Miniature Railway - Leyland Society of Model Engineers

It's easy to dismiss model railways as something only for obsessives with too much time on their hands, but you'd be missing the point entirely. The Leyland Society of Model Engineers runs a proper working miniature railway where you can actually ride the trains - and that's the whole appeal. Kids get to climb aboard tiny but fully functional locomotives and rattle along the track at a decent pace. Adults tend to spend more time gawping at the engineering detail and asking questions the volunteers are clearly delighted to answer.

The railway sits in Leyland itself, making it a reasonable stop if you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Royal Umpire is only a couple of miles away. You won't need hours here, maybe ninety minutes if you include a ride or two and a proper look around the engines. The volunteers who run it know their stuff and aren't the type to rush you through.

Best suited to families with children aged five to twelve, and anyone who gets genuinely interested in how mechanical things work. Teenagers often find it a bit tame unless they're already keen on railways. The setting is functional rather than fancy - don't expect manicured gardens or a café, just a field with tracks and dedicated people who've built something worthwhile from nothing.

Worth checking ahead for opening times and admission costs before you make the trip, as these volunteer-run operations can be seasonal or limited to specific days.