Travel to Laxey on the electric railway is an adventure in itself. Trains have open carriages, so you have the view and fresh air along the way. The most famous site is the Great Laxey Wheel, and then the Lady Evelyn Wheel. Luckily, we were there for the Laxey Festival in early September, including the duck race, which was quite a sight. Imagine hundreds of rubber ducks racing down the river, and the first duck to reach the end wins a prize. We bought a few tickets but weren’t the winners.
From Laxey, the electric railway can go up to Snaefell Mountain and also north along the coast to Ramsey. Both are worth visiting, and enjoying the view during the journey.
Highlights
- Great Laxey Wheel and the aqueduct
- Salmon Lake Centre
- Laxey plantation and walking around nature
- Lady Evelyn Wheel
- Laxey duck race, usually in September
- Lacey Beach
- Great Laxey Mines Railway Museum
- Mosaic walls
Before you go
- Check the local calendar for special events
- The rail station can be confusing, so ask if you don’t know which track to wait at
- There is a queue for the Snaefell railway so go early as it’s small and can fill up
- Great Laxey Wheel is the largest working water wheel in the world, stop to watch it in motion
Transport
- Luckily, the Go Card covers all of the Isle of Man railways including the electric railways to travel to Laxey. Check the link to get the most up to date schedules
- From Laxey, you can catch the Snaefell Mountain Railway, which is a smaller train to the top of the mountain. Queue early to ensure you get a space on the train
- The main electric railway line runs between Douglas and Ramsey
Accommodation
- We were able to travel to Laxey and back from Douglas on the same day, so we did not stay over in Laxey
- As usual I recommend checking reviews on Booking.com or using AirBnB if you want to stay in this area. It is a small town so there may be limited accommodation
Food
We didn’t have time for a proper meal in Laxey, but my friend said that Ballacregga Corn Mill Tea Room & Restaurant was a lovely place for tea and a snack. It is located just across from the Great wheel.
For an ice cream or snack break, the rail station cafe is a convenient place to stop. They have a variety of the local Davison’s ice creams.
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: No, it is easy to find places of interest and get around by public transport
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Yes, everyone speaks English
Q: Is it a walkable city?
A: Yes, Laxey is walkable and there are signs to all of the points of interest.
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