National Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum provided us with one of our best afternoons this summer. Garden Girl and Garden Boy were wowed by the large exhibits, thrilling in the opportunity to get so close to the trains, peer through the windows and in some cases climb on board. Garden Boy didn't know where to look first. He stood pointing at all the trains, saying Choo Choo with a huge grin on his face. He had no understanding of the historic value of the trains but was content to run from one train to another, looking at the wheels and funnels. Garden Girl had a better understanding that some of the trains were very old and therefore very special. She was also very impressed with the idea of a train that could travel through a tunnel built under water, when we climbed onboard a Eurostar train.

An unexpected highlight for both of them was the walk underneath a train. We were effectively walking through a tunnel where the roof was the underside of a train and they both walked through with heads tilted upwards, looking at all the workings. I had no idea what we were looking at, so I pointed out the obvious bits like the wheels and explained how complicated it was to build a train and we tried to guess how many nuts and bolts were used to put it together. Does anyone know? The wonder of walking underneath a train certainly captured the interest of Garden Girl, so that when Uncle H joined us at the museum after work she insisted on walking him through this exhibit.

Garden Girl had the opportunity to dress up in Victorian clothes and climb on board a Victorian train. She loved the little dress and the chance to sit in a really really old train cabin, although she wasn't very impressed when the lady at the museum suggested she temporarily swap Garden Cow for a Victorian Teddy. There were no outfits small enough for Garden Boy but he wriggles and squirms a lot when he gets dressed so it was probably for the best.

We rounded the day off with a trip on the mini railway. Garden Girl and Garden Boy both thought this was brilliant. Garden Mum and Garden Dad were a little disappointed that it was not a round trip. Instead the train went in a straight line to a small platform where we all stoof up and turned around so we were facing forward for the return trip and to give the impression to all those waiting for their turn that the train takes a circular route. Our Little Museums Visitors did not mind though and at only 50p per person we shouldn't really complain. The only thing to bear in mind with the mini railway is that it only runs for a few hours in the afternoon and if you do not buy your ticket early enough you could miss out, because once the queue got quite long they seemed to shut down the ticket machine.

The only disappointment we experienced was that the model railway wasn't running which both Garden Boy and Garden Girl would have loved to see. However, with so much else to see and do, this in no means spoiled our day and is something to look forward to next time we visit, which we most definitely will again. We spent an afternoon at the museum but could easily have spent the whole day and best of all museum entry is free for everyone.

Practicalities

• It is easy to push a pushchair around the museum without blocking exhibits or walkways, although it wasn't possible to take them on board the trains, so you must be willing to leave them on the platforms while you look inside. 
• There are steps to climb if you want to peer through the windows of some of the older trains and you must go down steps in order to view the underside of the train which makes a number of the exhibits inaccessible to wheelchair users.
• There is lots of space to toddlers to run about and explore but you must stay very close as there are open platform edges and uneven surfaces.
• Although queuing for the mini railway can take a long time the museum have provided toys in the form of big, soft building blocks, outdoor connect four and hoop throwing to entertain the family while one of you holds your place in the queue.
• There is a cafe/Restaurant where you can get refreshments or a meal, while taking in the trains all around you but if you want to save some money there is a small indoor picnic area equipped with picnic tables.
• There are toilets at various locations in the museum so you are never too far away for a toddler who only tells you they need to go when they are desperate. There are disabled toilets and baby changing facilities at all the toilet locations and within the museum there are two rooms for feeding young babies.
• The museum is a long walk from York town centre, especially for toddlers as some of it is uphill, however there is  Road Train which runs between York Minster and the museum. We were not aware of this until we arrived at the museum and we missed the last train back afterwards as we did not want to leave the museum that early. There is a charge for this service.
• There is a car park beside the museum although charges apply. We used the city park and ride which does have a stop beside the museum which we could have used had we not been visiting the town centre as well. Alternatively if you are arriving by train the museum is very close to the railway station.
• The museum does have a programme of events, activities and exhibitions which we just ran out of time to see. There are sometimes charges for these.

Admission Prices

• Museum entry is FREE to all visitors
• The mini railway was 50p per person
• The Road Train costs £2 each way for adults and £1 each way for children
  
• Additional charges apply for some activities, temporary exhibitions and the road train

Opening Times

• Daily between 10am and 6pm
  
• Closed 24th-26th December
• The Road Train does not run all year so check with the museum before visiting if you intend to use this service 

Learn More

To find out more or to check for updated information prior to your visit, have a look at the National Railway Museum website.

Little Museum Visitor Rating
*****

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden

These beautiful gardens and woodland paths, which border a private broad, are the ideal place for exploring toddlers to run about gathering sticks and stones. Their eyes will be drawn to an array of colourful and dramatic plants and leaves. There are butterflies to chase, a variety of bird calls to listen for, ducks to feed and dragonflies to dance with.

We first took Garden Girl when she was 10 months old and she was just learning to walk unaided. The flat, wide and pushchair accessible paths allowed her to use the back of her stroller as a walking aid and she was off, toddling with pride. She stopped constantly, as she still does, to collect stones, but the tranquil setting of the gardens made the slow walk welcome, offering us the opportunity to hear the birds sing and drink in the lovely surroundings. I also remember enjoying a relaxing hour reading beside the water, when the fresh air and excitement of exploring had exhausted Garden Girl enough for her to fall asleep.

A second visit the following year was just as enjoyable, so it was only natural for us to return again this summer with both our Little Museum Visitors toddling along beside us. With Garden Girl a little bit older and Garden Boy a little less wary than his sister had been at the same age, the two explorers were quick to clamber on the felled tree trunks pretending to be statues. They ran into the undergrowth to pretend they were in little woodland houses and walked quietly on tiptoe so as not to scare the elves. We watched the leaves floating down the water channels, imagining they were tiny boats for the woodland elves and played Pooh sticks over and over again. This year we also gave ourselves a treat in the form of a boat ride on the broad. I was worried that at 15 months Garden Boy would be unable to sit still for a full 20 minutes but with lots of birds, ducks and boats for him to point at I need not have worried.

We returned to our tent at the end of day laden down with fallen leaves, acorns, sticks and stones and happy memories. There is little doubt we will return again next summer.

Practicalities 

• The paths are pushchair accessible, wide and flat
• There are tea rooms on site but if the weather is nice there are many beautiful spots to lay out your picnic rug, as well as picnic tables overlooking the broad
• There are clean toilets in the tea rooms, as well as some portaloos at the opposite end of the broads, one of which is a disabled portaloo which provides room for you to take a toddler inside
  
• There are nappy changing facilities at the tea rooms but not at the portaloos, although there are plenty of secluded spots to make a quick nappy change outdoors
• Toddlers need to be kept close on the paths which border the water channels where the water is open and the surrounding vegetation boggy
• The gardens are wheelchair accessible and they have 5 mobility scooters available to borrow for a small donation
• Hearing loops have been installed in the tea rooms, gift shop and on the boat
  
• A sensory garden has been developed with mobility and visually impaired visitors in mind but the area is also an excellent place to introduce toddlers to the sights, smells and sounds of the garden.
  

Admission Prices

• Although the leaflet says admission prices for a child is £2.50 we were not charged for either of our Little Museum Visitors due to their young age
• Admission for an adult is £5.00 
• The Concession price is £4.50 
• Boat rides are an additional fee and price depends on the length of the trip.The 20 minute trip we took was £3.50 each per adult and free for under 3's. An older child would have paid £2.50
• Dogs are welcome in the gardens if kept on a lead and there is an entry fee of 25p per dog
• There are Membership options if you visit regularly

Opening Times

• From March to November: 10am - 5pm
• From December to February: 10am - 4pm
• From May to August there are late openings on Wednesday and Thursday evenings until 9pm
• Closed Christmas Day  
  

Learn More


To find out more or to check for updated information prior to your visit, have a look at the Fairhaven Woodland and Water Gardens website.

 

Little Museum Visitor Rating:
* * * *  

What Makes a Good Day Out for a Toddler?

Before I begin to look at specific museums and heritage attractions I thought it was worthwhile detailing some of the things that determine whether a toddler is likely to enjoy their day out.

What makes a good day out for a toddler and their parent?

• Toilets that are easy to locate, large enough to fit a pushchair inside and have adequate baby changing facilities.
• Friendly staff who understand that even the very best behaved toddler will run about or make a noise and who actually welcome some fun and laughter in their galleries and corridors.
• Space, so toddlers can run about a bit, have room to look at exhibits without fighting their way through a sea of legs and so parents can easily see their children while giving them some freedom.
• Visually impressive or attractive exhibits that wow a toddler for their extraordinary qualities (eg. large aeroplanes or stunning African masks) or which can be easily recognised due to their ordinariness (eg. spoons and clothes).
• Some exhibits at toddler eye level so they have freedom to explore and find things they are drawn to, rather than what we choose to lift them up to see.
  
• Crayons and paper. We always take some in our backpacks so we can draw in the galleries but it is an added bonus when museums have provided colouring in sheets.
• Things to touch and play.
• A place to get refreshments or ideally a picnic area where toddlers can refuel without breaking the bank.
• Somewhere secure to leave your pushchair so you don't have to drag it around the museum.
• Easy pushchair access into and around the building.

Garden Girl and Garden Boy love visiting museums and heritage attractions and the big bonus for me is that I get a lot out of the visit too, especially when the place we visit has catered well for their toddler audience. A happy toddler leaves me free to browse the exhibits and learn something new. I hope that the forthcoming reviews will provide you with a varied and interesting list of places to visit with your toddler.