long train journey

[Candy]

Hi everyone! We're thinking of taking the children to Edinburgh on the train this Summer. This is a journey of about 7 hours! Does anyone have any good tips to help them and us survive the journey?

I used to regularly take my children from the north of Scotland to Kent by train which was a minumum 18 hr trip. It was quite an adventure for them and they enjoyed it. We sometimes went by sleeper (Do sleeper trains still exist?). On a train you can get up and go for walks, visit the buffet, maybe chat to other children.

You don't say how old your children are but games like I Spy, noughts and crosses, hangman are all fun and easy. You can do the Alphabet game, choossing a subject and then thinking of words beginning with each letter, eg names, countries, vegetables and fruit, cars etc. Looking out the window and spotting brown cows/red cars/green lorries/ keeps them busy, too. Again if they are old enough, you could supply them with their own walkmans (£10 each from ELC) and story tapes to listen to. Colouring and puzzle books are usually welcome. And of course, food! Packing your own picnic keeps the cost down and putting in lots of snacky things goes down well, rather than just boring cheese sandwiches!

Hope you have a good time.