What's on in the area

National Railway Museum

Daily

Cost: Free

Yorkshire Wheel: £6; children £4; under 4s free

Hours: 10am-6pm

York's National Railway Museum is a trainspotter's heaven - a mammoth shrine to all things that move on rails.

The museum takes visitors on a journey through over 200 years of life on the railways, taking in the golden age of steam travel from "real" platforms, where sound effects recreate the busy and exciting atmosphere of another era. The mighty Mallard - holder of the steam world record at 126mph - can be explored, as well as Queen Victoria's luxurious royal carriage.

More up-to-date exhibits include a life-size section of the Channel Tunnel and a mock up of Eurostar, as well as the more recent Shinkansen - the only Bullet Train outside Japan.

New to the museum is the Yorkshire Wheel, a 54 metre high observation wheel, the largest in Yorkshire. What better place to take in all of York's sights in one go, from the Ouse to the Minster. Tickets are purchased at the entrance to the National Railway Museum.

National Railway Museum