Santa Specials
Guests board a decorated festive train at Shackerstone Station for a 90-minute return trip towards Shenton. Depending on the package chosen, visitors travel in an open-style coach or private compartment and enjoy onboard refreshments such as mince pies, wine, sweets, or festive hampers. During the journey, Santa and his elves visit each group to greet children and hand out presents.
What to Expect
Heritage train journey featuring personal visits and gifts from Santa.
Event Details
Duration
A FAQ from previous years says the experience may take longer due to unforeseen delays.
Ages
All ages (under 1s travel free)
Timed Entry
Yes
Organizer
The Shackerstone Railway Society, T/A The Battlefield Line Railway
Food & Drink
Onboard refreshments are served at your seat; Bronze includes sweets for children and a mince pie for each adult, Silver adds children’s sweets and juice plus adult wine and mince pies, and Gold includes those Silver treats plus a festive hamper of sweet and savoury snacks and drinks for adults and children.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families with young children
Vibe
Festive and nostalgic
Energy Level
Low
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
Moderate
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: Three packages: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The Bronze product listing displays £0.00; the page does not explain that displayed amount. Bronze includes Santa’s visit to each group, a small gift for every child, sweets for children, and a complimentary mince pie for every adult. Silver includes a private compartment for 4–8 people, sweets and juice for children, and wine and a mince pie for each adult, as well as Santa’s visit and a present for each child. Gold includes a private compartment for 4–8 people, a Christmas hamper with snacks and drinks for adults and children, and the Silver inclusions. A FAQ identified as being from previous years says under-1s travel free. – Get tickets
- Hours: 11:30, 14:00 and 16:30 each day; on December 23 and 24, 11:30 and 15:00 only.
- Parking: Arrive at least 20 minutes before departure to allow time for parking and walking to the platform. No parking location or cost is stated.
- Accessibility: Due to the design of historic coaches, wheelchair users cannot access standard passenger areas; guests should contact the railway before booking.
- Pets: Dogs are not permitted on Santa Special trains.
Tips & Advice
- Arrive at least 20 minutes before departure to park and walk to the platform, as trains won't wait and missed trains aren't refunded.
- Book your whole party in one transaction so you sit together, since seats are allocated at booking and later bookings can't be guaranteed nearby.
- Book early for your preferred date, as the event usually sells out and date changes can't be guaranteed.
- Bring a card for the at-seat refreshment service, because card payment is preferred on board.
- Eat your mince pie before Santa reaches your compartment if you're on Silver or Gold, because he's very fond of them.
Special Events & Promotions
- Silver and Gold private-compartment packages, with Gold adding a festive hamper waiting in your compartment.
- Only two departures on 23 and 24 December.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the packages?
Bronze is an open-style coach seating up to 64. Santa visits each group, every child gets a small gift and sweets, and adults get a mince pie. Silver gives you a private compartment for 4 to 8 people, with sweets and juice for children and wine and a mince pie for adults. Gold adds a festive hamper of sweet and savoury snacks and drinks waiting in your compartment.
How do we book for a larger group?
Book all your tickets in one transaction so you're seated together. For Silver or Gold, book several compartments; a group of 12, for example, would book two six-person compartments. The railway tries to give you adjoining compartments.
Can we buy refreshments on board?
Yes. There's an at-seat refreshment service while you wait for Santa, and card payment is preferred.
Is it a steam train?
It may be steam or diesel, depending on availability.
Can I change my booking?
Minor changes like passenger details or extra guests carry an admin fee. Date or time changes may be possible, but they can't be guaranteed because the event usually sells out. If your booking can't be moved, it's treated as a cancellation under the refund policy.
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Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.