watch out, monster in the house

Have just been looking at days out ideas for my son, he is 2 and a half and train and bus crazy, it helps that theres a very busy train track right at the bottom of my garden! So I have been hearing about 'Thomas Land' this magical place where everything is about Thomas the Tank Engine, now my child has a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to days out, he totally hates the Zoo, even London Zoo with the amazing rainforest's bit,we have attempted Zoo 6 times since he was born and every time we end up going home in silence, appalled and shocked by the level of tantrum he has thrown/(he is usually such an easy going child!) he hates pretty much everything about Christmas and 2 years on the trot has screamed and cried his was around 'Winter Wonderland' whilst I try and drown out with mulled wine! (for me, not him!) and don't get me started on swimming! I pretty sure our swimming attempts has aged me several decades. So days out are difficult, but he is interested in everything and I want to encourage different experiences, but having looked at the cost of Thomas Land at Drayton Manor I fear days out are very much stuck on the feeding the ducks/soft play/library side of things!.....back to the drawing board, or Ikea as he loves that!