Tell Trainline about the family days out you have planned - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Trainline is developing a new days out tool to help with finding new places to visit and they’d love to know which family days out you’re planning this year, and – if you’re going by train – how you plan on entertaining your children on the journey.

They also want you to get involved with helping them to shape their new tool - you can suggest new attractions to be included in the tool using the “suggest” button.

Here’s what Trainline has to say: “At Trainline we’re always looking for ways to make journeys smarter. Clare Gilmartin our CEO, is a mother of three, and keeps us focussed on our customers by reminding us that “it’s the little things that make a big difference”, from saving a few minutes by using a mobile train ticket to getting a great deal using the best fare finder, and this is the ethos that we have at the heart of what we do. Our latest days out tool helps you to find and plan a day out by train, just in time for the summer holidays, but we want your ideas to take it the extra mile.”

So, whether you’ve got educational trips or adventure filled days planned for the summer holidays (and beyond!), let Trainline know about them and your train journey entertainment tips below.

All those who share a day out or tips for entertaining children on the train below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher from a store of their choice (from a list).

Please note that the days out tool is new and development of it is still underway. Some less popular train routes haven’t been added yet, but will be with time. There will also be more attractions added so please make suggestions on what you’d like to see next. Additionally, if you live in London please search from a mainline station to get the best results.

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

i like the idea of the tool, but one of the problems for me is that i live a 15-30 min drive from about 7 stations most of them on different lines so the tool isn't very practical for me to use

Probably going to Brighton soon. My kids love bus and train journeys and hate the car (and sometimes puke in it!) so we use the train a lot, mostly going to central London or Croydon.

Knowing how to get from a station to an attraction and how reliable that is is critical - leaflets often say to station X then bus 123, but not how often the 123 runs nor how long the route takes. Or to watch out for not stopping at the station in the way back - Legoland buses from Windsor, for example.

Something about trains makes my kids impeccably behaved and happy to spend hours drawing on halves of my paper bag from the buffet, or showing a cuddly toy the sights, or doing all the activities in a magazine,and playing nicely together,so its worth the price of the tickets just to get out of the house!

We love taking a family day out on the train but prefer going to places that are a little bit less well known and off the beaten track.

I have a family railcard so often get the train to York with the kids, to keep them occupied on the train they have to each spot something of a colour of my choice but they have to be quick as obviously the train is going fast!

We take a picnic and visit the York museums with our yearly pass.

Great day out!

My dd (3.5) loves trains so recently we had an adventure to get somewhere new and exciting. We did a tram from home town and then a train to Birmingham. (And went to Think tank). She absolutely adored it and she wasn't bored on the train at all. Mainly due to playing who can spot the sheep/horses/cows/tractors first.
We had such a lovely day I'm planning on some more with her on trains so the app that gives ideas is fab.

Sounds like a fab app. We are going up to London. Visiting the museums and the Pokemon stops.

I'm really looking forward to our train trip to Ely. I think the view of the Cathedral from the train is the best there is. It's a pleasant walk to town from the station.
I've been wanting to plan a train trip to Ely fo some time and I'm making it happen this summer holiday. My 8 yr old loves the train as it's such an easy comfortable way to travel and allows conversation and fun. We are going to the Cathedral of course, then Oliver Cromwell house topped off with a good mooch. Ely is so friendly with so much to offer and we can't wait.

We live travelling by train! We have a Thomas mad three year old, so it actually doesn't matter where the destination is, as long as we go by train!

I don't use trains very much as the nearest train station is 30 minutes away but have just booked tickets for DH and DC to go to Wembley stadium. The train line suggested a journey of overground train, underground then overground again and I couldn't find any way to alter the journey to just underground once London was reached, or even why the overground train was suggested - don't know if was quicker as no way of altering the tool. So I would like to suggest Wembley stadium is added to your Days OUt tool and some idea of which way is better to get there. I don't know which station is likely to be best to come home via as I am guessing it will be majorly busy.

We go by train to London every know and then and no entertainment needed other than spotting things out of the window. For a three year old its very exciting. Snacks are a must though and drinks.
The 2 for 1 days out are a great idea on the trains and the new app looks useful.

We have a day out planned in York next week travelling from Leeds by train.
Tips: Arrive a little early to get any luggage space required and find your seats if you've booked. Let the kids choose a new magazine before travelling to keep them excited. Take snacks.

We've got trips up to york and cheshire to visit family and also planning days out in Cambridge and London.

On a long journey, I sometimes book a bike place in the guards coach for the buggy. Then I don't have to worry about folding it if the basket is laden with luggage and I'm wrangling a toddler and baby.

A couple of sticker books and colouring books for the older one, a game of cards for snap or some counting activities. Baby usually happy staring out of the window. Both like a walk up the train to stand in the bit between carriages where the windows are open.

I invested in a cheap portable dvd player and headphones which will keep the older one busy for a while. Don't break it out too early though!

Don't be afraid to ask other passengers for help. I've travelled up and down the country with two kids, a buggy and loads of luggage and people are only too happy to give us a hand getting on and off.

DD and I are off to Glasgow to the theatre and to do some shopping. We are travelling through from Edinburgh ( Festival) and then, after a day together in Glasgow, getting the train home.

We travel by train a fair bit, have done since the kids were small and now they are quite happy travellers. Used to take colouring etc but now they are happy with a book and just to chat. Its nice to have a chance to just watch the world go by and answer random questions that pop up.

Will be doing day trips to Oxford, Goring and Streatley, usual shopping trips to Reading and Newbury and annual camping trip down in Dorset all by train. Looking forward to next year (2017) when the Swanage Steam railway will link up properly with Wareham station rather than the bus we currently have to catch between Wareham and Norden. I don't drive so it's trains or buses and shank's pony for all trips and holidays (with the occasional taxi where necessary).

I use my family rail card all the time. Recently we went to Margate for the day. We went to the Turner Gallery followed by fish and chips on the beach and spent the afternoon at dreamland amusement park. One word Awesome!

Love a day out on the train. Mine are at the age where the train is a novelty although the youngest soon requires some entertaining! Small toys, sticker books and a very exciting packed lunch normally does the trick!

Get a family railcard - it paid for itself in one trip last year. To entertain children have lots of things to keep pulling out - novelty is your friend. So I go armed with stickers, snacks, crayons, books and some quiet toys!

Great tool and love the element of surprise

I had a day out in May bank holiday with my son hubby and my siblings to Portsmouth. We actually couldn't stay the night so we met them the following day - took a train from Clapham Junction to Havant where we met them and went on to the Portsmouth festival! Beautiful day indeed

I love the look and idea of the new tool. Train journeys are a real treat for us - generally use the train for odd days out where parking is likely to be an issue, or if going into the city. We have a long (3 hour) journey planned over summer - I'm taking crayons, magazines. iPad and a picnic.

We've taken advantage of the cheap Virgin tickets so it's a bargain. We also use the Duo ticket if travelling.

Stickers are easily the best train entertainment for our 3yo! I try and find her something vaguely related to what we're doing but she would choose princesses and fairies and dressing up stickers.

We're planning to go to Peppa Pig World and Legoland at some point this summer.

Like the idea of the tool.

We've got a day trip to London and a trip to Hastings planned for train days out, but that's it for these holidays.

Both mine enjoy the train ride, but packing a couple of books or magazines if they bored helps.

Our kids find train journeys inexplicably exciting! For long journeys I do a sheet of things to spot dd1 loves this. Have plenty of drinks and healthy snacks available and set realistic expectations so kids have an idea how long the journey will be.

We are going to London next week by train to go to the theatre to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and go for a Charlie themed afternoon tea which we are all very excited about

I don't need to do too much to entertain the DC as it is a thrill just to be on the train (as we usually go to places by car) although I always have a pencil and paper in my bag so we can play Hangman!

It is very expensive for the four or to get to London and back by train (@£80) so maybe I will look into getting a Family and Friends railcard.

I've got to do a 600+ mile train trip soon, with a just turned 3yo...

Am reading back to see if there's any tips! Also hoping winning £300 voucher would help me buy enough chocolate and gin for the journey....