There are few journeys as magical as a trip on a steam prepare – and once you add within the man in pink, the Santa Steam Categorical is likely one of the most memorable experiences at Christmas in London with youngsters. (UPDATED FOR 2026)
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Working for just some days throughout December, it’s the one Santa steam prepare in London: launched in 2021, we hopped on board when it happy its means again into the capital for 2022 and it’s again as soon as once more this 12 months.
Considered one of a rising variety of Santa steam prepare rides across the nation, promising treats, presents, a gathering with Father Christmas and festive music, our Santa Steam Categorical assessment has every thing it is advisable know earlier than you guide.
For extra locations to see Santa in London with youngsters, try my prime picks
Santa Steam Categorical assessment
We may odor the steam prepare earlier than we noticed it – with a steam prepare fanatic for a father, I’ve been on numerous rides over time and there’s one thing immediately recognisable concerning the whiff of coal-fired steam.
We weren’t the one ones excited to identify the engine puffing merrily away at Victoria station both: together with all the opposite households lining as much as board, various folks ready for their very own trains had been snapping photographs of the gleaming black and pink Sherwood Forester.
Considered one of a number of engines used for the Steam Goals Santa Steam Categorical, together with different classic locomotives together with the Mayflower, the Sherwood Forester was inbuilt 1936 and after working everywhere in the nation for years, is now a agency favorite on heritage railways in England and Scotland.
Steam Goals itself was arrange simply over 20 years in the past for a day journey from London to Salisbury, and has now expanded to run greater than 50 journeys throughout the UK, with greater than 20,000 passengers boarding one of many categorical companies or longer holidays annually.
Welcomed and directed by a string of useful elves, we made our means down the platform to our firstclass carriage, embellished with baubles on the home windows, pine cones and festive cups on the white tablecloth, and different seasonal touches to remodel the Seventies carriages.
The primary treats awaited us as we sat down – gingerbread males and cartons of apple juice, plus a enjoyable festive exercise sheet for teenagers to do (adopted nearly instantly by the arrival of an additional little festive reward bag for teenagers with extra gingerbread, juice, raisins and a chocolate Santa).
We’d barely begun tucking in when the prepare began on its journey and Mrs Claus appeared, encouraging us to eat our gingerbread (which had been scrumptious) and posing for photographs.
Following shut behind was Mr Claus, and you would hear the ripple of pleasure by way of the carriage as the children acquired their first look of Santa.
Stopping to talk to every baby, he was very affected person with all of them – together with those that immediately turned shy and quiet for the event – checking in the event that they’d been good, asking what was on their Christmas record (all the time barely harmful 4 days earlier than Christmas) and posing for extra photographs earlier than shifting on.
With a trainload of children to see, there’s not a lot time to hold round, but it surely by no means felt rushed.
Every baby additionally will get a present, handed out by one of many elves accompanying Santa. There have been totally different choices and it did appear to be tailor-made by age – my 10-year-old acquired a set of multicoloured leather-based juggling balls, a close-by seven-year-old acquired a picket tower sport, whereas a number of the youthful youngsters close by got picket whistles (which sounded very very similar to a prepare whistle).
After the flurry of exercise to start out the journey, we then had likelihood to tuck into these gingerbread and make a begin on the exercise sheet, which was additionally designed to work for various ages with numerous issue ranges.
Within the background, there’s music taking part in all through too, which supplies the journey a pleasant festive really feel (though it did appear patchy at instances).
The journey additionally completed with a really transient singalong when elves handed by way of singing Jingle Bells – our desk appeared to be lacking the track sheet, however as everybody just about is aware of the phrases, it wasn’t an issue. It’s extra of a pleasant seasonal flourish than a significant a part of the expertise (though in case your youngsters hate becoming a member of in with issues like that, it’s additionally over fairly rapidly!)
After being provided a cup of tea on the very begin, and getting our massive stash of gingerbread, there was fairly a spot till nearly the tip of the journey – over an hour later – earlier than any of the opposite foods and drinks turned up.
As we had been in First Class, the ticket included mulled wine (for adults) and a sausage roll, together with a mince pie – edit: mulled wine doesn’t appear to be an possibility any extra, though everybody will get a mince pie or candy deal with, with some additional goodies in case you have a personal compartment.
We’d all however determined they weren’t coming in spite of everything, when 75 minutes after departure, every thing turned up in a single go. On condition that we had been filled with gingerbread, and had had lunch earlier than boarding, it wasn’t actually a difficulty however is value taking into consideration in case you’re counting on it.
Which left us loads of time to gaze out of the window on the surroundings: ranging from London Victoria, there’s clearly a restrict to how far you’ll be able to journey within the time, so don’t anticipate superb countryside (or the North Pole).
There are a couple of good moments, particularly as you cross the Thames, and an opportunity to identify Battersea Energy Station, however as you’re going by way of the suburbs of north-west, west and south London, it’s not that scenic and in elements positively city. Though the place else are you able to see the McVitie’s biscuit manufacturing facility out of your window?
And in my daughter’s eyes, she was journeying aboard the Hogwarts Categorical slightly than looking over railway sidings in Willesden.
The decision? For a big serving to of nostalgia, a really laid-back Christmas expertise amongst all of the seasonal stress, and loads of festive magic, there’s no different day trip in London with youngsters that’s fairly like this one.
What age is the Santa Steam Categorical for?
There was fairly a spread of ages on board for our prepare trip, from a child along with her preschooler brother to my 10-year-old, who’s most likely on the higher restrict of those that’ll benefit from the expertise – a final likelihood for a dose of Christmas magic.
In the meantime, the youthful youngsters liked the prospect to see Santa, however at shut to 2 hours on board, it’s a very long time to sit down nonetheless. There’s lots occurring to maintain them entertained, but it surely’s positively value having some extras for the tip of the journey.
You additionally get a letter from Santa as a part of the reserving, which is nice to get youthful youngsters excited, revealing that ‘just a few fortunate kids will get to go to me on my particular steam prepare’ – and that they’ve been ok.
Personally, I believe the candy spot might be round age 5-7, but it surely’s cleverly carried out in order that there’s one thing to attraction to all ages, from the items to the actions.
Is it value upgrading to First Class?
Once we travelled in 2022, the primary class carriages had a extra conventional, classic really feel to them versus Normal Class – each date from the identical period, however Normal Class had a extra fashionable vibe.
These have now been rebranded as Membership Class, whereas you too can get non-public compartments for as much as six folks.
There are additionally fewer folks within the carriages, and little additional touches just like the tablecloth on our desk. All carriages are dressed up with decorations although, so that you’ll get the festive environment wherever you sit.
Our tickets additionally included a few different added extras however you don’t appear to get something additional in Membership Class any extra.
You do get some good bonuses, together with the privateness of your personal compartment, in case you select to guide that possibility (beforehand known as First Class) – with six folks, it really works out at just below £100 per particular person, in case you fancy paying the additional.
Is it value travelling to London for?
Is it value travelling to London only for the Santa Steam Categorical? Virtually actually not.
Not as a result of it’s not a fantastic expertise; in case you’re within the metropolis anyway, it’s a beautiful possibility for a festive day trip.
There are additionally an enormous variety of different issues to do at Christmas in London with youngsters so you’ll be able to mix the Christmas steam prepare journey with seeing the Christmas lights, the Christmas markets, Christmas theatre and ice skating too.
However the countryside is sort of actually going to be prettier on different Santa Steam prepare rides elsewhere within the UK, plus many others have additional actions and experiences initially, which you merely can’t do at Victoria station.
Whereas it’s not the most affordable Christmas day trip for households, the worth of the London prepare trip is on a par with related heritage rail experiences elsewhere.
Santa Steam Categorical ideas
Be ready to queue if you wish to see contained in the engine – we had been advised there could be round half an hour after the journey for passengers to do that, however whereas that appears like rather a lot, it does imply loads of hanging round if many of the prepare desires to do it too.
As we had been in the long run carriage, by the point we’d walked as much as the entrance, lots of people had been already ready so in case you can look inside earlier than departure, it’s properly value doing.
No matter you select, you too can pose with the steam prepare with out a lot ready.
Flip up early: we had been beneficial to get there at 1.20 for a 1.45 departure, and aside from a couple of minutes ready to get onto the platform, it positively didn’t really feel like we had been hanging round, particularly with the stroll right down to our carriage.
Costume up – you don’t get given a Santa hat or something related as a part of the expertise, so it’s enjoyable to carry your personal (or get away the sequins and Christmas jumper).
Take advantage of Victoria’s amenities. There are bathrooms on board the prepare (though not child altering) but it surely’s value utilizing the bathroom amenities on the station earlier than you board.
They’re free to make use of, there’s much less likelihood of queueing, and it additionally signifies that – like one household I noticed – you gained’t be hanging across the prepare bathrooms simply as Santa will get to your carriage.
There are additionally a complete string of locations to purchase meals on the station in case you’re in search of a fast lunch earlier than or after your journey (or shopping for extra meals/snacks to tackle board).
Santa Steam Categorical: must know
There are restricted departures of the Santa Steam Categorical in London, happening on two dates in 2026 – on December 12 and 19, with 4 departures every day.
Examine the exact timings on the Steam Goals web site for extra particulars and to guide on-line.
The steam journey itself is described as lasting 90 minutes, however timings appeared considerably versatile: our journey set off at 1.45pm and acquired again to Victoria at round 3.30pm – we had been additionally suggested to reach at round 1.20pm for the journey so enable at the least two hours, particularly in case you plan to queue to go contained in the engine afterwards too.
Tickets are despatched round 5 days earlier than departure as soon as Steam Goals receives affirmation of ultimate timings from Community Rail, so timings may change barely.
There are bathrooms on board however no baby-changing amenities. Buggies should be saved on the station, the place there’s a separate space put apart.
Tickets value from £45 for adults and kids aged two to 16 in customary class, from £65 in Membership class. There’s additionally an choice to guide a personal compartment for six folks from £575. Beneath-twos are free in the event that they sit in your lap for the journey, though in case you pay the £5 price, they’ll nonetheless get a gift from Santa.
Tickets includ a mince pie and occasional/tea for adults and candy deal with plus water for teenagers, however non-public compartments additionally promise some additional candy and savoury seasonal treats.
For extra of the perfect Santa steam trains within the UK, try my decide of the perfect throughout the nation for households
Disclosure: Our journey on the Santa Steam Categorical Christmas prepare was free for the needs of assessment – all opinions are my very own. This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks: any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Major picture/Santa on platform courtesy of Steam Goals, all others copyright MummyTravels
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