The Santa Express 2025
What's happening this Christmas?
The Santa Express features a trip aboard our heated carriages hauled by one of our steam locomotives*; transporting you to the North Pole!
Enjoy Christmas magic at Clayton West Station either before or after your train ride to the North Pole. Whilst at the North Pole, you will have a one-on-one meeting with the big guy himself inside his cosy grotto, filled with sacks of presents for the good girls & boys. Santa's cheeky elf will be causing Christmas mischief at the Shelley North Pole - will you spot them?!
There'll be a complimentary edible festive treat and drink for everyone plus the opportunity to make up a bag of magical reindeer food to take home with you and write out your Christmas wish to hang on the magical Wishing Tree. You'll also be able to have a Yuletide whizz around the duck pond on our ride-on miniature train at the front of Clayton West Station.
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*subject to availability
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Ticket Prices
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THE SANTA EXPRESS
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The Santa Express will take place on:
Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th November
Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th December
Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th December
AND Friday 19th, Saturday 20th, Sunday 21st, Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th December ​​​​
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The time you book is your DEPARTURE time, NOT your arrival time!
Seats on the train are allocated, if you wish to sit together the only way to guarantee this is to make 1 booking for the whole party. If you wish to add other guests to an existing booking please give us a call on 01484 865727 where can check availability, add on extra guests and take payment
**6pm service will not run on 24th December 2025
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THE SANTA EXPRESS TICKET PRICES
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Adult: Prices start from £25.95
Child (over 12 months): Prices start from £29.95
Infant with gift (under 12 months): £7.95
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Once you receive your tickets, bookings CANNOT be amended, so please
ensure all details are correct before you check out.
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KEY INFORMATION
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Clayton West Station
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Return steam train ride from Clayton West Station to Shelley North Pole. The time you select is your train departure time,* Seats on the train are allocated, if you wish to sit together the only way to guarantee this is to make 1 booking for the whole party.
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Christmas Magic in the Shed. The Shed will NOT be open for playing or seating for any of our Christmas events.
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Unlimited rides on the Clayton Flyer, unlimited use of the jumping pillow, use of the playground, Crazy Golf & pedal cars. Please note the Crazy Golf & Pedal Cars will close at 16:30pm due to planning regulations.
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Unlimited small merry-go-round (subject to availability, the fairground rides are not owned by Whistlestop Valley)
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Gift shop for your last-minute Christmas gifts
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Write a postcard to Santa & post in our Special North Pole Post Box
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Firebox Cafe serving a festive menu, hot food will be served one hour before we close.​​​
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Shelley Station - North Pole
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Return steam train ride to Shelley North Pole
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One-on-one meeting with Santa in his grotto with a gift for the children. Please ensure infants are added onto your booking. All under 12 months will receive a Baby's First Christmas exclusive memento
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Look out for Father Christmas’s cheeky elf making Christmas Mischief – see if you can spot them!
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Reindeer food station, make up a bag of magical reindeer food to take home
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Write your Christmas wish and hang it on the Wishing Tree in Wishing Tree Wood
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Complimentary festive tipple for all adults, please select at the time of booking
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Edible festive treat for all guests over 12mths, please select at the time of booking
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The Turntable ice cream parlour will be open at the North Pole
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Tram platform rides at the North Pole
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Concessions, family tickets, discounts, vouchers, promotions, passes & offers are NOT available/valid on any Christmas experience
All bookings incur a £1.80 booking fee per transaction (not per ticket)
Advance booking is necessary - these events WILL sell out!
Your ticket will be valid for one allocated return journey from Clayton West Station to Shelley North Pole on a reserved, timed service with allocated seating.
The time you select is the time your train will DEPART Clayton West Station - please do not be late as the trains will not wait!
Age categories for gifts:
The age on the ticket dictates the age-appropriate gift given by Santa.
If your child's age is towards the end of a category, we advise moving up to the next age category:
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Under 12 months
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1-2 years old
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3-5 years
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6-8 years
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9-13 years
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14-17 years
THE SANTA EXPRESS includes:
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EVERYTHING listed above in Simply Santa PLUS:
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A 25 minute Christmas Elf Show (drop in, no need to book an allocated slot)
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Tram platform rides at the North Pole
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Hot food kiosk at the North Pole
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Visitors can arrive from 9.30am & stay until 7pm (from 10.25am on 26/27 Nov & until 6pm on 24 Dec)
Bookings MUST be made online and full payment is required at the time of booking.
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We regret that we cannot make bookings over the phone or in person - please do not put our staff in an awkward position by asking us to do so!
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All bookings will incur a £1.80 booking fee per transaction (not per ticket).
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After making your booking, you will receive an email confirmation - please keep it safe as you will need it on the day of your visit. Nearer to the time, you will be sent an email with further details about your Santa experience - keep an eye on your inbox and SPAM folders!
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Please note
Once purchased, tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable unless the event/service is cancelled by Whistlestop Valley.
If an event/service operates as scheduled but a ticket holder is unable to attend/use their tickets for whatever reason, no refund will be given.
Whistlestop Valley will do its best to operate the advertised event/services.
Should the Whistlestop Valley cancel an advertised event/service, tickets may be transferred to an alternative event/service (subject to availability) or a full refund may be given.
Vouchers, offers, concessions, carers discounts, promotions & other discounts are not valid for this event.
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Seats aboard The Santa Express are allocated. Any tickets booked together on one order will be seated together. We will NOT be able to alter this later
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Whilst all tickets booked together on one order will be seated together, you may find some of your party seated in a compartment with other people if you have a booking with an odd number of people
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These Santa Express services (not SEND) feature illuminations and flashing lights at the stations, on the train and in the grotto. Please consider this when making bookings for those with sensitivities to flashing lights
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The last service on Christmas Eve (24th December) features a small fireworks display. Please consider this when making bookings for those with sensitivities to flashing lights and/or loud noises
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Concessions, family tickets, discounts, vouchers, passes & offers are NOT available/valid on these special events
