Northampton & Lamport Railway - (Pitsford and Brampton,Station)

Steam whistles and vintage carriages are the main draw at this restored railway line running between Pitsford and Brampton Station, just outside Northampton. It's a proper working heritage railway where you can actually ride behind a steam locomotive - the sort of thing that gets railway enthusiasts genuinely excited, and honestly, it works on families too.

The station itself has been done up nicely with period details, and there's usually a collection of old rolling stock to wander round. Depending on what's running that day, you might get a leisurely 45-minute return journey through the Northamptonshire countryside. It's not a massive operation - more intimate than the big heritage railways you'll find elsewhere - but that's actually part of its charm. Kids love the noise and spectacle of it all, and there's something quite special about chugging through farmland in a proper old carriage.

Allow a couple of hours door-to-door if you're going with children or want to have a proper look round the station. Check their website for running dates and what locomotives are operating that day - not every day gets a steam train, and you'll want to time it right. Admission isn't free, but it's reasonable.

If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Billing Aquadrome or Moon Valley Glamping Retreat are only a few miles away - this makes a decent half-day activity. Pair it with a walk round Northampton town centre and you've got a solid day sorted.