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Santa Specials

Visit the Dean Forest Railway this Christmas for your chance to ride behind a real steam engine and visit with Santa and his elves! With presents for the children and a miniature for the adults (plus mince pies for everyone!)

Quick Details

  • Duration: 1 hour 20 min.
  • New departures added!: As we had completely sold out of the original departure times during December, we have now added a Heritage Diesel Railcar Santa Special on Wednesday 9th December, and also additional Steam Santa Specials at 17:30 on Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th December.
  • Location: Norchard Station, Forest Road, Lydney, Glos. GL15 4ET
  • Refreshments: Add on a special Christmas Afternoon Tea, with a turkey, cranberry & stuffing sandwich, cream tea (two scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam), a slice of Christmas cake and a hot drink (with options of tea, hot chocolate and a range of coffees), or for something lighter just the Cream Tea with a hot drink, or a Christmas Picnic Box (with a turkey, cranberry & stuffing sandwich, a slice of Christmas cake and a hot drink), which can be collected from Whistle's café at Norchard to take on board the train with you.
  • Drinks: Add a 20cl prosecco to your booking for only £5 (18+ - must be purchased alongside a food option).
  • Food: Our café will be serving light takeaway refreshments throughout the day (please note, the café will close after the 15:40 train departs).
  • Booking: Our Santa Specials are usually a sell-out event, and with this year's restrictions we expect our trains to fill very quickly, so advanced booking is essential. We will also have timeslots to book to visit Santa, and these will be first come first served, so book early to get the time you want!
  • Accessibility: Our stations and steam trains are fully wheelchair accessible. As wheelchair space on board the train is limited, please contact us when booking to check availability and for us to add a note to your booking.
  • Booking Size: 2-8 passengers. Note: all passengers in one booking will be seated together. Please ensure that your booking is compliant with the goverment guidance for visiting a tier 2 area.
  • Dogs: We regret that dogs (except for assistance dogs) are not allowed at our Santa Specials.
  • COVID-19 Secure: Each booking will be seated together, at a secure distance from others on board.
  • Presents: Every child (age 2+) will receive an age appropriate present.
  • Miniatures: Each adult will receive an alcoholic miniature (selection available on the day).
  • Mince Pies: Every passenger will get a warmed mince pie (available to collect when stopped to collect presents and miniatures).

Experience a magical Christmas train ride through the forest and meet Santa and his elves!

Visit the Dean Forest Railway this Christmas for your chance to ride behind a real steam engine and meet Santa and his elves!

To ensure social distancing, Santa himself will now be in his grotto at Norchard Station, where you will visit him before your trip, at your chosen time (please note, each available timeslot will disappear when booked, so the earlier you book the more choice you will have). You will have a few minutes to talk with Santa, and he will give each child a special ticket to take on the train. Once you’ve booked your departure you will be sent a link to book your timeslot to visit santa (times start 75 minutes before departure, and finish approximately 15 minutes before departure).

The train will depart from Norchard Station, heading to Lydney Junction. Once there, Santa’s elves will be waiting on the platform with age-appropriate presents for the children, in exchange for the magical tickets from Santa.

At Lydney Junction we will also have warmed mince pies for everyone to collect, as well as the miniatures for the adults (all included in the ticket price), as well as hot chocolate available to buy.

The train will then depart Lydney Junction and head non-stop through the forest to Parkend Station. There will be a short break at Parkend (where toilet facilities are available if needed), before returning back to Norchard Station to complete your 80-minute journey.

When booking you can add on a special Christmas Afternoon Tea, with a turkey, cranberry & stuffing sandwich, cream tea (two scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam), a slice of Christmas cake and a hot drink (with options of tea, hot chocolate and a range of coffees), or for something lighter just the Cream Tea, or a Christmas Picnic Box (with a turkey, cranberry & stuffing sandwich, a slice of Christmas cake and a hot drink).

Our cafe will be offering seasonal take-away refreshments all day. Our shop is well stocked with toys and gifts for both young and old. Plenty of stocking filler ideas!

Advance booking is required for this event, as seating is limited, in order to comply with current restrictions, and in previous years most trains at full capacity were sold out in advance.

The train will depart from and return to Norchard Station (GL15 4ET).

Please ensure that your booking is compliant with current goverment guidance for visiting a tier 2 area. Full information available here.

Under 2s travel free, but will not receive a present, and will not be included in the passenger count (so for households/support bubbles of more than 8 once under 2s are included they will need to sit on someone’s lap).

Limited wheelchair spaces are available – please call before booking to ensure this space.

Adult Ages 18+
£15
Child Ages 2-17
£15
Under 2 No present included or seat allocated
Free

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