Early Evening Santa Steam Express

DEPARTS:

London Victoria

Departs: London Victoria at 17:15*

The Santa Steam Express offers families a magical 90‑minute steam‑hauled journey from London. Step aboard our beautifully decorated train and immerse yourself in the festive spirit as the carriages come alive with Christmas cheer.

Throughout the circular trip, guests are entertained by our interactive travelling theatre. Santa’s cheeky elves fill the train with songs, laughter, and enchanting stories from the North Pole, creating joyful moments for all ages and ensuring everyone feels part of the adventure.

Every child will enjoy a personal meeting with Santa and receive a small traditional gift, a festive newsletter and activity sheet, along with a snack and drink during the journey. Grown‑ups are treated too, with freshly brewed tea or coffee served with a mince pie on board.

Blending nostalgic steam travel with heart‑warming festive entertainment, The Santa Steam Express is designed to create memories that last long after the journey ends – perhaps even becoming a cherished family tradition.

What’s included

A magical 90‑minute circular steam‑hauled journey
Allocated seating in your chosen carriage
Festive singalongs and entertainment led by Santa’s cheerful elves
Santa and his elves make their way through the train, meeting every child individually
Children’s inclusions:
- A festive activity sheet
- A sweet treat and bottle of water
- A traditional Christmas gift
Adult refreshments:
- Freshly brewed tea or coffee
- A festive mince pie

Important Information

To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience aboard the Santa Steam Express, please note the following:

Children over the age of 2 require their own seat
If travelling with a child under 2 on your lap, please add this as an extra (£5) during booking so we can ensure they receive a gift from Santa
Toilets are available on board, but our vintage carriages do not have baby changing facilities
This experience is not suitable for single passengers and cannot be booked as such
To add a passenger to an existing booking, please contact our reservations team
Please arrive in good time for departure, as the train cannot wait for latecomers

SOMETHING TO SUIT EVERYONE

Classes of travel

Coach Class

FROM £45

per person

Settle into a beautifully restored 1950s or 1960s carriage, with comfortable seating around tables for four, and enjoy a truly magical Christmas experience. Large picture windows provide the perfect setting for making festive memories with family and friends.

Keep an eye out for Santa and his cheeky helpers as they make their way through the train, stopping to visit every family and deliver a special gift to each child.

Ideal for groups of 4 or 8 guests.

For larger parties of more than 8 passengers, please contact our Booking Team on 01483 209888, who will be happy to assist.

Club Class

FROM £65

per person

Relax into plush, cushioned seating around spacious tables for two or four and soak up the festive charm of a beautifully decorated 1950s or 1960s carriage. Complete with vintage table lamps, traditional curtains and nostalgic touches throughout, it’s the perfect setting for a magical Christmas outing.

Keep an eye out for Santa and his merry elves as they make their way through the train, bringing festive cheer and a special gift for every child.

Ideal for groups of 2, 4 or 6 guests.

For larger parties of more than 8 passengers, please contact our Booking Team on 01483 209888, who will be happy to assist.

Private Compartment

FROM £575

Make your Christmas journey even more memorable with the privacy and comfort of your own exclusive compartment. Seating up to six guests, these beautifully appointed spaces evoke the golden age of rail travel, featuring wood-panelled walls and charming 1950s details.

Children will enjoy a sweet snack and drink, while adults will be treated to a selection of delicious sweet and savoury seasonal delicacies, accompanied by freshly brewed tea or coffee.

During the journey, Santa and his merry elves will pay a personal visit to each compartment, delivering festive cheer and a traditional gift for every child.

£575 per compartment (6 guests maximum)

TRAVEL TIMINGS*

Boarding Stations

The following pick-up and set-down stations are available on this journey

STATION	DEPARTS	RETURNS
London Victoria	17.15	18.45

PLEASE NOTE *

All Timings shown above are approximate and are subject to change.

Scheduled locomotive

Duke of Gloucester

71000

71000, Duke of Gloucester is a British Railways Standard Class 8P built at Crewe works in 1954.

Designed by Robert Riddles to work the heavy express trains between Euston and Scotland, Duke of Gloucester was a prototype for the BR Standard Class 8 express passenger locomotives but was the only one of the class ever to be built.

Previously, Riddle’s Britannia class 7 had been highly successful and the Standard Class 8 was intended to be an enlarged version of the Britannia class, with a three-cylinder layout instead of two worked by the more steam efficient Caprotti valve gear. However, certain design and construction errors meant the locomotive failed to achieve its expected performance in service and in 1962, after only 8 years of operation, Duke of Gloucester was withdrawn for scrap.

Sent to Barry scrapyard it languished until rescued by the Duke of Gloucester Steam Locomotive Trust in 1974. A thirteen year restoration project began, during which time the initial faults were corrected to transform the locomotive into the free steaming, powerful engine it was designed to be.

After being withdrawn from service 2012 the Duke has been through a long extensive overhaul before its return to hauling trips on the mainline in 2024.

Whilst this locomotive is rostered for the steam hauled sections of the trip listed, it cannot be guaranteed and may be substituted for a different engine.

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