Travelling with kids? All aboard creative adventures
Every parent knows the moment: the bags are packed, the snacks are open, the train has barely left the station - and someone’s already asking, “Are we nearly there yet?”
Family train journeys can be brilliant. No airport queues, no back-seat arguments, no need to keep your eyes on the road. But keeping children happy, calm and entertained while you travel can still feel like a lot - especially if you’d rather not hand over a screen for the whole journey.
So, we asked parents what family travel really feels like. And the message was clear: screens can be a handy fallback, but they’re not always the option parents want to rely on. In our survey, 77% of parents said they’ve felt pressure to use screens to keep children entertained while travelling, while 61% said they’d prefer not to use screens on the journey.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with award-winning children’s audio platform Yoto to create something simple, free and easy to use on the move: the Trainline x Yoto Draw Alongs.
Designed to turn train time into creative time, each audio episode guides children through a fun, travel-inspired drawing activity - from dream trains and beach days to stations, ice creams, rollercoasters and under-the-sea adventures. All little travellers need is something to draw on, something to draw with, and a grown-up with the free Yoto app.
It’s a screen-free way to keep children busy, spark their imagination and help make the journey feel like part of the adventure - not just the bit before the holiday starts. And because it gives children something absorbing to do, it can help make the whole journey feel smoother, calmer and easier for everyone on board.
Start Your Drawing Adventure
With 12 guided drawing episodes inspired by trains, holidays and the things children might spot along the way, it gives families an easy way to keep young minds busy from departure to arrival.
As the world rolls by, children can grab pencils, crayons or felt tips and draw along to beach scenes, dream trains, ice creams, stations, rollercoasters and more.
The collection is available in the Discover section of the free Yoto app from 8 July until 1 September 2026 and is voiced by Jake Harris, host of the award-winning Yoto Daily podcast.
You do not need a Yoto Player to listen; families can stream through the free Yoto app, bring paper and pencils, and let children draw along while they travel.
For families with a Yoto Player or Yoto Mini, the collection can also be added to their library and downloaded to blank Make Your Own cards, making it possible to play offline once it’s downloaded on to the player before leaving home.
How it works and what's included?
Step 1: Open the free Yoto app.
Step 2: Head to the Discover section from 24 June.
Step 3: Choose a Trainline x Yoto Draw Along.
Step 4: Give your child paper and pencils.
Step 5: Listen, draw and enjoy the journey.
The collection features 12 guided drawing episodes designed to spark imagination while travelling:
- Mountain Trail
- Beach Scene
- Dream Train
- Steam Train
- Camping Scene
- Train Conductor
- Under-the-sea Train
- Rollercoaster
- City Scene
- Train Station
- Ice Creams
- Flowers
Why it matters
77%
of parents say they've felt
pressure to use screens to keep
children entertained while
travelling
61%
of parents say they would
prefer not to use screens
while travelling
41%
longer UK family train
journeys during summer
Top tips for travelling by train with children
Planning a family day out or a longer holiday by train? A Family & Friends Railcard gives 1/3 off adult fares and 60% off kids' tickets, helping families make more of the journey for less.
It’s a myth that it’s just for big groups too – one adult travelling with one child or more can benefit as well.
Why travel can spark big imaginations
Travel time is not just about getting from A to B. It can be a chance for children to notice, wonder, tell stories and build confidence along the way.
Hear from child therapist Saskia Joss, co-host of Help! My Child's Anxious, who champions the benefits of imaginative play for children:
"Travel helps children build confidence and a sense of adventure; but as a parent, I know that sometimes it can feel daunting, especially with younger children. Creative activities like audio storytelling and drawing encourage imagination, focus and a sense of calm. Trainline's research found more than a third of parents turn to screens because it feels like the easiest option, but these free Draw Alongs offer parents a fun alternative instead."
Saskia Joss, child therapist
Helping families feel ready for the journey
From daydreams outside the window to calmer carriage moments, the Draw Alongs are designed to help families feel prepared before they board.
"As a parent myself, I know how much a train journey can spark something in children's imaginations - like that familiar childhood thought of whether there might be fish outside the window while travelling through the Channel Tunnel. I can relate to our research that showed nearly three quarters of parents believe train travel helps children develop real-life skills, and it's that sense of curiosity that makes Yoto's Draw Alongs such a natural fit for family travel this summer. By partnering with Yoto, we want families to feel prepared and in control, with a screen-free option that keeps children engaged and makes the whole journey easier for everyone on board."
Leah Knighton, parent in the Brand team at Trainline
"We know how powerful audio can be in capturing children's imagination, even when they're doing something else, like travelling or creating on the move. This new 'Draw Along' collection is designed to give families a simple, screen-free option to entertain children, ideal for supporting families to travel more comfortably and confidently."
Jake Harris, host of the award-winning Yoto Daily podcast
Sketching Travel Tips from Children’s Book Artist Oliver Jeffers
Get those crayons ready! For even more sketching inspiration, Trainline has teamed up with renowned Northern Irish children's book artist, illustrator and author Oliver Jeffers, who knows a thing or two about the importance of screen-free creativity. A train traveller himself, he loves to watch the world unfold through passing clouds and city skylines while on his own trips.
His tips are the perfect guide for summer holidays, day trips and every moment in between: