Some really good friends of ours live in Newcastle, which is around a 4 hour journey from where we live. In order to see each other a bit more often we are trying to meet in the middle a bit more – making day trips with small children much more manageable. For our first such meet up, my friend suggested the National Railway Museum in York.
We considered going on the train but it was going to be about £100 without a seat for Monkey, plus the added stress of where to put LM and her buggy, so we wimped and out and went in the car. The train would have taken a little over an hour whereas it was nearer 2 hours in the car, but we were comfortable and LM slept both there and back which was brilliant!
The National Railway Museum
The National Railway Museum is the largest railway museum in the UK and home to over a million artefacts showing the history of railway. It is free to enter, though you can make a donation ot purchase a guide book if you wish. A must for any train lover and what little boy doesn’t like trains?
Well, ours, apparently! He had been really excited about going, then as soon as we arrived and walked into the museum.
“I don’t like trains” “I don’t like trains” repeated on loop at least 50 times on the way to the cafe where we headed to feed LM and meet our friends. Ever the contrary toddler eh?
In truth though I can understand why. The building itself is vast, and absolutely filled with trains, including the biggest trains I have ever seen! Hubs is 6’2″ and one of the first trains you can see when you arrive is a Chinese train where the wheels are as tall as hubs… and the whole thing about 3 times his height. Understandably daunting to a 2 year old I think bless him! So in saying “I don’t like trains” I think what he was actually saying was “Hey Mummy I am not sure about this, they are a bit scary! I thought trains were smaller than this!”
Possible the biggest train I have ever seen, difficult to tell scale as hubs is not that close but trust me, it is huge!
After having a snack and meeting our friends we hoped Monkey would feel more enthusastic about the trains and took him to have a look inside them. But no, he was having none if it, typical! This was just him you understand, my friend’s little boy was loving looking at all of the trains and there was lots of other children there enjoying themselves, There was however a model railway which he adored and didn’t want to leave!
One train we did get him interested in was, unsurprisingly, the post train! He seriously loves anything “post” related. We did also manage to persuade him that some of the big trains he saw were like “The Greendale Rocket” form Postman Pat so he did enjoy those a little more.
The post train
Both boys thoroughly enjoyed the great little outdoor playarea, even though it was bitterly cold and so windy that day!
Dining wise, there is a couple of cafes and restaurants to choose from and there is also a lot of benches and picnic tables available to use, both indoors and outdoors. We had a a morning cuppa, and an afternoon break at the cafes but took our own picnic for lunch and there was lots of families who had done the same. It is always nice that there is seating areas provided for this, and that we didn’t have to sit out in the cold to enjoy our picnic.
The museum has great access for pushchairs and wheelchairs and our boys adored running up and down the ramps – it really is the simple things that entertain children isn’t it? The museum is divided across the road and there is a concourse that runs underneath, with lifts at each end.
Our boys loved the sweet playarea, which of course, had lots of trains to play with and even Chuggington dressing up clothes! Though I believe they are renovating it soon which I am sure will only improve it.
There is a variety of exhibitions and so much to see and honestly we barely touched the surface and weren’t really able to take much of it in with small children to entertain. They do demonstrations of trains turning on turntables and we did go to see a show, which sounded great and very entertaining, although we realised it was little above our boys’ level when they started discussing Newton’s laws of motion! I am sure older children would have loved it though.
Waiting for the show, with our wriggly boys!
I think the highlight for our little Monkeys was standing out on the viewing platform watching the trains go in and out of York station. They loved waving at them all as they went by and the train drivers were great, waving back and tooting at them – they must see kids there so much but for them to respond to it is very kind and made their day!
We had a really lovely day out at the National Railway Museum and will defiitely go again when the kids are a little older too and can appreciate it a little more!
Now this is somewhere I’d like to go, but have held off because I rather suspect my son would have been less than keen on the size and scale as well. He might be better now though. It does look like a great place, I remember visiting there as a child too. It’s ironic isn’t it that travelling there by train is actually ridiculously expensive-we found that when I’ve looked into it.
This looks like a fab day out, even if Monkey didn’t seem to enjoy himself that much. I always think it’s a shame when toddlers are really interested in something and then they’re different in some way in real life and they get upset/scared. I’m sure he’ll enjoy it as he gets older. It’s great that the drivers blew the horns to the kids, I’m sure that made their day if nothing else. Thanks for linking up with Country Kids.
Oh sorry your little one wasn’t too keen – always the way! The trains do look huge and daunting though. We are visiting in Feb half term with our 4,5 and 8 year olds. I’m hoping we can make a full day of it – they have Paddington events on then too. #CountryKids
Wow its so pretty in there! My son is so obsessed with trains and I can only imagine how excited he will get when he get to see this place. #countrykids
I was pregnant when I went to the NRM and loved it. We really want to take Monkey but it’s a weekend away job for us. It’s such a shame when kids don’t enjoy thing we expect them too – but glad he likes parts of it! #CountryKids
We went to the Railway Museum when we visited York the weekend before Christmas, such a fab place. Lucky for my daughter she is going back there this week on a school trip. I was astounded by the size of some of those engines. #CountryKids
This place looks fab! My son is seriously train obsessed at the moment. We might need to try to plan a visit though it’s a bit of a distance from us… X
Looks like Monkey enjoyed himself after all! Those trains really look huge, no wonder he was a little apprehensive. It’s a good thing they have play areas for the kids. #letkidsbekids
Aw I grew up not far from here so would go very often. Love it! #triedtested
Ah, you can never predict a toddler can you. It looks like fun if you’re not scared of them. Lovely day out it looks.
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
We love going to York and the National Railway Museum is a great place to visit. We’ve been with my eldest but are hoping to take the twins in the summer x #TriedTested
That really looks like a fantastic day out! There looks like there is so much to see and do!
I have been to York loads of times but i have never visited the railway museum. It looks great though and i think i will have to pay it a visit when my little two are a bit older xx #TriedTested
My other half took my eldest here not so long ago and he loooooooved it. Highly recommended for little ones with an interest in all things railway 🙂 #toddlerapprovedtuesday
That park looks ace. I live in Leeds and have been meaning to take my Little Tots here for ages. Think we will be paying a visit soon I know they’d love it #LetKidsBeKids
Having grown up in York I’ve visited the Railway Museum plenty of times over the years but I’ve yet to take my own children.
Lovely to see you linking up with #TriedTested this week x
We took the monsters here a couple of years ago, it really is mahoosive! We should definitely revist maybe this year as Evie is a bit older and Jenson…well his head would go bang, I dont think he remembers going!!
Thanks for linking up to #ToddlerApprovedTuesday
Brilliant! We’ve been meaning to have a day in York there for a while and this has made our minds up. It looks such a good day out, really comprehensive review. Thank you #triedtested
Oh brilliant! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did! xx
Great place to visit, I must remember if ever visiting the area.
fab review.
thanks for linking #toddlerapprovedtuesday
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