# Santa Trains 2026

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

Source: https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/

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.

## Santa Trains in the South East

| Name | Dates | Price | Booking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [The Polar Express Train Ride, Spa Valley Railway](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/polar-express-spa-valley-railway/) Tunbridge Wells | 7 Nov to 30 Dec 2026 | Adults from £37.95 | Book ahead |
| [Watercress Line Steam Illuminations](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/steam-illuminations-watercress-line/) Alresford | 27 Nov 2026 to 2 Jan 2027 | Adults from £37, children £37 |  |
| [Bluebell Railway Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/bluebell-railway/) Sheffield Park | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults from £35, children £10 | Book ahead |
| [Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/romney-hythe-dymchurch-railway/) New Romney | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | See the official page | Book ahead |
| [Kent & East Sussex Railway Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/kent-east-sussex-railway/) Tenterden | 29 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | See the official page |  |
| [Isle of Wight Steam Railway Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/isle-of-wight-steam-railway/) Havenstreet | 12 to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults from £30, children £30 | Book ahead |
| [Watercress Line Father Christmas Express](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/watercress-line/) Ropley | 12 to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults from £22.50, children £27.50 |  |

## Santa Trains in the South West

| Name | Dates | Price | Booking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Santa Train at Longleat](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/longleat/) Warminster | 7 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults £7.50, children £23.50 | Book ahead |
| [Avon Valley Railway Santa Special](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/avon-valley-railway/) Bitton | 22 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults from £18, children £18 |  |
| [Dartmouth Steam Railway Train of Lights](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/dartmouth-train-of-lights/) Paignton | 27 Nov to 30 Dec 2026 | See the official page | Book ahead |
| [The Polar Express Train Ride, South Devon Railway](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/polar-express-south-devon-railway/) Buckfastleigh | 27 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 | Adults from £35.95, children £35.95 | Book ahead |
| [Dartmouth Steam Railway Train of Lights with Santa](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/dartmouth-steam-railway/) Paignton | 28 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 | See the official page | Book ahead |
| [Father Christmas Yuletide Express](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/swanage-railway/) Swanage | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults £29.95 | Booking advised |
| [Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/gloucestershire-warwickshire-railway/) Toddington | 28 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 | See the official page |  |
| [Santa by Steam](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/bodmin-wenford-railway/) Bodmin | 5 to 24 Dec 2026 | See the official page |  |
| [West Somerset Railway Santa Express from Bishops Lydeard](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/west-somerset-railway/) Bishops Lydeard | 5 to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults from £29.50, children £29.50 | Book ahead |

## Santa Trains in the East of England

| Name | Dates | Price | Booking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [North Norfolk Railway Norfolk Lights Express](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/norfolk-lights-express-north-norfolk-railway/) Sheringham | 14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 | Adults from £21.50 | Book ahead |
| [The Polar Express Train Ride, Mid-Norfolk Railway](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/polar-express-mid-norfolk-railway/) Dereham | 14 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 | Adults from £33.95, children £33.95 | Book ahead |
| [North Norfolk Railway Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/north-norfolk-railway/) Sheringham | 21 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 | Adults from £24.25 | Book ahead |
| [Epping Ongar Railway Santa's Special Trains](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/epping-ongar-railway/) North Weald Bassett | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | See the official page | Book ahead |

## Santa Trains in the East Midlands

| Name | Dates | Price | Booking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Great Central Railway Santa Express](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/great-central-railway/) Loughborough | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | See the official page | Book ahead |
| [Nene Valley Railway Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/nene-valley-railway/) Wansford | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults £30, children £30 | Book ahead |
| [Battlefield Line Railway Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/battlefield-line/) Shackerstone | 29 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults £20 | Book ahead |
| [Midland Railway Butterley Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/midland-railway-butterley/) Ripley | 29 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults from £19.95, children £17.95 |  |
| [Great Central Railway Nottingham Santa Steam Train](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/great-central-railway-nottingham/) Ruddington | From 5 December 2026 (closing date not yet published) | See the official page |  |
| [Peak Rail Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/peak-rail/) Rowsley | 5 to 24 Dec 2026 | See the official page | Book ahead |

## Santa Trains in the West Midlands

| Name | Dates | Price | Booking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [The Polar Express Train Ride, Churnet Valley Railway](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/polar-express-churnet-valley-railway/) Froghall | 7 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 | Adults from £28.95 | Book ahead |
| [The Polar Express Train Ride, Telford Steam Railway](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/polar-express-telford-steam-railway/) Telford | 21 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 | Adults from £33.99, children £33.99 | Book ahead |
| [Severn Valley Railway Santa's Steam Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/severn-valley-railway/) Kidderminster | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | See the official page |  |
| [Severn Valley Railway The Elf Express](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/severn-valley-railway-elf-express/) Bridgnorth | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | See the official page |  |

## Santa Trains in Yorkshire

| Name | Dates | Price | Booking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [The Polar Express Train Ride, Wensleydale Railway](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/polar-express-wensleydale-railway/) Leeming Bar | 13 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 | Adults from £35.95, children £35.95 | Book ahead |
| [Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Elf Explorer](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/keighley-worth-valley-railway/) Haworth | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults from £26 | Book ahead |
| [North Yorkshire Moors Railway Santa Express](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/north-yorkshire-moors-railway/) Pickering | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults from £29.50 |  |

## Santa Trains in the North West

| Name | Dates | Price | Booking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [East Lancashire Railway Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/east-lancashire-railway/) Bury | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults from £25, children £24.50 |  |
| [Ribble Steam Railway Santa Steam Train](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/ribble-steam-railway/) Preston | 5 to 22 Dec 2026 | Adults £27.50 | Book ahead |
| [Tinsel Trains](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/lakeside-haverthwaite-railway/) Haverthwaite | 5 to 20 Dec 2026 | See the official page | Book ahead |

## Santa Trains in the North East

| Name | Dates | Price | Booking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Tanfield Railway Story Time with Mrs Claus](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/tanfield-railway/) Gateshead | 9 to 16 Dec 2026 | See the official page |  |

## Santa Trains in Scotland

| Name | Dates | Price | Booking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Strathspey Railway Santa's Elf Express](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/strathspey-railway/) Aviemore | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | See the official page | Book ahead |
| [The Polar Express Train Ride, Caledonian Railway](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/polar-express-caledonian-railway/) Brechin | 28 Nov to 20 Dec 2026 | See the official page |  |
| [Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway Santa Steam Trains](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/boness-kinneil-railway/) Bo'ness | 5 to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults £28, children £28 | Book ahead |

## Santa Trains in Wales

| Name | Dates | Price | Booking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [The Polar Express Train Ride, Brecon Mountain Railway](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/polar-express-brecon-mountain-railway/) Merthyr Tydfil | 13 Nov to 23 Dec 2026 | Adults from £34.95, children £34.95 | Sold out |
| [Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/llangollen-railway/) Llangollen | 28 Nov to 24 Dec 2026 | Adults £32 | Book ahead |
| [West Somerset Railway Santa Express from Minehead](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/west-somerset-railway-minehead/) Minehead | 28 Nov 2026 | See the official page | Book ahead |
| [Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway Santa Steam Train](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/pontypool-blaenavon-railway/) Blaenavon | 5 to 21 Dec 2026 | See the official page | Book ahead |
| [Gwili Railway Santa Specials](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/gwili-railway/) Carmarthen | 12 to 22 Dec 2026 | Adults £30, children £30 | Book ahead |
| [Welsh Highland Railway Santa Trains](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/welsh-highland-railway/) Caernarfon | 12 to 23 Dec 2026 | Adults from £27.75, children £27.75 | Book ahead |

## Santa Trains in Northern Ireland

| Name | Dates | Price | Booking |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Lapland Express](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa-trains/downpatrick-county-down-railway/) Downpatrick | 28 Nov to 20 Dec 2026 | Adults £22, children £27 | Book ahead |

## Dates Not Yet Announced

- [Dean Forest Railway Santa Specials](https://deanforestrailway.co.uk/experiences/santa-specials/) Lydney
- [Santa trains at Chasewater Railway](https://www.chasewaterrailway.co.uk/events/) Brownhills
- [THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride at Embsay & Bolton Abbey](https://thepolarexpresstrainride.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk/) Embsay

More ways to meet Father Christmas: [Santa experiences](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santa/), [breakfast with Santa](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/breakfast-with-santa/) and [grottos at Christmas markets](https://bestchristmasmarkets.co.uk/santas-grotto/).