This post is part of our FREE Family Days out in Yorkshire series
If you love trains, then you’re going to love the National Railway Museum in York, North Yorkshire. It is the largest railway museum in the world, and packed to the rafters with trains, model trains, railway memorabilia, and exhibitions about railway history.
It is right next to York’s railway station so is easy to get to by public transport. It is free of charge, though they do rely on donations. The whole place is pretty accessible. The main hall is spacious, and there are lifts where necessary.
Most of the trains are accessible by steps so you can have a nosy around them. Toddlers love it.
There is a cafe (good choice but not cheap) in the main hall, and a picnic area so you can bring a pack-up. The gift shop is near the exit, and you don’t have to exit through it.
There are plenty of toilets and baby changing facilities around.
We went to pass a couple of hours and we didn’t see very much of it at all. We didn’t visit the children’s playground, or the art gallery. You definitely need at least three or four hours to see everything, more if you want to fully appreciate all the exhibits.
Car parking is available but expensive, especially if you have only one or two people in your group. There is a land train available which runs every 30 minutes from the Minster in the town centre, for a small charge.
It’s £9 to park a car, and £2 per adult and £1 per child for the land train (each way), so once you’ve got more than two adults, you will be better off parking.
The National Railway Museum is massive and there is lots to see and do. We will definitely be back very soon for all the things we didn’t get to see this time round.
You can get more information from their website.