-mile route from the north of Leicester to the south of Nottingham—but also in the vital day-to-day running of the railway.

Donations directly support the maintenance and restoration of our stations and locomotives, the preservation of historic infrastructure, and the training and development of our dedicated staff and volunteers. They ensure the railway continues to thrive as both a living museum and a community resource.

By giving, you’re helping us preserve one of Britain’s most cherished heritage railways, so that future generations can step aboard, experience authentic steam and diesel travel, and discover the stories of the past. Every contribution, large or small, makes a lasting difference in keeping the spirit of the Great Central Railway alive.