Screen-Free School Holiday Activities: Train Spotting With Kids

Stuck for screen-free things to do with the kids this school holiday? Train spotting is one of the best-value family days out there is - easy to start, exciting for children, and a proper break from the screens.

A screen-free activity kids genuinely love

There's real magic in a big train thundering past, and train spotting turns that thrill into a game the whole family can share - counting different trains, spotting colours and liveries, and racing to be first to shout out a catch. It gets children outdoors, off their tablets and phones, and talking. At GingerAlf Publications we believe the best family fun happens away from the screen, and a day at the railway is exactly that.

Perfect for the school holidays

Whether it's half term, an odd rainy day, or a long stretch of the summer holidays, train spotting fills an afternoon happily and cheaply. Busy stations mean short waits between trains, so children stay engaged, and it works in almost any weather - many station platforms are covered, and railway museums are indoors, so it's a brilliant rainy-day option too.

It costs almost nothing to start

You don't need special kit or tickets. Watching trains from a public station (with a valid or platform ticket) is free, and you can begin with our free printable starter pack - just print it at home and go. It's one of the cheapest days out you can give the kids.

Where to take the kids

Great family choices include:

A busy local station - short waits, lots to see. Browse our UK spotting locations.
Railway museums - many are free and indoors, ideal for a rainy day, with historic locomotives up close.
Heritage railways - ride behind a real steam engine, a highlight for any child.

York is a perfect combined day out - a magnificent station right next to the National Railway Museum.

What you need

Barely anything: warm clothes, a snack, and a printable log sheet. To keep younger children hooked, our kids' challenges and activity bundles add colour hunts, fleet challenges and a 'spotter of the day' scoreboard - screen-free fun they can take on every trip.

Make it a holiday challenge

Children love a mission. Set a target - 'spot five different trains today', or race to be first to see a freight train - and keep a running tally across the whole holiday. For safety tips and more ways to keep it fun, see our companion guide to train spotting with children.

Frequently asked questions

What can kids do in the school holidays that isn't screen time?

Train spotting is a perfect screen-free school-holiday activity: head to a local station or a railway museum, note the trains you see on a printable log sheet, and turn it into a friendly challenge. It's cheap, gets everyone outdoors, and works for a quick afternoon or a full day out.

How much does it cost?

Almost nothing. Watching trains from a public station (with a valid or platform ticket) is free, and you can start with our free printable log sheet. Many railway museums are also free to enter.

Is train spotting good for a rainy day?

Yes - many station platforms are covered and railway museums are indoors, so it works in any weather. It's a great rainy-day activity for the school holidays.

What age is it suitable for?

All ages. Toddlers love watching the big trains; older children enjoy recording numbers and completing challenges. Always keep children close and well behind the platform's yellow line.

Free to start