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Day Out With Thomas Review

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They’re 2, they’re 4, they’re 6, they’re 8… Anyone with Thomas-mad children will know the joy this tune brings! Playing from the station speakers, the famous song instantly set the tone for our highly anticipated Day Out With Thomas!

This family event tours across the UK throughout the year and is for passengers of all ages. Having safely booked our tickets weeks in advance (a must as they can sell out very quickly), it’s safe to say the boys had fairly high expectations by the time the big day arrived.

Once inside the venue, we were instantly greeted by Thomas rolling into the station, alongside some of his famous friends, Percy, Emily, Diesel and the ‘troublesome trucks’. The boys were well and truly star struck, with our youngest not knowing where to look.

After having a quick look around at the various entertainment it was soon time to board our carriage, but not without grabbing a quick photo with the Fat Controller on the platform.

Taking our assigned seats, the boys went a bit giddy when Thomas started to puff and depart from the station. It was lovely riding on an old steam engine and it was easy to keep the kids entertained during the short ride either waving at passersby from the window or drawing in the free passport book.

The journey lasted around half an hour there and back, which was perfect for our two toddlers, especially with so many other activities to cram in. Back at the station, we were amazed by the amount of entertainment included in our ticket price, from a giant slide, spinning teacups and a bouncy castle to short engine rides on Emily and a miniature locomotive.

Not to mention face-painting, a balloon magician and a room with wooden train tables for the kids to play with whilst grabbing a spot of lunch. We went for the BBQ option and enjoyed eating our burgers and hotdogs on the stationary ‘picnic train’.

Importantly, the day itself was incredibly well managed by the cheerful staff and despite being popular it never felt too busy or overwhelming. This was a relief, as there’s nothing worse than looking forward to a family day out only for it to be too manic to actually enjoy – we’ve all been there! Unsurprisingly, our train-crazy boys managed to tick off every activity on offer and I suspect would have done them all again if they could.

After such a great day out, we won’t hesitate to attend again next year, maybe at another one of the UK destinations. In my opinion, given the range of activities and rides on offer, I would say it was worth every penny. You can also book a number of seats/a carriage in advance if you plan to attend with a group of friends or family. Perfect for a birthday treat!

*This post details a visit to Caledonian Railway in Scotland, during 2017’s Day Out With Thomas events. Please note that activities and featured engines at Day Out With Thomas will vary by location, and may also change from year to year.  Find out when Thomas is coming to your area through the Day Out With Thomas website!

Have you been on a Day Out With Thomas? Leave a comment below and tell us all about it, we would love to hear!

Looking for more great days out for train lovers? Choo-choo on a steam train ride across the country!