Bluebell Railway: Our reporter finally experiences one of Sussex's most-loved attractions

Visit Brighton’s Palace Pier, take a walk on the Downs, burn your feet on the pebbles on one of our picturesque beaches, take a ride on the Bluebell Railway...

Except, I’m almost ashamed to admit I’ve never been on the Bluebell Railway. Well, until last weekend that is.

My brother suggested a family day out riding the rails, and seeing as my kids love any excuse to be on planes, trains and automobiles, it seemed like a great time to finally visit after four decades of living in our county.

A family ticket is on the pricey side, at £59 for the four of us in advance (or £64 on the day, if you’re a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type), but you can ‘hop’ on and off the trains all day. Top tip: when booking, try to choose a day where there are seven trains running, rather than three like we did, or your options for ‘hopping’ will be limited.

There are four stations on the route, preserved in different periods of history including Victorian, 1930s and 1950s. I loved all the old posters and signage, and the fact the staff were dressed in period costume.

It really was like stepping back in time. I felt like an extra in Downton Abbey all day.

Aside from all the fun of travelling inside a vintage steam train, parents will be pleased to know a fun sheet is provided for kids to fill out while they’re onboard.

Because, much as your children might be excited to do something, we all know there’s a chance one, or even both of them might be due a turn at being ‘ungrateful child’ on any given day. You know the drill. They tell you they’re bored after five minutes, and generally just whine for snacks/drinks/toys/something else. Basically, the day out you’ve provided is never enough (never, never, never enouuuuuggghhhh – Greatest Showman fans might get me!) on a day like that.

Then you give them the lecture you remember receiving at times when you were a child, which goes a little something like this: “Do you know how much we’ve spent on this day out? You should be lucky to go on this train, some children don’t get to. Why do you have to ruin the day? Look at all the other children who are behaving so nicely, why can’t you be like that?”