York City and District Society of Model Engineers Ltd
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
York
What it’s like
Ride a miniature steam railway through five acres of woodland on the society's monthly open days, free to get in.
This is a proper little railway run by enthusiasts, not a theme park version of one. On the monthly open day you can ride the miniature trains, watch the live steam locomotives being fired up and let the kids wander the five acres of woodland the track runs through. It's free to get in, which is rare for a day out with actual trains on it, and there's free parking on site too.
Open days run 10 till 4, once a month, and there's no need to book, you just turn up. That said, the site is tucked away behind The Pastures, so it's worth giving yourself a few extra minutes to find it rather than trusting your satnav completely. Hot food and drinks are on sale at the events, which takes the pressure off packing a picnic if you're only planning a couple of hours.
Any age works here, from babies in a buggy through to older kids who'll want to know how the steam engines actually work. There's no upper age limit either, plenty of adults turn up just for the trains. The woodland setting means it's more of a wander-and-ride afternoon than a big-attraction one, which suits a toddler's attention span better than a full day out would.
If you fancy something different, there's a Halloween SpookTacular with games in October, and the last standard open day of 2026 is 27 September before things move to special events later in the year. Wheelchair access is available too, which isn't always a given at railway sites like this.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Good for all ages, especially little ones happy with trains and a woodland wander
- Parking
- Free, on site
- Food
- Hot food and drinks available to purchase at events
- The club is tucked away behind The Pastures, so allow extra time to find the entrance
- Open days are monthly, 10am to 4pm, rather than every weekend
- The last standard open day of 2026 is 27 September, with special events after that
- There's a Halloween SpookTacular with games in October
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
It's free entry on the open days. You'd just be paying for any food you buy on site.
Do we need to book ahead?
No booking needed, you just turn up on the open day.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
The woodland walk and train rides work well for young children, and there's no minimum age listed.
Is there parking?
Free parking on site.
What food is available?
Hot food and drinks are sold at the open day events, so you do not need to bring your own.
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