suggestions for breaking the train journey between Edinburgh and London

[MummyPig]

Next month I will be travelling on a train between Edinburgh and London, just me with ds1 (4yo) and ds2 (2yo). The train journey is about 4 1/2 hrs so I'd like to break it up. The train stops at Newcastle, York and Peterborough.

Ideally I'd like to be able to jump off the train with them, visit somewhere good, not too far from the station and then get the train the rest of the way back. I was thinking of going to the NRM in York (or perhaps just the model railway museum, which I know is just next to the train station). Any other possibilities?

Definitely recommend the NRM - it's free and could entertain you all day. Beware, food at NRM is good but expensive.

Agree with model railway exhibition at the railway station - not very well signed, there is an entrance fee, but if you find it (near the station car park I think - on the lhs as you exit the railway station) it's great and my ds's (now 3 and nearly 5) will happily spend an hour or two in there.

NRM also has the York Eye at the moment, if your little ones aren't scared of heights! York to London is only about 2 hours isn't it? NRM is only a 5 minute walk out of the station so coud be ideal if you have the time. In fact, even if you just go to the park there and let them have a runaround...
We were stuck at York for an hour the other day but fortunately, the Flying Scotsman pulled in - cue heaven for train-mad ds2. Ds1 was happy once I'd filled him up with pain au choclat at the cafe

York and NRM sounds like a great idea. Not least because it fits in with the journey. You could maybe buy them a small souvenir like a picture of a train to colour in to take back on the train for the remaining leg of the journey.

if you are going in school hols make sure you book your seats and where possible a table

if it is going well, I'd be tempted to stick it out all the way and perhaps have the jump off plan as a back up! Just worried that you get a v busy train and won't be able to get another table.

thanks for all your advice, sounds like York is best bet, hadn't thought about getting tables on the train though so thanks for that as well. I suspect I can only book my seat, though, unless I pay for one of the boys, which bumps up the cost somewhat.

have you got a family railcard? costs £20 and you get a huge reduction on fares. I believe you can book a seat for kids even if there are under 5 for a nominal amount (think it was only about £1??). Worth looking into unless you want to spend the entire journey with 2 kids on your knee...!