There are few journeys as magical as a journey on a steam prepare – and whenever you add within the man in pink, the Santa Steam Categorical is likely one of the most memorable experiences at Christmas in London with children.
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Working for just some days throughout December, it’s the one Santa steam prepare in London: launched in 2021, it happy its means again into the capital for 2022 once we hopped on board, and is predicted to return once more for 2023.
One in every 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 overview has the whole lot it’s essential to know earlier than you e-book.
Santa Steam Categorical overview
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 have been snapping images of the gleaming black and pink Sherwood Forester.
One in every 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 specific providers or longer holidays every year.
Welcomed and directed by a string of useful elves, we made our means down the platform to our top notch carriage, adorned 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 present 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 have been scrumptious) and posing for images.
Following shut behind was Mr Claus, and you could possibly hear the ripple of pleasure by means of the carriage as the youngsters bought their first look of Santa.
Stopping to speak 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 images earlier than shifting on.
With a trainload of youngsters to see, there’s not a lot time to hold round, nevertheless it by no means felt rushed.
Every baby additionally will get a present, handed out by one of many elves accompanying Santa. There have been completely different choices and it did appear to be tailor-made by age – my 10-year-old bought a set of multicoloured leather-based juggling balls, a close-by seven-year-old obtained a picket tower sport, whereas a number of the youthful children close by got picket whistles (which sounded very very like a prepare whistle).
After the flurry of exercise to begin 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 problem ranges.
Within the background, there’s music taking part in all through too, which provides the journey a pleasant festive really feel (though it did appear patchy at occasions).
The journey additionally completed with a really temporary singalong when elves handed by means of singing Jingle Bells – out desk gave the impression 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 children hate becoming a member of in with issues like that, it’s additionally over fairly rapidly!)
After being supplied a cup of tea on the very begin, and getting our giant 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 food and drinks turned up.
As we have 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.
On condition that we have been stuffed with gingerbread, and had had lunch earlier than boarding, it wasn’t actually a problem however is price taking into consideration when 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 possibly can journey within the time, so don’t count on wonderful countryside.
There are just a few good moments, particularly as you cross the Thames, and an opportunity to identify Battersea Energy 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. 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 fairly than searching 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 children that’s fairly like this one.
What age is the Santa Steam Categorical for?
There was fairly a variety of ages on board for our prepare journey, from a child together with her preschooler brother to my 10-year-old, who’s in all probability on the higher restrict of those that’ll benefit from the expertise – a final probability for a dose of Christmas magic.
In the meantime, the youthful children beloved the possibility to see Santa, however at nearly two hours on board, it’s a very long time to take a seat nonetheless. There’s a lot occurring to maintain them entertained, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly price 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 children excited, revealing that ‘only some fortunate youngsters will get to go to me on my particular steam prepare’ – and that they’ve been adequate.
Personally, I feel the candy spot might be round age 5-7, nevertheless it’s cleverly completed in order that there’s one thing to enchantment to all ages, from the items to the actions.
Is it price upgrading to First Class?
The primary class carriages had a extra conventional, classic really feel to them versus Customary Class – each date from the identical period, however Customary Class had a extra trendy vibe.
There are additionally fewer folks within the First Class carriages, and little additional touches just like the tablecloth on our desk. Each First and Customary Class carriages are dressed up with decorations although, so that you’ll get the festive environment 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 when you fancy paying the additional, you do get some good bonuses. For those who persist with Customary Class, you gained’t be lacking out.
Is it price travelling to London for?
Is it price travelling to London only for the Santa Steam Categorical? Nearly actually not.
Not as a result of it’s not a terrific expertise: when you’re within the metropolis anyway, it’s a beautiful possibility for a festive day trip, and the one Santa steam prepare in London.
There are additionally an enormous variety of different issues to do at Christmas in London with children so you possibly can mix the 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 cost effective Christmas day trip for households, the value of the London prepare journey is on a par with related heritage rail experiences elsewhere.
Santa Steam Categorical suggestions
Be ready to queue if you wish to see contained in the engine – we have been instructed there can be round half an hour after the journey for passengers to do that, however whereas that seems like quite a bit, it does imply loads of hanging round if many of the prepare desires to do it too.
As we have been in the long run carriage, by the point we’d walked as much as the entrance, lots of people have been already ready so when you can look inside earlier than departure, it’s nicely price doing.
No matter you select, you can too pose with the steam prepare with out a lot ready.
Flip up early: we have been really useful to get there at 1.20 for a 1.45 departure, and other than a couple of minutes ready to get onto the platform, it undoubtedly didn’t really feel like we have 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 convey your personal (or escape the sequins and Christmas jumper).
Profit from Victoria’s amenities. There are bogs on board the prepare (though not child altering) nevertheless it’s price 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 prepare bogs simply as Santa will get to your carriage.
There are additionally an entire string of locations to purchase meals on the station when you’re searching for a fast lunch earlier than or after your journey (or shopping for extra meals/snacks to tackle board).
Santa Steam Categorical: have to know
There are restricted departures of the Santa Steam Categorical in London, happening on 4 dates in 2022 – on December 14, 16, 19 and 21, with three departures every day.
2023 dates are tbc – verify the most recent data from Steam Goals 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 bought again to Victoria at round 3.30pm – we have been additionally suggested to reach at round 1.20pm for the journey so permit no less than two hours, particularly when 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.
There are bogs on board however no baby-changing amenities. Buggies have to be saved on the station, the place there’s a separate space put apart.
Tickets in 2022 value £40 per grownup and £30 per baby aged two to 16 in normal class, £50 for adults and £40 for youngsters in First Class. Beneath-twos are free in the event that they sit in your lap for the journey.
First Class tickets embody mulled wine for adults, with tea and occasional in Customary Class, plus mince pies, drinks and candy treats for teenagers. We have been additionally supplied sausage rolls.
There’s additionally the choice to take a seat at a two-person desk in First Class (for a further payment of £30) in addition to four-person tables in each First and Customary Class.
Reward vouchers are additionally accessible, costing a minimal of £50, legitimate for a yr from the date of buy.
Disclosure: Our journey on the Santa Steam Categorical was free for the needs of overview – all opinions are my very own. This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks: any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Principal picture/Santa on platform courtesy of Steam Goals, all others copyright MummyTravels
