10 Best Train Sets UK 2024 | LEGO, Hornby, BRIO World, and More

This fantastic train set from LEGO features a motorised engine with a 10-speed Bluetooth remote control and an accessible driver’s cabin, as well as a crane wagon with rotating and extendable boom arm for loading and unloading. It's supplied with a 32 piece circular track that can easily be added onto other LEGO items to create one huge set.

We absolutely love the level of detail that's gone into the items in this set. From the pantograph that can be raised and lowered using the controls to the crane and the forklift, no detail has been left out. This makes it a superb toy not only to build but to play with too. We love it so much that it just had to take our number 1 spot! 

This truly is an amazing train set from well-respected brand BRIO World, including accessories such as a harbour, a station, and a roadway - so your tiny train lover can let their imagination run wild! The set includes plenty of pieces to keep kids occupied, but it can also be added to other sets to create their very own BRIO city.

The only thing to bear in mind is that you'll need a steady supply of batteries on hand so that a lack of power doesn't stop play for too long! While this set is expensive, it's well worth the investment and is sure to be a firm favourite in your home!

This set from BRIO World consists of two lines that run on tracks from the same station, so budding train drivers can get involved with changing points and avoiding collisions! It also features a bridge and an elevated track section, plus a lift in the station to help passengers get to the right platform.

Two relatively minor points have come to our attention though. The first is that the battery power in the locomotives is barely enough to get them up the hill, which is a real shame. The other is that if a figure is placed in the driver's seat of the train, there isn't enough clearance to go under the bridge. Despite these flaws, this is a fun set that can teach kids a lot about trains!

Harking back to a time when the Highlands of Scotland were served by a variety of railways, this vintage-style set includes a 0-4-0 tank engine, a plank wagon, and a small passenger coach. 

Unfortunately, the controller provided is quite flimsy and can on occasion trip out, although this can be fixed by resetting it. Also, it's a fairly basic set for the price, but the oval track circuit can be extended and made more exciting if you purchase additional track and accessory packs from Hornby. 

Get ready to go back to the wizarding world with this Hornby Hogwarts Express Train Set! The magical train features a working headlight plus two coaches, plus there are additional Harry Potter items that can be purchased from the same brand to embellish it.

This is a decent starter set, but you'll need to invest in extra accessories to make the most of it. Also, the controller that's supplied could be much better quality given the high price of the set. Still, it's a brilliant buy if you know a Potterhead!

This set from Chad Valley has over 60 pieces, making it a wonderful first set for little train fans with big imaginations. They can design their own unique tracks over and over again and have loads of adventures with accessories like roadblocks, vehicles, and traffic lights. 

As this is one of the cheaper products on our list, the parts aren't of the highest quality - in fact, pieces sometimes have paint missing, which is a real shame! As with other wooden train sets, the track pieces can be hard to put together to begin with, but this improves with use. 

Bright young minds will love this imaginative set - the sheer number of accessories included means there are endless play scenarios available. The set is also compatible with most other wooden train sets such as those by BRIO, BigJigs, and IKEA so you can easily expand on it to create your own little metropolis! 

Sadly, some items such as the bridge and trees can be fairly unsteady when set up on a carpet, so they fall over easily. We therefore recommend playing with this set on a hard floor instead.

The Flying Scotsman, the most famous locomotive in the world, can be built in the comfort of your own home thanks to this fab Hornby set. The striking green design evokes the golden age of rail travel, and the track circuit in this set can be extended with additional packs to create a fully functioning model railway. 

While this is understandably a hugely popular set, some customers have found that the wheels of the locomotive occasionally lock and prevent it from moving. Hornby usually offers to replace the product if this is the case, but this isn't something you would expect to happen when buying such an expensive set!

This Thomas & Friends train set features multiple Sodor locations, a remote-controlled Thomas engine, a spinning Cranky the crane, and a bonus cart with cargo for loading and unloading. The extra-large track is over 3 feet wide and 5 feet long (over 91 cm wide and 152 cm long).

Due to its large size, this product can take a fair bit of time to set up - which could be tricky if you're child isn't patricularly patient! The remote control and the motorised locomotive also require lots of batteries, so you'll need to make sure you have a decent supply on hand to avoid disappointing your little train driver.

This Paddington Bear themed train set is the ideal introduction to Hornby for young train fans. The plastic track is easy to clip together (great for small hands!) and the battery-operated locomotive features a simple start/stop button, plus working lights.

Despite the age range being described as 4+, some parents have found that it's very fiddly for younger children. The train also has a habit of falling off the track quite easily, which can be frustrating as you have to spend time putting it back on rather than playing!