12 Best Train Sets For Kids To Buy Now

BRIO Deluxe Cargo Train Set‍

Our list wouldn't be complete without a set from Brio, who have long been considered the leading manufacturers of toy trains & train sets. This 54-piece Deluxe Cargo Train Set puts a modern spin on the traditional steam engine set; featuring a cool battery-powered freight train with working headlights, tipper truck, suspension bridge and several cranes with magnetic arms, kids will have tons of fun loading and transporting their cargo. The set is really good quality and thoughtfully designed (there are loads of nifty mechanical features that will delight kids) and, as with all Brio sets, it's built to last.

Santa's Express Christmas Hornby Train Set‍

There's something inexplicably Christmassy about a toy train set (perhaps because they've traditionally been given as Christmas presents), but this Hornby Junior 'Santa's Express' set takes that festive feeling one step further. Featuring a scarlet steam engine, a wagon full of presents, a van for Santa's sleigh and an oval track that will fit perfectly around the base of a Christmas tree, it's the perfect addition to your next family Christmas.

Carousel Train Set

This traditional railway set from Carousel is a great option for younger kids: it's on the lower end of the price scale, the wooden track is easy to fit together and it comes with all sorts of additional accessories such as trees, shops, people and animals to spark imaginative play.  There are enough track pieces to make 11 different track layouts and they also flip over to make a road; this set will provide hours of fun!

BRIO My First Railway Beginner Pack‍

This Brio wooden train set is one of the only sets we found that was suitable to be used by children as young as 18 months. It's nice and small: just 11 pieces of Brio train track, a train, a carriage and a tunnel so your little one won't get overwhelmed (though watching the train slide the ramps provided is sure to provide ample enjoyment!). It's a classic Brio train set in that it's excellent quality and beautifully-designed; the rattle in the train carriage is a nice touch.

Thomas & Friends 3-In-1 Playset‍

This Thomas the Tank Engine Train Set is perfect for fans of the franchise. Thomas himself is motorised, and kids are sure to get a kick out of watching him zip along the train tracks unaided; watch a loaded crate drop into Thomas' cargo car as he zooms beneath the bridge! The set comes with 17 pieces of track that can be laid in three different track formations, a bridge, cargo tunnel and Annie and Clarabel passenger cars. Plus, the Thomas train set is compatible with other TrackMaster track sets if you want to expand.

KidKraft Adventure Town Railway Train Set & Table‍

It doesn't come cheap, but this extensive set is a worthy investment for train toy enthusiasts who are a little older and more able to appreciate all it has to offer. Which, as it happens, is a lot: with an impressive 120 pieces of track, tons of cool cityscape accessories and a silk-screened landscaped play board, your child will have all they need to create their very own thriving town! We particularly loved the shipping yard and aeroplane runway. Includes the wooden play table and two collapsible storage bins for a quick and easy clean-up.

LEGO City Cargo Train Set‍

Lego train sets are double the fun because they have that extra building element, and with 1227 pieces, this train set will help keep your little builder occupied for hours! It's a really nifty bit of mechanical kit, too, featuring a motorised remote control train that goes at ten different speeds, a crane wagon with extendable and rotating boom arm, a forklift with an opening roll cage and lifting forks and loads more.

VTech Toot-Toot Drivers Train Set‍

This fun, interactive train set with motorised train toy from VTech provides multiple opportunities for both fun and learning. Your little one will love rearranging the train station, bridge, ramp and track pieces, which come with flexible track sections and supports, allowing them to make two tier creations. But there are also four 'SmartPoints' which, when activated, introduce early language skills and play fun little tunes; a great educational tool.

Chad Valley Wooden Train Set

This 60 piece train set from Chad Valley ticks a lot of boxes. Its amazingly good value, the quality wooden pieces are nice and durable and there are enough supporting accessories to provide children with a really entertaining little townscape. The set comes with 21 pieces of wooden train track, a bridge, three magnetic train toys and a host of supporting pieces including buildings, people, trees and road signs. A great all-rounder.

Bigjigs Rail My First Wooden Train Set‍

This cute little Bigjigs Rail train set is the perfect starter set. Featuring just eight wooden track pieces there are only enough for a little ring, but it's the perfect size for a newbie. Includes three wooden trains, two houses and three figurines (including a dog!) which are all very sweetly painted.  

Bigjigs Rail Fairy Town Train Set

This pastel-coloured train set from Bigjigs is oh-so pretty; complete with several wooden fairy figurines, archways adorned with stars and creeping vines and pink spotted toad stools it makes for a truly elegant set-up. But it's not just looks that count with this set; it's got 75 pieces to spark endless imaginative play, is made from durable, sustainable materials and is compatible with most other wooden train sets.  

LILLABO IKEA Wooden Train Set‍

This Ikea Train Set is unbelievably good value. For just £8 you get all the basics you need to make up a great little train set, and though the price is low, the quality certainly isn't. A real bargain!

Kidadl Best Buys selects the top parent-recommended products across the web for families of all ages. If you liked our guide to the best toy train sets then why not take a look at our favourite STEM toys? Or, for something different, take a look at our top hand sanitisers to keep the whole family safe.