National Railway Museum York Review -Family day out with a Toddler.

We have visited the York National Railway Museum several times as a family, including taking our youngest as a baby and a toddler.

We find that you always need to allow more time than you think to see and do everything or focus on a section such as the Station Hall and then return and see the Great Hall on a subsequent trip.

We have been 3 times over the past 18 months and we still have more to cover.  Repeat visits are also made easier by the fact that the museum is free of charge to enter.  

You can if you wish choose to make a donation to the running of the museum in the collection boxes dotted around reception. 

Getting to the York National Railway Museum

• Park and Ride – There are a few park and ride depots to choose from depending on your direction into York.  I find these affordable and sensible to avoid the busy City Centre and high car parking charges. 

• Trains – The York National Railway Museum is neighbouring the main York train station, so is just a short 5 minute walk away.The National Railway Museum does have a car park with a standard charge of £10 (when we last used it) and you pay for this at the reception to the museum and they give you a code to drive out at the end of your trip. 

Starting your Visit off at the National Railway Museum 

On entering the museum you will be given a what’s-on leaflet for any additional activities they run throughout the year.  We find navigating the museum easier by hall. There are two main halls to choose from; the Great Hall and the Station Hall. You can go between both halls by using the stairs or the lift system for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Station Hall 

This large hall is where you will find the vintage trains from days gone by.  Think Hogwarts, Royal trains and carriages. Nestled in the centre of the carriages is a reasonably sized cafe serving snacks and drinks.  There is plenty of space on quieter days for families with young children to let off some steam running up and down the platform areas.

Great Hall 

My older ones really enjoy visiting this hall as they get to sit in the Japanese bullet train, see the Eurostar, the turntable demo and if they have extra spending money there are simulators to try out.  Mine are yet to do this, so I cannot comment on what they are like.

For families visiting the museum with toddlers and young children you can make the most of the Little Play Station.  With a soft area, dress up and role play area as well as wooden train table play.

The great hall has a pretty large cafe right in the centre, so you can allow older children a little freedom under your watchful eye.  

Adjacent to the great hall is a warehouse  full of artefacts which may be of interest to any young budding train enthusiasts or young children who like to soak up all the history.  

Museum Activities 

• Short Miniature Railway Journey – Hop aboard a short train ride, £3pp and under 2s are free.

• The museum land train – This travels between the museum and the Minster and is priced at £3 and adult and £2 a child, so a little pricey for a large family! (But is a lot of fun!) It leaves every 30 minutes and runs around 11am-4pm most days.In school holidays they run specific themes in the museum with activities to take part in, so do check their website for updates. 

• There is a small outdoor play  area for kids to let off steam (pardon the pun)  You can also picnic around here. 

Additional Museum Information for families

• We find the food a little overpriced for our family size so we take the opportunity to picnic within their several designated areas.  We have also had a picnic when it’s quieter at the back of the cafe alongside other families doing the same and bought a coffee from the cafe to justify taking the seats! 

• Visit outside of school holidays if you want to avoid the crowds.

•  There are lockers to store your luggage in but these do come with a £3 non refundable cost.

• There are the usual baby change facilities in the toilets. 

• Don’t come with the expectation that you will see / do everything as you may find like us that several visits may be needed to cover it all! 

If transport museums are of interest to you and your family you can read our review of the London Transport Museum here.

I do hope that your family like ours enjoys their visit to the York National Railway Museum to have this great attraction full of railway history and free of charge is a real highlight whilst visiting York.