Best Wooden Train Sets UK 2026: Count the Track, Not the Pieces

COMPARISON · PLAY & LEARN

A wooden train set is one of the few toys that can come out at three and still be on the floor at seven. That longevity is exactly why it is worth buying the right one first time, and why the numbers printed on the box deserve a closer look than they usually get.

Here is the problem we kept running into. One set in this comparison advertises 113 pieces. Another has just 12 pieces of track. A third says 40 pieces, but only 17 of those are track. Trees, figures, cars and toadstools all count towards the headline number, and none of them make the railway any longer. If your child mainly wants to build, rebuild and push a train around a loop, the track count and the overall footprint matter far more than the total.

So for this roundup we lined up five wooden sets we can actually send you to buy, from £31 to £68: Le Toy Van, Tidlo, Bigjigs, Little Dutch and Tender Leaf. We read the full specs, checked what each brand says (and does not say) about mixing with other wooden railways, and gathered what parents tell us about how these sets play once the wrapping paper is gone. With Christmas lists being written now, we have also flagged which sets make the best single gift and which are better as the start of a bigger collection.

Every set here is labelled 3+, because wooden railways come with small parts. If you are shopping for a younger toddler, read the age section below before you buy.

Lil' Bubba's verdicts

• Best Overall: Le Toy Van Figure of 8 Train Set · 8.5/10 - 17 track pieces, three stone-effect bridges and magnetic carriages for £50
• Best Gift for Little Londoners: Tidlo City of London Wooden Train Set · 8.2/10 - a figure of eight over a hill past Big Ben, with track that works with Bigjigs and most other brands
• Best Value: Bigjigs Toys Rail Fairy Figure of Eight Train Set · 8.0/10 - 35 pieces for about £31, and track that fits most other major wooden brands
• Best Big Box: Little Dutch Wooden Train Track Set XL · 7.8/10 - 113 pieces to build a whole little town, with a range of expansion sets
• Best for Small Spaces: Tender Leaf Treetops Train Set · 7.5/10 - a 41 x 44cm alpine loop with a bear, a moose and a fox

Quick comparison

Set	Price	Total pieces	Track pieces	Layout size	Rating
Le Toy Van Figure of 8 Train Set	£49.95	40	17 (incl. bridges)	About 104 x 45cm
Tidlo City of London Wooden Train Set	£59.99	50+	17	About 104 x 47cm
Bigjigs Toys Rail Fairy Figure of Eight Train Set	£30.95	35	Not stated	Not stated
Little Dutch Wooden Train Track Set XL	£67.96	113	Not stated	Not stated
Tender Leaf Treetops Train Set	£40.00	Not stated	12	About 41 x 44cm

How we picked the 5

We started with every wooden train set in our catalogue that is in stock at a UK retailer we work with, then cut anything that was only an add-on pack with no track, or a pull-along toy rather than a railway. We kept one set per brand so the comparison stays fair and you see five different approaches rather than three versions of the same one.

For each set we read the retailer listing and the brand's own description in full, noting total pieces, track pieces, layout size, the type of train and whether the brand claims compatibility with other wooden railways. Where a listing does not state something, such as the exact track count, we say so rather than guess. We then weighed what parents tell us about set-up, durability and how long the layout holds a child's interest. Ratings reflect value for money, play value and how well each set grows with your child.

What to look for in a wooden train set

Track count before piece count. The track is what decides how big and varied the layout can be. A set with 17 track pieces can usually make a figure of eight with a bridge; a set with 12 will typically make a simple loop. Scenery adds story, not length.

Layout size against your floor. Two of the sets here spread to about 104cm long when built as shown. That is fine on a living room rug, less so in a small bedroom. The smallest set here sits in roughly 41 x 44cm, about the size of a coffee table top.

Compatibility. Most wooden railways share a similar grooved track and peg-and-hole connector, which is why so many families end up mixing brands. Bigjigs and Tidlo both state their track works with most major wooden railway brands. Others in this list do not make a claim either way in their listings, which does not mean they will not fit, only that the brand has not promised it. If you already own track from another brand, this is the most important line to read.

How the carriages connect. Magnetic couplings are far easier for small hands than hooks. Several sets here use magnets, and parents say this is the difference between a child playing alone and a child asking for help every two minutes.

Age and small parts. Every set in this comparison is labelled 3+. Small figures, signs and pegs are a choking risk for younger toddlers. If your child is under three, keep the loose accessories back and supervise, or wait.

Theme and expansion. A London set, a fairy set and a forest set all play the same way, but a theme your child loves will hold attention longer. Check whether the brand sells add-on packs, because most children want more track within a few months.

1. Le Toy Van Figure of 8 Train Set / 10 · Best overall

Le Toy Van's Figure of 8 is the set we would hand to most families who want one good railway rather than a starter that needs topping up straight away. It comes in at £49.95 for 40 pieces, and 17 of those are track, so you get a proper figure of eight with height and crossings rather than a flat circle.

The detail is where Le Toy Van earns its price. There are three arched stone-effect bridges, four wooden carriages that join with magnets to make a longer train, and 19 buildings, tents and trees to set the scene. It is made from FSC-certified wood, painted with water-based, non-toxic paints, and sold in fully recyclable packaging, so it is a plastic-free gift from the box inwards. Built as pictured, the layout runs to about 104 x 45cm.

What parents love

• Bridges built in. Three arched bridges give the layout ups and downs from day one, which is what keeps a figure of eight interesting after the first week.
• Magnetic carriages. The four carriages link with magnets, so a three-year-old can build and rebuild the train without help. We hear repeatedly from parents that magnets are the single biggest factor in solo play.
• Plastic-free and FSC wood. Water-based paints, certified wood and recyclable packaging, for families who care where their toys come from.
• A good balance of track and scenery. Seventeen track pieces is the joint highest here, and the 19 scenery pieces add story without padding the count with tiny bits.

What to know before you buy

• No cross-brand claim. The listing does not say the track works with other wooden railway brands. Most grooved wooden track fits together, but if mixing is important to you, check before you buy.
• Needs floor space. At around 104cm long, it wants a rug or a hallway, not a corner of a small bedroom.
• Not one for under-threes. Labelled 3+, with small scenery pieces.

Best for

• A first proper railway that will not need extra track straight away
• Families looking for a plastic-free Christmas gift
• Three to five-year-olds who want to build on their own
• Anyone who likes the classic, story-book look

2. Tidlo City of London Wooden Train Set / 10 · Best themed gift

Tidlo's City of London set is the one most likely to get a gasp when it is unwrapped. The Underground train runs a figure of eight that goes up and over a hill, past the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Gherkin and Harrods, with a black cab and a red double-decker bus to complete the scene.

Under the theme it is a solid railway. There are more than 50 pieces, including 17 track pieces, so it matches Le Toy Van for track. Tidlo states the set is compatible with most major wooden railway brands, including Bigjigs Rail, which makes it a safe choice if your child already has track at home. It is made from FSC-certified wood, measures about 104 x 47cm built, and is priced at £59.99.

What parents love

• A story built in. Landmarks give children something to narrate, from tourists hopping off at the Eye to the bus racing the Tube. Parents tell us themed sets get played with for longer because the game has a plot.
• Hill and figure of eight. The rise over the hill adds a bit of drama that a flat loop does not have.
• Stated compatibility. Works with Bigjigs Rail and most other major wooden brands, so it can join an existing collection.
• Strong buyer feedback. Early buyer ratings are consistently five-star, with comments focused on how well made it looks.

What to know before you buy

• Theme is specific. Brilliant for a child who loves London, buses or the Tube; less compelling for a child who does not care about landmarks.
• Costs £10 more than Le Toy Van for the same 17 track pieces. You are paying for the landmarks.
• Can go out of stock. It has been backordered at times, so if it is a Christmas gift, do not leave it late.

Best for

• Children who love London, buses or the Underground
• Families with relatives in London, or a trip coming up
• Adding to an existing Bigjigs or mixed-brand railway
• A show-stopper birthday or Christmas present

3. Bigjigs Toys Rail Fairy Figure of Eight Train Set / 10 · Best value

Bigjigs is the brand many UK families start with, and the Fairy Figure of Eight is its entry-level layout dressed in pinks and pastels. At £30.95 it is the cheapest set here by almost £10, and it still includes curved and straight track, a bridge, a train with two carriages, a signal, trees, houses, fairy figures and magical toadstools: 35 play pieces in all.

The real strength is what happens next. Bigjigs says its track is compatible with most other major wooden railway brands, naming Brio, Thomas & Friends and IKEA in its own guidance, and it sells a big range of add-ons from crossovers to turntables. Bigjigs itself recommends starting with a simple figure of eight and expanding, and this set is designed to be exactly that starting point. The listing does not break out how many of the 35 pieces are track, so expect a compact layout rather than a sprawling one.

What parents love

• The lowest price here. Around £31 for a complete figure of eight, which leaves budget for an extra track pack.
• Plays nicely with others. Stated compatibility with most major wooden brands makes it the safest base for a growing collection.
• Easy to set up. One parent told us about the standard version of this set: 'Easy to set up and very good quality.' Another said their three-year-old 'will sit for hours at a time to play'.
• A theme some children adore. Fairies and toadstools make it a railway for children who might not pick a traditional train set.

What to know before you buy

• One layout can get repetitive. A parent shared that a single figure of eight got boring after a while, and buying a few extra pieces is what kept their child playing. Budget for an add-on.
• The pink theme is not for everyone. Bigjigs makes a standard-colour version of this set if you prefer.
• Track count not stated. Fewer scenery pieces would not be a bad trade if you want a bigger layout.

Best for

• A first train set on a tighter budget
• Children who love fairies and pastel colours
• Starting a collection you plan to expand
• Families already owning Brio or other wooden track

4. Little Dutch Wooden Train Track Set XL / 10 · Best big box

If you want a single box that turns the playroom floor into a town, Little Dutch's Wooden Train Track Set XL is the one. It contains 113 pieces: a locomotive and wagons, track, bridges, buildings, cars, figures, trees and traffic signs, all in Little Dutch's soft, pastel style. At £67.96 it is the most expensive set here, but it is also by far the biggest by piece count.

This is where the title of this post matters most. Our listing does not say how many of those 113 pieces are track, and a lot of the count is made up of cars, figures, trees and signs. That is great for small-world play, where children set up roads, park cars and move people around, but do not assume it makes a longer railway than the 17-track sets above. Little Dutch also sells add-on sets, such as a zoo extension, so the world can keep growing.

What parents love

• The most to play with. 113 pieces means plenty of scope for small-world games beyond driving the train.
• A coherent look. Everything matches, which appeals to parents who want toys that look good out on the floor.
• Expandable within the range. Extension packs from the same collection add new destinations.
• Countless layouts. Little Dutch designs the track to connect in many combinations, so the town can change every time.

What to know before you buy

• Lots of small pieces. 113 pieces is a lot to tidy away and a lot to keep from younger siblings. Labelled 3+.
• Track count unknown. Big piece count, but we cannot tell you it gives the longest railway.
• No cross-brand claim. The listing does not mention working with other wooden railway brands.

Best for

• Children who love small-world and town play as much as trains
• One big gift from a group of relatives
• Families who like the soft Little Dutch look
• Siblings playing together, with more to share

5. Tender Leaf Treetops Train Set / 10 · Best for small spaces

Tender Leaf's Treetops set is the smallest railway here, and that is its point. Twelve pieces of track make a loop that fits in roughly 41 x 44cm, and the scene is an alpine trail with a bear, a moose and a fox, two grassy pieces, a fir tree and a cosy chalet. The train is an engine with two carriages.

At £40 it is not the cheapest per piece of track, and it will not keep a train-mad four-year-old busy for as long as the bigger figure-of-eight sets. But it is beautifully made in Tender Leaf's contemporary style, a sensible size for a flat or a bedroom, and a lovely introduction for a child who has not shown much interest in trains yet. The animals also make good additions to a bigger layout later.

What parents love

• Small footprint. Fits on a coffee table or a small rug, so it can stay set up instead of being packed away every night.
• Charming design. The alpine animals and chalet look gift-worthy and work just as well as standalone toys.
• Simple to build. Twelve track pieces is a loop a three-year-old can complete on their own.
• Stated standard track width. The retailer describes the track as a standard width that works with other sets.

What to know before you buy

• Limited layouts. Twelve track pieces means a loop rather than a figure of eight, so expect to add track if your child gets hooked.
• Highest cost per track piece. You are paying for design rather than size.
• Small parts. Labelled 3+.

Best for

• Flats and small bedrooms
• A first taste of trains before committing to a big set
• A smaller gift from a grandparent or godparent
• Adding animals and scenery to an existing railway

What about Brio and Hape?

Brio is the name most parents think of first, and Hape makes some popular wooden railways too. Neither is currently sold through the retailers we work with, so we have not given them a card here. The good news is that Bigjigs and Tidlo both state their track is compatible with most major wooden railway brands, so if a grandparent has already bought you a Brio starter, you can build on it with either. If you go with Le Toy Van, Little Dutch or Tender Leaf, check with the retailer before you rely on mixing brands, because their listings do not make that promise.

How to choose

Choose the Le Toy Van Figure of 8 Train Set if you want the most complete set for the money: enough track to make an interesting layout, bridges included, magnetic carriages and a plastic-free build. It is our best all-rounder.

Choose the Tidlo City of London Wooden Train Set if your child is already obsessed with buses, the Tube or London, or if you want a set that will plug straight into Bigjigs track you already own.

Choose the Bigjigs Toys Rail Fairy Figure of Eight Train Set if you want the cheapest way into a railway that will grow, or if you know you will be adding track packs over the next year anyway.

Choose the Little Dutch Wooden Train Track Set XL if your child loves setting up a whole scene with cars, people and buildings, and you want one big box rather than a set plus add-ons.

Choose the Tender Leaf Treetops Train Set if floor space is tight, or if you want a beautiful small first railway to test the waters before buying something bigger.

Add it to your Nest

Building a Christmas or birthday list? Add your favourite train set, and any extra track packs, to your free BubsNest registry so family can see exactly what to buy and nobody turns up with a second figure of eight.