Tidlo The City of London Wooden Train Set

Tidlo Wooden Train Set

The City of London

All opinions expressed are entirely my own (or that of my kids).

Ben was fortunate to get this lovely wooden train set for his birthday and both him and Noah have had hours of fun from it already.

Read why below........

Meet the Testers:

This product was mainly tested by Ben who is 5 years old with assistance from his inquisitive younger brother, Noah (2 years old).

Meet the Creators:

Tidlo Timeless Toy products are created by John Crane Ltd.  They have been operating for over 25 years distributing toys throughout the UK.

Meet the Product:

The Tidlo City of London train set is 100% wood with painted features.  Like you would expect from a wooden railway it is made to last and can withstand even Noah's many attempts at destroying the city (I blame TV and daddy's computer games).

It is compatible with other interlocking wooden railway sets which is great as it means the boys can add to their growing collection.

What's in the Box?

The Tidlo City of London train set is brilliant as it features 15 buildings and accessories.  Many of the main tourist attractions of the Capitol are included:  Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament.   Additionally it has the London Eye which really spins round!!!

Of course the queen wouldn't be safe without her 4 Beefeaters/ guards around to protect the Palace, fortunately the set also comes with them.

As a 3-carriage Underground train winds its way around the landmarks it can be grated by the big red London Bus or iconic black taxi.  There is also a police car and fire-engine on hand in case of emergencies..... and when Noah is involved derailment features more frequently then leaves on the line.

Nine trees and bushes enable the children to create a woodland scenery away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Of course there are 17 pieces (a mix of curves and straights) to make up the track itself and a bridge to go over the track.

How easy is it to build?

You can easily build the figure of 8 by looking at the box or add it to other sets to make much larger tracks.   The pieces interlock really well so stay together (until the earthquake occurs that is).

With large pieces the boys have no problems with taking the set to pieces and mending it again all by themselves giving mummy time to relax with a cup of tea.

Our Verdict

As a set on it's own it is an ideal starter set as there is plenty to keep little hands occupied.  For the more experienced train technicians it is a welcome add on.

With all the other vehicles included it means there is minimal fighting over who will be the train driver, however you may want to invest in a second one if your children are the same as mine.

Other Products to accompany this product

I have already ordered the Underground Playset that Brio have released to accompany this item  as it is a perfect add on.

The boys also have "Topsy and Tim visit London" book which details how the 2 loveable characters (that I remember from MY childhood) explore London seeing many of the sites that come with the set - this turns a lovely toy into an educational experience as children can re-tell the story.

Ways to contact John Crane

 Website - http://www.john-crane.co.uk

Twitter - @JohnCraneLtd

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JohnCraneFanpage