The Santa Express & SEND Train
What's happening this Christmas?
The Santa Express feature a trip aboard the heated carriages hauled by one of our steam locomotives*; transporting you to the North Pole!
Enjoy the magical Christmas Elf show before 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.
​
New for 2024
​
​We will also be running a relaxed sensory SEND Santa Express train on the first three services (10:40, 12:00, 13:20) on 23rd & 24th November 2024. Scroll down for more information.
​
*subject to availability
​
​
​
​​
THE SANTA EXPRESS
​
The Santa Express will take place on: FRIDAYS 6th, 13th and 20th December
AND 29th & 30th November 2024, 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th 15th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th December
​
​The Santa Express will depart at 10am*, 11.20am, 12.40pm, 2pm, 3.20pm, 4.40pm & 6pm**
​
The site will be open for passengers at 9:00am (except for Fridays where we will open at 10:20am)
​
The time you book is your DEPARTURE time, NOT your arrival time!
If you wish to be seated with another party, you must book as ONE booking.
**6pm service will not run on 24th December 2024
​
THE SANTA EXPRESS TICKET PRICES
​
Adult: £25.95
Child (over 12 months): £29.95
Infant with gift (under 12 months): £15.95
​
​
Ticket Prices
KEY INFORMATION
​​
THE SANTA EXPRESS (SEND Train)
​
We will also be running a relaxed train for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Our SEND Santa Express will have reduced capacity numbers and no flashing lights to make for a more relaxed sensory experience.
​
​The Santa Express (SEND) will depart at 10am*, 11.20am, 12.40pm on Saturday and 9:20am, 10:40am, 12:00pm on Sunday.
​
The time you book is your DEPARTURE time, NOT your arrival time!
​
​
SEND SANTA EXPRESS TICKET PRICES
​
Adult: £25.95
Child (over 12 months): £29.95
Infant with gift (under 12 months): £15.95
Carer:
​
​
​ THE SANTA EXPRESS includes:
​
Clayton West Station
-
25 minute Christmas Elf Show in The Shed
-
Unlimited use of Whistlestop attractions (jumping pillow, Clayton Flyer etc)
-
Gift shop for your last minute Christmas gifts
-
Firebox Cafe serving a festive menu, hot food will be served one hour before we close.
​
Shelley - North Pole
​
-
Return steam train ride to Shelley North Pole
-
One-on-one meeting with Father Christmas in his grotto with a gift for the children.
-
Look our for Father Christmas’s cheeky elf making Christmas Mischief – see if you can spot them!
-
Reindeer food station, make up a bag of magical reindeer food to take home
-
Write your Christmas wish and hang it on the Wishing Tree in Wishing Tree Wood
-
Complientary festive tipple for all adults, please select at the time of booking
-
Edible festive treat for all guests over 12mths, please select at the time of booking
-
The Turntable ice cream parlour will be open at the North Pole
-
Tram platform rides at the North Pole
​
​​​
​
​
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:
​
-
Under 12 months
-
1-2 years old
-
3-5 years
-
6-9 years
-
10-13 years
-
14-17 years
THE SANTA EXPRESS includes:
-
EVERYTHING listed above in Simply Santa PLUS:
-
A 25 minute Christmas Elf Show (drop in, no need to book an allocated slot)
-
Tram platform rides at the North Pole
-
Hot food kiosk at the North Pole
-
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.
​
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!
​
All bookings will incur a £1.80 booking fee per transaction (not per ticket).
​
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
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.
​
Please note
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Concessions, family tickets, discounts, vouchers, passes & offers are NOT available/valid on these special events
