Considering Thomas land with 3 and 4 year old - anyone been?

[Coriandersucks]

Looking at staying in the hotel for 3 nights (it’s a 3 hour drive away) so looking to hear others experiences please.

Two boys only 3 and 4 but oldest keeps going on about it - though how he knows it exists I’ve no idea!

Mine used to love it there when they were little. Take out a loan before you visit the gift shop!!

Mine loved it at that age although there isn't really enough there to keep you busy for 3 days. The Thomas Land park itself is quite small and you can easily do it in a (long) day including riding the miniature train to the zoo and looking round that too. The main Drayton Manor park doesn't have much additional for the really little ones. Thomas Land does also have a big soft play you could spend time in if the weather is bad. If you can avoid school holidays! They will love it though!

It is brilliant and if your children are easily amused they could stay for a week, I mean you are going to be bored shitless.
They advertise if before Thomas and Friends.

Ah, Thomas Land! We had some fab times there. Went when the youngest was still in nappies the first time. The miniature train is great for a 'rest', we always tried to take a picnic for some chill out time at the end of the line. It's not cheap though, and you will struggle to fill three days. Enjoy!

Hi @Coriandersucks, we went when the DC were 3 and they loved it, but I would second what PP have said about it not being a 3 day trip! We did it in a day, maybe you could stretch it to two if your DC love trains but that would be plenty.

Whereabouts in the UK are you travelling from - maybe we could suggest somewhere to stay en route to break up the journey that way?

Thanks for all the comments - relieved to hear it’s a hit with the young ones and I’ll prepare myself for the gift shop!

Maybe I should make it a 3 night/ 2 day (or even a 2 night /1 day) then as 3 days sounds a bit too much (for me more than anything!).

We used to go a lot when the kids were little - it's fab for that age and I do miss it actually!

We did it and stayed in a themed room at the hotel and had breakfast with Sir Topham Hatt. Despite the happy memories, a full day there was quite sufficient!

You definitely don't need three nights, or even two.
It's great and the kids love it, it's very well organized.
One night would be enough and isn't necessary either tbh, it's not that big, in a day they could go on each attraction more than once. Obviously the hotel is themed too so might be worth it for that.

The park itself is great, although as others have said its fairly small so easy to do it all in a day. The hotel however I thought was utterly vile. The beds were like planks of wood and the carpeted floor sticky as you walked around the room! I wouldn't be going back to the hotel any time soon. Terrible nights sleep.

Well I’ve booked for two nights so we will travel up the night before (it’s a good 3 hours from us) then have one full day in the park, stay another night then we have the option of going for a second day, or even just a couple of hours before heading back.

Boys are ridiculously excited, eldest has mentioned it at least once a week for the last 18 months so I just hope it lives up to expectations!

I’m not too worried if the hotel isn’t great, it will be exciting for them as they’ve never stayed in one before. They’re very concerned how breakfast will work!

Another vote for it being really good. My experience is not overly helpful as we went for the Christmas activities (not sure when you are going ) . One of the best memories I will have for the rest of my life is the look on my DC faces when they made it snow after a show. The absolute look of wonder is up there with my best memories of all time . Ds2 still asks if we can go back soon.

10 years ago my kids loved it, we didn't really go into the rest of the park, but Thomas land was well worth the longish drive

When we went, we went to Ash End House Farm as a second outing, which was lovely. It's about 5 minutes down the road from Drayton Manor.

It’s great for small kids. If it’s the right direction we took ours to Warwick Castle on the way home