We visited Audley End Miniature Railway for its Easter Special event and found wholesome family fun

Audley End Miniature Railway: It’s a perennial favourite for my family, offering a wholesome and traditional experience suitable for all ages.

But I admit that before our latest visit on Saturday – for the first day of the attraction’s Easter Special event – I did question whether my daughter Clara, eight, might be getting a bit old for it.

I needn’t have worried. We may have been visiting the miniature railway since she was months old, but getting older just means she now experiences it in a different way.

For those who haven’t been lucky enough to visit before, Audley End Miniature Railway – a short drive from the A11 – was created by steam train enthusiast Lord Braybrooke and opened to the public in 1964, but since then it has seen many changes.

In fact, it’s a site which changes with our every visit (and as a family we always enjoy discussing its latest additions and improvements).

Saturday’s visit was no different. It’s going on for two years since our last trip to the attraction and this year we were delighted by the improved check-in and gift shop building, but the most exciting ’first’ for us was our journey on the attraction’s electric engine ‘Electra’, which made its debut last summer.

At least, my husband and I were excited. Clara was nonplussed and was much more interested in ticking off all the Easter sights along the half-hour train route.

This is one example of the attraction’s appeal to all ages. Whereas once upon a time Clara was simply happy to sit on the train and take it all in, now she was highly motivated to complete all the tickboxes on the Easter activity leaflet – and get a sticker at the end.

Halfway through the journey, the train pulled up in a long, decorated marquee. There, we met the Easter Bunny, her farmyard friends and Shearlock Holmes for an entertaining adventure trying to find missing eggs.

Despite a few volume issues, we were all able to catch the gist of what was going on. I was surprised to see Clara so engaged with shouting and directing the animals to find the hidden eggs (in fact, she was more enthusiastic than many of the younger children on board our train).

After the case was cracked, all the children on board were able to choose an Easter-themed toy before our train trundled on to the Woodland Station.

There, we were greeted by Little Bo Peep, however a few volume issues meant we couldn’t hear what she said. But not to worry, as Clara was too keen to explore the enchanted fairy and elf walk – probably her favourite part of the Audley End Miniature Railway experience.

This visit, we didn’t tick off all the characters along the way (having completed the trail in previous years), but Clara’s burgeoning reading skills meant she was reading all the fairy stories on signs along the way. This was something she never did in previous years.

Next up, we explored the nature corner and then ventured to the potting shed to plant some carrot seeds (which are now safely installed on my kitchen windowsill as we wait for them to grow).

One of the attractions Clara might have enjoyed when younger, but which she avoided on Saturday, was the Easter-themed show staged at hourly intervals throughout the day. Judging by the cheers and squeals of delight coming from the teepee, it was popular with those who did watch it.

Instead, Clara made a beeline for the adventure play area. She has long been a fan of play areas and this is something which is yet to change. Luckily, the Audley End Miniature Railway one has plenty to engage and entertain, with a wooden engine to climb and discover, swings, structures to explore and more.

In fact, my husband and I had supped coffees and eaten ice creams from the food outlets long before she was prepared to be dragged away. But fret not if you are a fan of bringing food and drink from home – this is welcomed, with plenty of picnic tables (and highchairs).

Eventually we persuaded Clara to leave the play area, but only with the carrot of a look around the gift shop… and the promise of returning to Audley End Miniature Railway before the year is out

For more information or to book, go to https://audley-end-railway.co.uk/

The Easter event runs daily until April 21, with tickets starting at £18.75 for adults, £9.40 for children (free for under one year-olds) and carers free.