There are few journeys as magical as a journey on a steam practice – and if you add within the man in crimson, the Santa Steam Express is likely one of the most memorable experiences at Christmas in London with youngsters.
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Running for only a few days throughout December, it’s the one Santa steam practice in London: launched in 2021, it happy its means again into the capital for 2022 once we hopped on board, and is anticipated to return once more for 2023.
One of a rising variety of Santa steam practice rides across the nation, promising treats, presents, a gathering with Father Christmas and festive music, our Santa Steam Express evaluate has the whole lot you want to know earlier than you e-book.
Santa Steam Express evaluate
We may scent the steam practice earlier than we noticed it – with a steam practice fanatic for a father, I’ve been on numerous rides through the years 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 individuals ready for their very own trains had been snapping pictures of the gleaming black and crimson Sherwood Forester.
One of a number of engines used for the Steam Dreams Santa Steam Express, together with different classic locomotives together with the Mayflower, the Sherwood Forester was in-built 1936 and after working everywhere in the nation for years, is now a agency favorite on heritage railways in England and Scotland.
Steam Dreams 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 specific companies or longer holidays every year.
Welcomed and directed by a string of useful elves, we made our means down the platform to our first-class carriage, adorned with baubles on the home windows, pine cones and festive cups on the white tablecloth, and different seasonal touches to rework the Nineteen Seventies carriages.
The first 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 virtually 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 practice began on its journey and Mrs Claus appeared, encouraging us to eat our gingerbread (which had been scrumptious) and posing for pictures.
Following shut behind was Mr Claus, and you could possibly hear the ripple of pleasure by means of the carriage as the youngsters obtained their first look of Santa.
Stopping to talk to every youngster, 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 checklist (at all times barely harmful 4 days earlier than Christmas) and posing for extra pictures earlier than shifting on.
With a trainload of youngsters to see, there’s not a lot time to hold round, however it by no means felt rushed.
Each youngster additionally will get a present, handed out by one of many elves accompanying Santa. There had been totally different choices and it did appear to be tailor-made by age – my 10-year-old obtained a set of multicoloured leather-based juggling balls, a close-by seven-year-old acquired a wood tower sport, whereas among the youthful youngsters close by got wood whistles (which sounded very very like a practice whistle).
After the flurry of exercise to start out the journey, we then had probability 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.
In the background, there’s music enjoying 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 means of singing Jingle Bells – out desk appeared to be lacking the tune 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 shortly!)
After being supplied a cup of tea on the very begin, and getting our massive stash of gingerbread, there was fairly a spot till virtually the top of the journey – over an hour later – earlier than any of the opposite food 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 – we’d all however determined they weren’t coming in spite of everything, when 75 minutes after departure, the whole lot turned up in a single go.
Given that we had been filled with gingerbread, and had had lunch earlier than boarding, it wasn’t actually a problem however is value taking into account should you’re counting on it.
Which left us loads of time to gaze out of the window on the surroundings: ranging from Victoria, there’s clearly a restrict to how far you may journey within the time, so don’t anticipate superb countryside.
There are a couple of good moments, particularly as you cross the Thames, and an opportunity to identify Battersea Power Station, however as you’re going by means of the suburbs of north-west, west and south London, it’s not that scenic and in components positively city. Although 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 Express slightly than searching over railway sidings in Willesden.
The verdict? 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 Express for?
There was fairly a variety of ages on board for our practice journey, from a child together 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 probability for a dose of Christmas magic.
Meanwhile, the youthful youngsters beloved the possibility to see Santa, however at virtually two hours on board, it’s a very long time to sit down nonetheless. There’s lots happening to maintain them entertained, however it’s undoubtedly value having some extras for the top 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 ‘only a few lucky children will get to visit me on my special steam train’ – and that they’ve been adequate.
Personally, I believe the candy spot might be round age 5-7, however it’s cleverly accomplished 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?
The first-class carriages had a extra conventional, classic really feel to them versus Standard Class – each date from the identical period, however Standard Class had a extra fashionable vibe.
There are additionally fewer individuals within the First Class carriages, and little further touches just like the tablecloth on our desk. Both First and Standard Class carriages are dressed up with decorations although, so that you’ll get the festive ambiance wherever you sit.
First Class additionally has a few different added extras just like the mulled wine for adults and sausage rolls (though we didn’t find yourself consuming/consuming ours), so should you fancy paying the additional, you do get some good bonuses. If you stick to Standard Class, you gained’t be lacking out.
Is it value travelling to London for?
Is it value travelling to London only for the Santa Steam Express? Almost actually not.
Not as a result of it’s not an amazing expertise: should you’re within the metropolis anyway, it’s a stunning possibility for a festive day trip, and the one Santa steam practice in London.
There are additionally an enormous variety of different issues to do at Christmas in London with youngsters so you may mix the journey with seeing the Christmas lights, the Christmas markets, Christmas theatre and ice skating too.
But the countryside is nearly actually going to be prettier on different Santa Steam practice rides elsewhere within the UK, plus many others have further actions and experiences in the beginning, which you merely can’t do at Victoria station.
While it’s not the most affordable Christmas day trip for households, the worth of the London practice journey is on a par with related heritage rail experiences elsewhere.
Santa Steam Express suggestions
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 feels like rather a lot, it does imply loads of hanging round if many of the practice desires to do it too.
As we had been ultimately carriage, by the point we’d walked as much as the entrance, lots of people had been already ready so should you can look inside earlier than departure, it’s effectively value doing.
Whatever you select, you can too pose with the steam practice with out a lot ready.
Turn up early: we had been really useful 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 undoubtedly didn’t really feel like we had been hanging round, particularly with the stroll right down to our carriage.
Dress up – you don’t get given a Santa hat or something related as a part of the expertise, so it’s enjoyable to deliver your personal (or escape the sequins and Christmas jumper).
Make essentially the most of Victoria’s amenities. There are bathrooms on board the practice (though not child altering) however it’s value utilizing the bathroom amenities on the station earlier than you board.
They’re free to make use of, there’s much less probability of queueing, and it additionally signifies that – like one household I noticed – you gained’t be hanging across the practice bathrooms simply as Santa will get to your carriage.
There are additionally an entire string of locations to purchase meals on the station should you’re on the lookout for a fast lunch earlier than or after your journey (or shopping for extra meals/snacks to tackle board).
Santa Steam Express: have to know
There are restricted departures of the Santa Steam Express in London, going down on 4 dates in 2022 – on December 14, 16, 19 and 21, with three departures every day.
2023 dates are tbc – examine the most recent data from Steam Dreams for particulars and to e-book.
The steam journey itself is described as lasting 1 hour quarter-hour, however timings are considerably versatile: our journey set off at 1.45pm and obtained again to Victoria at round 3.30pm – we had been additionally suggested to reach at round 1.20pm for the journey so permit at the very least two hours, particularly should 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 Dreams receives affirmation of ultimate timings from Network Rail.
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 in 2022 value £40 per grownup and £30 per youngster aged two to 16 in customary class, £50 for adults and £40 for kids in First Class. Under-twos are free in the event that they sit in your lap for the journey.
First Class tickets embrace mulled wine for adults, with tea and occasional in Standard Class, plus mince pies, drinks and candy treats for teenagers. We had been additionally supplied sausage rolls.
There’s additionally the choice to sit down at a two-person desk in First Class (for a further charge of £30) in addition to four-person tables in each First and Standard Class.
Gift vouchers are additionally obtainable, costing a minimal of £50, legitimate for a 12 months from the date of buy.
Disclosure: Our journey on the Santa Steam Express was free for the needs of evaluate – all opinions are my very own. This put up comprises affiliate hyperlinks: any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Main picture/Santa on platform courtesy of Steam Dreams, all others copyright MummyTravels