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Santa Trains 2026

47 Santa specials and Christmas trains on UK heritage railways for 2026, with dates, fares and booking from each railway's own page.

Most Santa specials are steam trains where Father Christmas walks through the carriages with a present for every child. Almost all must be booked, and the weekends before Christmas sell out first.

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Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, OpenFreeMap.

Santa Trains in the South East

NameDatesPriceBooking
The Polar Express Train Ride, Spa Valley Railway
Tunbridge Wells		7 Nov to 30 Dec 2026Adults from £37.95Book ahead
Watercress Line Steam Illuminations
Alresford		27 Nov 2026 to 2 Jan 2027Adults from £37, children £37
Bluebell Railway Santa Specials
Sheffield Park		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026Adults from £35, children £10Book ahead
Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway Santa Specials
New Romney		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026See the official pageBook ahead
Kent & East Sussex Railway Santa Specials
Tenterden		29 Nov to 24 Dec 2026See the official page
Isle of Wight Steam Railway Santa Specials
Havenstreet		12 to 24 Dec 2026Adults from £30, children £30Book ahead
Watercress Line Father Christmas Express
Ropley		12 to 24 Dec 2026Adults from £22.50, children £27.50

Santa Trains in the South West

NameDatesPriceBooking
Santa Train at Longleat
Warminster		7 Nov to 24 Dec 2026Adults £7.50, children £23.50Book ahead
Avon Valley Railway Santa Special
Bitton		22 Nov to 24 Dec 2026Adults from £18, children £18
Dartmouth Steam Railway Train of Lights
Paignton		27 Nov to 30 Dec 2026See the official pageBook ahead
The Polar Express Train Ride, South Devon Railway
Buckfastleigh		27 Nov to 23 Dec 2026Adults from £35.95, children £35.95Book ahead
Dartmouth Steam Railway Train of Lights with Santa
Paignton		28 Nov to 23 Dec 2026See the official pageBook ahead
Father Christmas Yuletide Express
Swanage		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026Adults £29.95Booking advised
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway Santa Specials
Toddington		28 Nov to 23 Dec 2026See the official page
Santa by Steam
Bodmin		5 to 24 Dec 2026See the official page
West Somerset Railway Santa Express from Bishops Lydeard
Bishops Lydeard		5 to 24 Dec 2026Adults from £29.50, children £29.50Book ahead

Santa Trains in the East of England

NameDatesPriceBooking
North Norfolk Railway Norfolk Lights Express
Sheringham		14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027Adults from £21.50Book ahead
The Polar Express Train Ride, Mid-Norfolk Railway
Dereham		14 Nov to 23 Dec 2026Adults from £33.95, children £33.95Book ahead
North Norfolk Railway Santa Specials
Sheringham		21 Nov to 23 Dec 2026Adults from £24.25Book ahead
Epping Ongar Railway Santa's Special Trains
North Weald Bassett		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026See the official pageBook ahead

Santa Trains in the East Midlands

NameDatesPriceBooking
Great Central Railway Santa Express
Loughborough		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026See the official pageBook ahead
Nene Valley Railway Santa Specials
Wansford		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026Adults £30, children £30Book ahead
Battlefield Line Railway Santa Specials
Shackerstone		29 Nov to 24 Dec 2026Adults £20Book ahead
Midland Railway Butterley Santa Specials
Ripley		29 Nov to 24 Dec 2026Adults from £19.95, children £17.95
Great Central Railway Nottingham Santa Steam Train
Ruddington		From 5 December 2026 (closing date not yet published)See the official page
Peak Rail Santa Specials
Rowsley		5 to 24 Dec 2026See the official pageBook ahead

Santa Trains in the West Midlands

NameDatesPriceBooking
The Polar Express Train Ride, Churnet Valley Railway
Froghall		7 Nov to 23 Dec 2026Adults from £28.95Book ahead
The Polar Express Train Ride, Telford Steam Railway
Telford		21 Nov to 23 Dec 2026Adults from £33.99, children £33.99Book ahead
Severn Valley Railway Santa's Steam Specials
Kidderminster		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026See the official page
Severn Valley Railway The Elf Express
Bridgnorth		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026See the official page

Santa Trains in Yorkshire

NameDatesPriceBooking
The Polar Express Train Ride, Wensleydale Railway
Leeming Bar		13 Nov to 23 Dec 2026Adults from £35.95, children £35.95Book ahead
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Elf Explorer
Haworth		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026Adults from £26Book ahead
North Yorkshire Moors Railway Santa Express
Pickering		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026Adults from £29.50

Santa Trains in the North West

NameDatesPriceBooking
East Lancashire Railway Santa Specials
Bury		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026Adults from £25, children £24.50
Ribble Steam Railway Santa Steam Train
Preston		5 to 22 Dec 2026Adults £27.50Book ahead
Tinsel Trains
Haverthwaite		5 to 20 Dec 2026See the official pageBook ahead

Santa Trains in the North East

NameDatesPriceBooking
Tanfield Railway Story Time with Mrs Claus
Gateshead		9 to 16 Dec 2026See the official page

Santa Trains in Scotland

NameDatesPriceBooking
Strathspey Railway Santa's Elf Express
Aviemore		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026See the official pageBook ahead
The Polar Express Train Ride, Caledonian Railway
Brechin		28 Nov to 20 Dec 2026See the official page
Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway Santa Steam Trains
Bo'ness		5 to 24 Dec 2026Adults £28, children £28Book ahead

Santa Trains in Wales

NameDatesPriceBooking
The Polar Express Train Ride, Brecon Mountain Railway
Merthyr Tydfil		13 Nov to 23 Dec 2026Adults from £34.95, children £34.95Sold out
Santa Specials
Llangollen		28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026Adults £32Book ahead
West Somerset Railway Santa Express from Minehead
Minehead		28 Nov 2026See the official pageBook ahead
Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway Santa Steam Train
Blaenavon		5 to 21 Dec 2026See the official pageBook ahead
Gwili Railway Santa Specials
Carmarthen		12 to 22 Dec 2026Adults £30, children £30Book ahead
Welsh Highland Railway Santa Trains
Caernarfon		12 to 23 Dec 2026Adults from £27.75, children £27.75Book ahead

Santa Trains in Northern Ireland

NameDatesPriceBooking
Lapland Express
Downpatrick		28 Nov to 20 Dec 2026Adults £22, children £27Book ahead

Dates Not Yet Announced

More ways to meet Father Christmas: Santa experiences, breakfast with Santa and grottos at Christmas markets.