Santa Claus is coming to town — but this year he’s giving the reindeer a rest and arriving by train. And you can join him: all across the UK between October and December there are special festive journeys planned, including magical hours gliding to the “north pole”, a chance to lose yourself in Christmas lights or to cosy up and sip hot chocolate on a heritage railway. These are the best Christmas train rides in the UK.
Main photo: the Wensleydale Railway’s Polar Express Train Ride
1. Santa Special, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Yorkshire
For fun and games with Father Christmas and his helpers try a trip on a heritage train. Passengers can choose between hour-long round trips from Pickering to Levisham or Grosmont to Goathland. Under-15s on the “nice list” will receive a soft toy and a Christmas backpack. Carriages are steam-heated but passengers are advised to wrap up warm and bring blankets to stay extra cosy on their Yorkshire voyage. Visitors will love the NYMR Light Spectacular in October and November — a family-friendly bash with DJ-mixed music and a compere on an LED-covered train. Passengers receive flashing wristbands that sync with the onboard lightshow and music.
Dates Saturdays and Sundays from November 25 to December 24
Price £30 adults and children
nymr.co.uk
2. Santa Special, Bluebell Railway, West Sussex
This route from East Grinstead to the village of Horsted Keynes makes for a very merry Christmas day out for adults and older kids with plenty of Christmas music, chocolate coins and festive spirit from the drinks trolley. You’ll travel over the Imberhorne Viaduct, through the 668m-long Sharpthorne Tunnel and take in the beautiful West Sussex countryside. Receive a gift from Santa and snap some pics before boarding the train for the return leg. Bluebell Railway also runs a spectacular service called SteamLights, an illuminated train departing from Sheffield Park, which passes Christmas light installations including glowing woodland scenes and colourful projections.
Dates Saturdays and Sundays from November 25 to December 24, and Tuesday, December 19 to Friday, December 22
Price from £33 adults, £20 children
bluebell-railway.com
3. Train of Lights, Dartmouth Steam Railway, Devon
This steam train goes from Queen’s Park Station in Paignton along the Devon coast to Kingswear — one of the UK’s most charming seaside stretches. The locomotive, which was the UK’s first steam train of lights, is covered in thousands of illuminations inside and out. It travels through an enchanted forest, where you can spot unicorns, polar bears and festive gnomes among the trees.
Dates November 24 to December 30
Price £29 adults, £20 children, £95 families
dartmouthrailriver.co.uk
4. Santa Special, Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Isle of Wight
A steam train ride and an audience with Santa — what more could you want? Here, you can take a ten-mile round trip in a family compartment from various stations to the village of Havenstreet, two miles from Ryde. You’ll then head to Santa’s North Pole Station for entertainment and a visit with St Nick. Drop letters to Santa in a special post box, ride the carousel or buy Christmas presents at the pop-up shop. Children receive a gift, chocolate bar and juice while adults get a mince pie and mulled wine. The railway also runs Mince Pie Specials on December 26 and 27 for those who fancy a Boxing Day walk in Wootton, a village between Ryde and Newport.
Dates Saturdays and Sundays in December plus Thursday and Friday, December 21 and 22
Price from £19.50 adults, £14.95 five to 17-year-olds, £9.95 two to four-year-olds
iwsteamrailway.co.uk
5. The Polar Express Train Ride, Churnet Valley Railway, Staffordshire
All aboard at Kingsley and Froghall Station to enjoy an immersive experience for fans of The Polar Express. You and your family join the train so familiar to fans of the film; you can meet its characters, hear its music and watch reenacted scenes. Have your ticket ready for the conductor and prepare to sing along with the cast as you travel to the “North Pole”. Later you’ll meet Father Christmas and receive a gift.
Dates selected Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 11 to December 23
Price from £22.95 adults and children
churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk
6. The Polar Express Train Ride, Wensleydale Railway, Yorkshire
Passengers are encouraged to arrive in their finest Christmas PJs and dressing gowns to match the outfit worn by the hero of The Polar Express. This trip features songs and familiar lines from the much-loved animated film. The hour-long experience, which departs and returns from Leeming Bar station in Northallerton, includes hot chocolate, a cookie and a chat with Father Christmas. Children will also receive the same gift as the boy in the film — a silver sleigh bell.
Dates selected Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 10 to December 23
Price from £31.95 adults and children
yorkshiredalesthepolarexpressride.com
7. Santa Express, Great Central Railway, Leicestershire
This train runs from Loughborough Central to Leicester North and back. Children will love the games, puzzles and colouring in their Christmas activity packs, plus gifts, goody bags, drinks, treats and the chance to meet Father Christmas. Parents will love the Irish cream liqueur, mince pies and at-seat bar service on this 90-minute journey. Great Central Railway also runs Christmas murder mysteries, festive afternoon teas, Christmas and Boxing Day lunch and a New Year’s Eve dinner.
Dates selected weekends from November 25 to December 24, and Thursday and Friday, December 21 and 22
Prices £24 adults and children over one, £8 under-ones
gcrailway.co.uk
8. Santa Steam Trains, Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, Falkirk
This ten-mile trip takes visitors from Bo’ness to Manuel and back on a heritage diesel locomotive, passing waterfalls and woodland, and riding over the Avon Viaduct. It’s pretty special on board too, with a visit from Santa, festive singers and a magician. The journey lasts an hour but allow extra time to ride on the miniature train and visit the museum and model railway at Bo’ness train station.
Those in Edinburgh can also join The Polar Express Train Ride from Waverley Station. Expect songs from the film, the first gift of Christmas from Santa, hot chocolate and cookies. Tickets for this cost from £49.95 and the trip runs on selected dates from November 30 to December 22.
Dates weekends from December 2 to 24
Price £21.50 adults and children aged three to 15 years, £20 18-month to two-year-olds
bkrailway.digitickets.co.uk/tickets
9. Santa Express, Cholsey and Wallingford Railway, Oxfordshire
You’ll receive mince pies and soft drinks from the Christmas market before joining Santa and his elves for an hour-long round trip from Wallingford station, which is run by volunteers. Travel aboard a steam locomotive called Islebrook, built in 1926 by the Sentinel Waggon Company for the Great Western Railway. One of the line’s claims to fame is that it used to stable the Royal Train; another is that it passes St Mary’s Church, where Agatha Christie is buried.
Dates weekends from November 25 to December 23
Prices £20 adults and children over two, £5 under-twos
cholsey-wallingford-railway.com
10. Santa’s Polar Express, Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, Northern Ireland
This is a train ride through hotel grounds, not a heritage train. Take Santa’s Polar Express to his workshop where you can explore a winter wonderland and read stories with Mrs Claus. Children can also write letters to Santa, meet the man himself and receive a photo and gift. The experience lasts an hour and a half, and festive dining can also be booked.
Dates December 9 to 21 (except Thursday, December 14)
Prices £27.50 adults, £32.50 children, £11.50 under-ones
marineandlawn.com/slievedonard
11. The Polar Express Tram Ride, Seaton Tramway, Devon
If you prefer electricity to steam and want the opportunity to spot wildlife including otters, kingfishers and sandpipers then you’ll love Seaton Tramway, a two-and-a-half-hour journey that runs through Seaton Wetlands near Lyme Regis. The Polar Express ride references the film but has its own take, including Christmas carols and, due to the history of the trams, a dose of Seventies nostalgia. Families will meet Santa at the “North Pole”, see shimmering lights, drink hot chocolate and munch cookies. Prefer the train to the tram? The Polar Express Train Ride at South Devon Railway (southdevonrailwaythepolarexpressride.com) costs from £33.95 and runs on selected dates from November 24 to December 23 in Buckfastleigh.
Dates selected dates from November 24 to December 24
Price from £24.95 adults and children
tram.co.uk
12. Festive Carol Train, Talyllyn Railway, Wales
Singers from local music school Totaleigh Music will lead steam train passengers in carols from Ding Dong! Merrily on High to Deck the Halls. This one-off return trip in December departs at 7pm from Tywyn Wharf and travels to Rhydyronen. The evening includes mulled wine and mince pies. The railway also runs a Storytime with Santa service and a Santa Special, which includes performances by the Abergynolwyn Silver Band as you board (December 16, 17 and 23).
Date Saturday, December 16
Prices £10 adults, £5 children
talyllyn.co.uk
13. The Norfolk Lights Express, North Norfolk
See the Norfolk countryside lit up in rainbow colours during this 11-mile journey from Sheringham to Holt and back. Onboard lights sparkle as the scenery outside shines. Passengers listen to a Christmas story that incorporates the illuminated dioramas that the train passes by. There’s also plenty of music and photo opps. The railway also runs Santa Special steam trains from November 25 to December 23, which feature balloon modellers, mulled cider and an audience with Santa.
Date Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 10 to December 10, plus December 12 to 23 and December 27 to January 1
Price from £22.50 adults and children over three
nnrailway.co.uk
