North Yorkshire Moors Railway - (Levisham Station)

Steam trains thundering through the North Yorkshire Moors - that's the appeal of this heritage railway, and Levisham Station is one of its most atmospheric stops. You're talking about a proper working Victorian station, complete with period details and the kind of platform where you can actually imagine passengers from a century ago waiting for their connection to Pickering.

The railway runs vintage carriages pulled by restored steam locomotives on a 18-mile route through genuinely stunning moorland scenery. Most visitors board at Pickering, but jumping on or off at Levisham gives you access to some excellent walking country - the Howardian Hills are right here, and the moorland is cracking for a good tramp about. If you're not a dedicated train spotter, allow a couple of hours for the round trip; train enthusiasts will happily spend most of a day here.

It's not free - you'll pay for your ticket depending on which section you travel - but it's good value if you're genuinely interested in heritage railways. Families with younger children tend to find the spectacle of the steam engine alone worth the effort, though honestly, if your kids aren't already into trains, sitting in a carriage for forty minutes might feel long.

Stay at one of the nearby caravan parks around Pickering - Lakeside, Swallowtails, or Cliff Farm are all within easy striking distance - and you can easily combine this with other North Yorkshire attractions. It slots in nicely with a broader moors holiday, particularly if you're keen on walking.