What to look for in a train set for kids
Age suitability - How old is your child? Many train sets are only suitable for children 3 years or above due to having small parts, so ensure that you read the age recommendation before you buy. Other train sets have more intricate or complicated circuits, which may mean your child is less able to build independently. If you’re happy to supervise or build the track for your child before play, your child may be able to grow into more complex sets.
High-quality materials - Do you have a preference for materials? For a more traditional train set, you may want to opt for FSC-certified wood, which is not only more sustainable and eco-friendly but tends to be durable and hard-wearing too. Some other train sets are made from plastic, which whilst less appealing to us parents can sometimes offer increased variety in terms of play pieces, accessories and motion.
Expansion options - can you make the set bigger by adding more pieces as your child gets older? Consider how many pieces come in the original set and how quickly your child may outgrow them.
Compatibility with other brands - the good news is that these days, most wooden train sets are compatible with other brands. If you’re on a budget, you may want to consider buying smaller non branded pieces to complement or expand existing, more premium sets.
Range of circuits - Does the train set offer a variety of track formations or is it limited to a simple circle track of figure-of-8? Does the train set include a bridge and tunnel or are these optional extras?
Ease of assembly - How easy is the train set to put together and can your child do this independently? Are there any elements that require building before your child can play and if so, are they old enough to do this without assistance?
Accessories included - Does the train set come with accessories included or do you need to buy these separately? Children love using their imagination, so train sets that come with additional characters and accessories such as signs, trees or stations can allow them to act out little scenes and bring their new city to life.
Push-along or motorised - Is the train a manual push-along train, or does it is battery-powered? Younger children may prefer the speed and excitement of a motorised train, whilst there is something quite calming and sensory about the gentle push movements required with a more traditional set.
Batteries required - If the train set does require batteries, are these included or do you need to buy them? You may want to consider how many batteries the set needs, as motorised trains can drain the batteries fairly quickly during extended play.
What age is best for a first train set?
Whilst many train sets (particularly wooden train sets) are suitable for children aged 3 and above, there is a small selection of train sets such as the BRIO My First Railway that is suitable for children from around 18 months of age.
What kinds of train sets are available?
There are two main types of train sets available, the traditional wooden train sets or more modern (usually motorised or battery-powered) plastic designs.
Wooden train sets tend to be higher quality, more likely to last the test of time and are obviously the more sustainable choice.
Plastic sets however can often be more familiar in terms of brands and characters and may include more interactive elements such as motorised motion lights and sounds.
What’s the best train set to buy?
BRIO came incredibly well recommended amongst the Mumsnet forums, and with thousands of positive reviews on retailer sites, it’s clear to see this is a trusted brand for children’s wooden train sets. The BRIO World Starter Travel Train Set offers high-quality, sustainable materials, an adjustable track and fun accessories, with the ability to expand the set with more BRIO (or compatible brands) as your child grows.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of baby products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.
Originally from a HR background with a degree in Business Studies, Lucy developed a real passion for blogging and writing when her children were young, going on to write for several online publications including US parenting site Pregistry and the Evening Standard. When she’s not manically tapping the keys of her laptop, Lucy loves nothing more than to cosy up with her Kindle and enjoy the latest thriller, or compete in Nintendo Switch rallies with her daughters aged six and 10.
How we chose our recommendations
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
First, we headed to the hive mind of Mumsnet users, to seek their thoughts on the best on train sets for children, as well as the train sets that their children rate, recommend and play with regularly in their own homes.
We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, overpriced or failed to hold their child’s attention.
Authentic consumer reviews
Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the best train sets on the market, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon and Argos to get a broader consumer experience of the products on our shortlist.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.