Toy time in York this half term!

Terrific toys and tremendous tiny trains at two York museums

Take a trip back to childhood in York this half term as the city’s two largest museums break open the toy cupboard.
The National Railway Museum’s Big Fun with Little Trains and York Castle Museum’s Toy Stories both open in time for the school holiday (February 16).
At the National Railway Museum there will be nine days of fun with little locomotives, from children’s pedal trains to rides on indoor and outdoor railways for visitors of all ages.

At York Castle Museum the new Toy Stories exhibition will see bikes, models, computer games, Lego and beautiful hand made dolls on show alongside other toys from the last 150 years.
TheNationalRailwayMuseum is free to all whileYorkCastleMuseum kids go free with one paying adult.

Amy Parkinson, learning manager for York Museums Trust, said: “What better way to spend this half term than to be surrounded by toys at York’s two largest museums.

York Castle Museum has a fantastic collection of toys and our new exhibition will allow us to bring out some of the very best – many of which have not been on show before. Whether it is a Victorian bike with galloping horses attached or the odd looking computer consoles from the 1980s, we have designed the exhibition so people can come and see the objects and then share nostalgic tales of their childhood.”

Zoe Roberts, Public Programme Developer said: ‘With this February set to be freezing, parents who are desperate to get out of the house with the kids should make tracks to the National Railway Museum! We have a range of fun activities to keep children and their parents entertained throughout half term and all under one roof! Big Fun with Little trains opens on the 16 February.”

The new exhibition at York Castle Museum will include Gilligan’s Galloping Carousel, an authentic children’s roundabout from the Edwardian period which was popular on the streets of Castleford. Children will be able to bring their own soft toys and teddies to ride on the roundabout. They can also enjoy the castle inspired play area, and a special children’s trail around the gallery.

At the NationalRailwayMuseum, Big Fun with Little Trains, runs from February 16 to 24. Children will be able to get hands on in the museum play areas and workshops and enjoy rides of all shapes and sizes. Family friendly model layouts will be on display and visitors can take part in a Chuggington© challenge to stack your track as high as possible. As well as all this toy train fun, visitors can enjoy our regular school holiday activities including explosive science shows, turntable demonstrations and rides behind a real steam engine*.

As well as taking part in the wide range of activities on offer across the museum’s enormous site, visitors can also explore the Warehouse to discover an intriguing array of model railway objects including a model railway that is so small it fits into a banjo case, and a collection of model railway vehicles which boasts a Guinness World Record for being the largest collection made by one person.

*A small charge applies

For further information, contact Lee Clark, communications manager, York Museums Trust, telephone 01904 687673 or email lee.clark@ymt.org.uk