TRAVEL IT’S FULL STEAM AHEAD!

my two children might be a fraction too old for Thomas. I thought wrong. We arrive bright and early in time for the rides to begin operating at 10.30am.

Even with an early start, there is certainly more to see in one just day.

We were fortunate enough to visit the park on a day which wasn’t ridiculously busy and did not face any significant delays to get any of the rides (the longest was the queue for the Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster, a sort of miniature rollercoaster for young visitors, where we waited to longer than 20 mins).

More gentle rides are on hand in the form of the engine rides where you can take a trip on board Harold the Helicopter skyride or a train pulled by Thomas, Percy or Rosie, taking in the sights from across the park on the way.

For tired-out parents, there is also an impressive Thomas-themed indoor play area where the children can run off some extra steam while mums and dads can catch a few minutes on the comfy sofas (although during our visit play was restricted to 20 minutes to ensure everyone had a turn).

And, while not exactly sedate, we also enjoyed the 4D cinema experience featuring a Yogi Bear in which the audience enjoys water, wind and shudders along with the cartoon bear.

But for the most part, any delays in getting on to chosen rides were minimal and there was more than enough sights and sounds to keep children constantly occupied.

Outside of Thomas Land itself, the park is also home to a number of high-octane rollercoasters and water rides, none of which we ventured upon on this particular visit.

There are some height and age restrictions which make rides unsuitable for younger children. However, we enjoyed a spin in the Flying Dutchman and there are also traditional Victorian carousels.

And if you still have time left there is also an impressive zoo featuring red pandas, lynxes, meercats, as well as a large variety of monkeys and apes.

We got a quick chance to explore some of this zone – although by this point our poor legs couldn’t take any more! Covering an extensive 15-acre zone, the zoo has its own conservation programme and is soon due to undergo an extensive revamp.

So that we could make the most of our visit, we stayed the previous night at the park’s four-star hotel which is just a few minutes walk away from the entrance.

With its own grounds and enclosed outdoor playpark, parents can enjoy some peace and quiet in the outdoor seating area while children keep themselves entertained. Here our two enjoyed roaming through the wooded areas, climbing trees and looking for caterpillars.

We slept in a deluxe family room but the hotel also features its own Thomas-themed suites where children can slumber in rail-shed bunkbeds, train track rugs cover the carpet, and murals of the famous engine and his chums adorn the walls.

And at both dinner time and breakfast, a series of park YAKUB Qureshi stayed courtesy of Drayton Manor Theme Park. For more information and to book the ‘stay and play’ experience, visit draytonmanor.co.uk/shortbreaks or phone characters, including the Fat Controller and his assistants, wander through the dining area to shake hands and pose for selfies with the crowd.

Just off the M6, it takes slightly more than two hours to drive from Manchester to Drayton Manor, making the site more than viable as a day trip.

However, ‘the stay and play option’ is certainly a more civilised option compared to a round trip after a busy day of activities.

For the month of August, the hotel and park are offering a 30 per cent discount on their combined hotel and park bookings, with prices starting from £139 based on two adults and two children staying in a standard family room, breakfast and theme park tickets.

Certainly it is an enjoyable and affordable option for anyone looking for a short family break before the summer holidays come to an end.