Rocket: All Aboard
Marking the countdown to the Rainhill Trails and the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway.
All Aboard for an Unforgettable Journey Through History and into the Future!
In September 2025 (various dates). FREE EVENTS.
For more information and to book your FREE tickets, visit the ‘What’s On’ page.
A series of early events along the line will mark the countdown to the Rainhill Trails and the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway.
The Rainhill Trials was a competition held in October 1829 to determine the best form of motive power for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, with George Stephenson’s “Rocket” emerging as the victor, proving the superiority of steam locomotives.
In Liverpool, activities form part of the British Science Festival 2025, delivered in partnership with the Rocket: All Aboard Partnership Group, Northern Rail, and The Heritage Institute at the University of Liverpool.
In Manchester, events join Heritage Open Days, in partnership with the Rocket: All Aboard Partnership Group and the Science and Industry Museum.
Rocket: All Aboard is a dynamic, multi-year programme (2029–2030) marking 200 years since the opening of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway — the world’s first inter-city passenger line.
This groundbreaking railway transformed travel, trade, and daily life. Rocket: All Aboard will bring its legacy to life through immersive experiences, exhibitions, live events, research, and cultural & community projects across the North West and beyond.
The programme will celebrate the railway’s enduring impact in connecting people and places, while sparking new conversations around sustainability, innovation, and the future of movement.
It invites audiences of all ages to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of heritage, culture, progress, and the journeys still to come.
Thanks to National Lottery players.
