There are few journeys as magical as a journey on a steam practice – and once you add within the man in pink, the Santa Steam Specific is among 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 practice in London: launched in 2021, it satisfied its method again into the capital for 2022 after we hopped on board, and is predicted to return once more for 2023.
Considered 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 Specific assessment has every little thing it is advisable to know earlier than you guide.
Santa Steam Specific assessment
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, quite a lot of individuals ready for their very own trains had been snapping images of the gleaming black and pink Sherwood Forester.
Considered one of a number of engines used for the Steam Desires Santa Steam Specific, 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 Desires 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 providers or longer holidays every year.
Welcomed and directed by a string of useful elves, we made our method down the platform to our top notch carriage, embellished with baubles on the home windows, pine cones and festive cups on the white tablecloth, and different seasonal touches to rework 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 youths to do (adopted nearly instantly by the arrival of an additional little festive reward bag for youths 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 images.
Following shut behind was Mr Claus, and you could possibly hear the ripple of pleasure by way of the carriage as the children obtained their first look of Santa.
Stopping to speak 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 (all the time barely harmful 4 days earlier than Christmas) and posing for extra images 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 youngster 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 recreation, whereas a number of the youthful youngsters close by got picket whistles (which sounded very very similar to a practice 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 supplies the journey a pleasant festive really feel (though it did appear patchy at occasions).
The journey additionally completed with a really transient singalong when elves handed by way 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 serious 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 niche till nearly 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 any case, when 75 minutes after departure, every little thing turned up in a single go.
Provided that we had been stuffed with gingerbread, and had had lunch earlier than boarding, it wasn’t actually a problem however is price taking into consideration 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 possibly can journey within the time, so don’t anticipate superb countryside.
There are a number 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 unit out of your window?
And in my daughter’s eyes, she was journeying aboard the Hogwarts Specific relatively 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 time out in London with youngsters that’s fairly like this one.
What age is the Santa Steam Specific for?
There was fairly a variety of ages on board for our practice journey, 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 probability for a dose of Christmas magic.
In the meantime, the youthful youngsters liked the prospect to see Santa, however at nearly two hours on board, it’s a very long time to take a seat nonetheless. There’s loads occurring to maintain them entertained, but it surely’s undoubtedly price 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 ‘just a few fortunate kids will get to go to me on my particular steam practice’ – and that they’ve been ok.
Personally, I believe the candy spot might be round age 5-7, but it surely’s cleverly performed in order that there’s one thing to attraction to all ages, from the presents to the actions.
Is it price 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 fashionable vibe.
There are additionally fewer individuals 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 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 should you fancy paying the additional, you do get some good bonuses. Should you keep on with Commonplace 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 Specific? Virtually actually not.
Not as a result of it’s not an ideal expertise: should you’re within the metropolis anyway, it’s a beautiful possibility for a festive time out, 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 possibly can mix the journey with seeing the Christmas lights, the Christmas markets, Christmas theatre and ice skating too.
However 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 initially, which you merely can’t do at Victoria station.
Whereas it’s not the most cost effective Christmas time out for households, the worth of the London practice journey is on a par with comparable heritage rail experiences elsewhere.
Santa Steam Specific suggestions
Be ready to queue if you wish to see contained in the engine – we had been advised there can be round half an hour after the journey for passengers to do that, however whereas that seems like rather a lot, it does imply loads of hanging round if a lot of the practice needs 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 price doing.
No matter you select, you can too pose with the steam practice 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 undoubtedly didn’t really feel like we had been hanging round, particularly with the stroll right down to our carriage.
Gown up – you don’t get given a Santa hat or something comparable as a part of the expertise, so it’s enjoyable to carry your individual (or escape the sequins and Christmas jumper).
Profit from Victoria’s services. There are bathrooms on board the practice (though not child altering) but it surely’s price utilizing the bathroom services on the station earlier than you board.
They’re free to make use of, there’s much less probability of queueing, and it additionally implies 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 Specific: have to know
There are restricted departures of the Santa Steam Specific 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 – verify the newest data from Steam Desires for particulars and to guide.
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 not less than 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 Desires receives affirmation of ultimate timings from Community Rail.
There are bathrooms on board however no baby-changing services. Buggies should be saved on the station, the place there’s a separate space put apart.
Tickets in 2022 price £40 per grownup and £30 per youngster 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 embrace mulled wine for adults, with tea and occasional in Commonplace Class, plus mince pies, drinks and candy treats for youths. We had 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 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 Specific was free for the needs of assessment – 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
Primary picture/Santa on platform courtesy of Steam Desires, all others copyright MummyTravels
