Greater Manchester With Kids: East Lancashire Railway, Bury

Admittedly we're all more of plane enthusiasts and would normally choose the Runway Visitor Park for a short outing not too far from the city, but we try to visit at least a couple of new places in the holidays, so we decided to check out the East Lancashire Railway after my husband came across a social media post about them.

With the first line built back in 1840, the ELR line starts in Heywood and runs for 12 miles all the way to Rawtenstall. It stops at 5 stations along the way: Bury (where the earlier and latest services of the day terminate), Burrs Country Park, Summerseat, Ramsbottom and Irwell Vale. You can pick any of the stations as the starting point of your trip, so we started our day in Bury as it was the most convenient. There are also various types of tickets to choose from - you can go for a Full Line Return, which allows you to take a round trip of the full line, with the option to hop off at the stops along the way to explore the local area. If you want to make the most of your day, another option is a Day Rover ticket that gives you unlimited travel along the line for the whole day, up and down the line. To enjoy this attraction at a discounted rate, look for Family Explorer tickets - they are limited in number and only available on certain dates but offer amazing value as they come with the same perks as a Day Rover ticket but at half the price! The full-day tickets also include a visit to Bury Transport Museum.

We started our trip from Bolton Street station in Bury - formerly the main station in town, it's now a part of the heritage railway under ELR's care. It's filled with travel-related memorabilia, homes the main booking office and the gift shop, and offers a selection of food and drink and facilities. It's conveniently situated just a short walk away from the town centre, where you can explore other museums and art galleries, enjoy some food, or wander around the Bury Market.

As mentioned above, daily tickets (both the Day Rover and Family Explorer) also include entry to the Bury Transport Museum, located just across the road from the Bolton Street station. The restored 1848 warehouse is home to an interesting collection of 20th-century vehicles, hands-on exhibits and miniatures. Dozens of vintage vehicles, including cars, trucks, buses and trains, offer an insight into the industrial past of the region. The visitors are allowed to get on some of the exhibits - we sat on a vintage double-decker, and kids could have a go at being bus drivers. There's also a small play area for the youngest visitors, with toys and a dress-up corner.

In addition to regular trips, the East Lancashire Railway also offers a variety of seasonal events (Halloween, Christmas, Easter, etc.), dining experiences, opportunities to have a go at driving the train, and even weddings and private hire.

For all the information about timetables, up-to-date ticket prices and current events, visit the ELR Website.