Day trip to London to see The Railway Children (From York Press)

Day trip to London to see The Railway Children

1:54pm Saturday 3rd September 2011 in Leisure

WHAT AND WHERE: The Railway Children, live at Waterloo Station, London.

WHY? My daughter Millie was a little bit young to appreciate it when The Railway Children was first staged in York, or so we thought. Now aged seven, she has spent the school holidays enthralled by Edith Nesbit’s novel and, joined by her three-year-old brother, Joe, has watched Lionel Jeffries’ 1970s film in wide-eyed wonder. Since it took to the stage at the National Railway Museum in York in 2008, the York Theatre Royal production travelled south in 2010 for a sell out season at Waterloo, went on to win the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment in March and in the spring opened in Toronto to standing ovations.

It’s now back at Waterloo – the run extended until January 8 – and with quick train links to London it seemed too good an opportunity to miss before The Railway Children makes tracks to America. Whichever station The Railway Children has rolled into, be it in York, London or Canada, The Press has reviewed it and our writers have all been full of praise. Indeed, back in 2008, Press theatre critic Charles Hutchinson described director Damien Cruden’s show at the NRM as “not so much a show as an event”. Three years on those words still ring true. Despite being staged in the cavernous and now eerily defunct Eurostar terminal at Waterloo, the 1,000-seat tented venue built around the railway tracks is still intimate and so stunning is the lighting, sound and set design the audience is transported back to the glorious age of steam. A truly magical experience and one Joe and Millie, and their parents, will never forget.

WHEN: The Railway Children runs until January 8, with performances from Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm and on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2.30pm, with added matinee performances during the October half-term. Check The Railway Children website for full listings.

HOW MUCH: Tickets prices vary, but start from £22.75 rising to £49.75.

GETTING THERE: We travelled to London on East Coast’s recently relaunched First Class service from York, which includes complimentary food and drinks served during the journey. Advance returns, booked online at eastcoast.co.uk, start from £23 Standard Class or £79 First Class. Times and fares are also available by phoning 08457 225225 or from staffed rail stations. After the show finished we made it in good time to King’s Cross to catch the 6pm train home and were back in York little after 8pm, a blessing when you’ve got young children ready for bed.

Further information: railwaychildrenwaterloo.com and follow the link to buy tickets via seetickets.com Or phone 0871 297 0740