There are few journeys as magical as a experience on a steam prepare – and whenever you add within the man in crimson, the Santa Steam Categorical is without doubt one of the most memorable experiences at Christmas in London with youngsters.
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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 after we hopped on board, and is anticipated to return once more for 2023.
One among 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 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, quite a lot of folks ready for their very own trains had been snapping pictures of the gleaming black and crimson Sherwood Forester.
One among 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 in-built 1936 and after working all around 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 companies or longer holidays annually.
Welcomed and directed by a string of useful elves, we made our means down the platform to our top quality carriage, adorned with baubles on the home windows, pine cones and festive cups on the white tablecloth, and different seasonal touches to remodel the Nineteen 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 youths to do (adopted nearly instantly by the arrival of an additional little festive present bag for youths 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 pictures.
Following shut behind was Mr Claus, and you possibly can hear the ripple of pleasure via the carriage as the children obtained 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 listing (all the time barely harmful 4 days earlier than Christmas) and posing for extra pictures earlier than transferring 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 obtained 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 youngsters close by got picket whistles (which sounded very very like 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 varied problem ranges.
Within the background, there’s music enjoying all through too, which provides 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 via singing Jingle Bells – out desk appeared to be lacking the music 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 provided 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 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 – we’d all however determined they weren’t coming in any case, when 75 minutes after departure, the whole lot turned up in a single go.
On condition that we had been stuffed with gingerbread, and had had lunch earlier than boarding, it wasn’t actually a difficulty however is value allowing for if you happen to’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 superb countryside.
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 via 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 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 youngsters 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 experience, 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 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 loads happening to maintain them entertained, but it surely’s undoubtedly 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 feel the candy spot might be round age 5-7, but it surely’s cleverly finished in order that there’s one thing to enchantment to all ages, from the presents to the actions.
Is it value upgrading to First Class?
The primary class carriages had a extra conventional, classic really feel to them versus Commonplace Class – each date from the identical period, however Commonplace Class had a extra trendy vibe.
There are additionally fewer folks within the First Class carriages, and little further touches just like the tablecloth on our desk. Each First and Commonplace 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 if you happen to fancy paying the additional, you do get some good bonuses. In case you stick to Commonplace Class, you received’t be lacking out.
Is it value travelling to London for?
Is it value travelling to London only for the Santa Steam Categorical? Nearly definitely not.
Not as a result of it’s not an incredible expertise: if you happen to’re within the metropolis anyway, it’s a stunning choice 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 youngsters 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 nearly definitely going to be prettier on different Santa Steam prepare rides elsewhere within the UK, plus many others have further actions and experiences at the beginning, which you merely can’t do at Victoria station.
Whereas it’s not the most cost effective Christmas day trip for households, the worth of the London prepare experience 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 instructed there could be round half an hour after the journey for passengers to do that, however whereas that seems like so much, 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 if you happen to can look inside earlier than departure, it’s nicely value doing.
No matter you select, it’s also possible to pose with the steam prepare with out a lot ready.
Flip up early: we had been advisable 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 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).
Profit from Victoria’s services. There are bathrooms on board the prepare (though not child altering) but it surely’s value utilizing the bathroom services 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 received’t be hanging across the prepare bathrooms simply as Santa will get to your carriage.
There are additionally an entire string of locations to purchase meals on the station if you happen to’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 Categorical: must 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 newest 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 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 if you happen to 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 bathrooms on board however no baby-changing services. 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 commonplace class, £50 for adults and £40 for youngsters in First Class. Below-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 Commonplace Class, plus mince pies, drinks and candy treats for youths. We had been additionally provided 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 Commonplace Class.
Reward vouchers are additionally out there, costing a minimal of £50, legitimate for a 12 months 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 put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks: any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Foremost picture/Santa on platform courtesy of Steam Goals, all others copyright MummyTravels