On the East Somerset Railway, the entertainment starts before Santa does: a balloon modeller works through the carriages making animals, hats and swords while the steam engine heads for the South Pole. You then come back to Cranmore to meet Santa himself. This guide sits alongside our map of Santa steam trains around Britain.
The short version
- Dates: 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 December 2026
- Departs Cranmore station near Shepton Mallet, BA4 4QP
- Prices and times: shown only on the railway's Digitickets booking page
- Booking: online in advance via Digitickets
- Tip: mulled wine, soft drinks and mince pies are served at the station, so you need not pack a full picnic
The East Somerset Santa Specials at a glance
- Railway
- East Somerset Railway
- Departs from
- Cranmore station, Cranmore, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4QP
- 2026 dates
- Weekends of 5 and 6, 12 and 13, and 19 and 20 December, then Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 December 2026 (no train on Monday 21)
- Duration
- A 30-minute steam ride to the South Pole, then back to Cranmore to visit Santa
- Booking
- Book online through the East Somerset Railway's Digitickets page, where departure times and prices are shown. Phone: 01749 880417.
- Checked
2027 ticket alert
Santa trains sell out fast
The best dates are often gone weeks before December. Leave your email and we will write once, the moment 2027 bookings open in South West England.
The train story to read before you boardRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a little corgi’s first train ride to see his grandparents, hand-painted in real watercolour. For ages 0 to 5.
Balloons, the South Pole and Santa at Cranmore
Starting at Cranmore station
The Santa Specials leave from Cranmore station in the Mendip countryside near Shepton Mallet, postcode BA4 4QP. The event page does not list departure times; you choose your train on the Digitickets booking system, where the timetable for each date appears. Note the time you booked, and plan to arrive with enough slack to park, use the toilets and settle small children before boarding.
Grown-ups have something to look forward to at the station too. The railway lists festive refreshments at Cranmore, with mulled wine for adults, soft drinks, biscuits and mince pies. The page does not say whether these are served before or after the train, so ask at the station when you arrive and plan your snack timing around the answer.
If your children have never been near a steam locomotive, give them a moment on the platform to get used to the hiss and the smell before boarding, and point out the driver and fireman in the cab. A few minutes of watching usually turns nerves into excitement, especially for toddlers on their very first train.
The balloon modeller on board
This is the East Somerset's signature touch. During the ride, a balloon modeller works through the train making balloon animals, hats and swords for the children. It turns the journey into a show, and children who are nervous about meeting Santa often relax once they have a balloon dog in their hands. Be warned that balloon swords are popular with older brothers, and that latex balloons can pop, which may startle very young or noise-sensitive children.
Every child also receives a goody bag, with colouring sheets, crayons and a family Santa quiz. The quiz is designed for everyone to join in, so it is a good way to keep parents and grandparents involved too.
To the South Pole and back
The steam train runs for about 30 minutes to what the railway calls the South Pole, a fun twist on the usual North Pole story that older children usually find hilarious. It is a short enough ride for toddlers to manage, and long enough to enjoy the views of the Somerset countryside and the sound of the engine.
The railway places the visit to Santa after the ride, once you are back at Cranmore, and every child receives a gift from Santa. That gives the morning a clear shape: train first, balloons and quiz on board, then the big meeting at the end. Have the camera ready for the moment the gift is handed over, and remember that a child holding a balloon sword and a present will need a free adult hand to carry everything else. For a longer trip on the other side of the county, compare it with the Santa Express through the Quantock Hills.
Choosing a Cranmore date for babies, toddlers and big kids
Babies on the South Pole train
The 30-minute ride is one of the shortest Santa trips in our UK list, which makes it a gentle first train for a baby. The page does not give a free age or a baby fare, so check the ticket types on Digitickets before choosing. Morning departures generally suit babies better than late afternoon ones, but since times are only on the booking system, look at the full list for your date.
Preschoolers and the South Pole story
This is the age group the balloon modeller and the South Pole story suit best. Short attention spans are not a problem on a 30-minute ride, and the visit to Santa at Cranmore afterwards gives a calm end point. If your child gets anxious with costumed characters, the balloons on the train are a soft introduction before the main meeting. Talk through the plan on the drive: a train to the South Pole, a balloon, then Santa. Preschoolers cope far better with a new experience when they know what comes next, and the three clear stages of this trip make that easy to explain.
Older children on the South Pole train
Children of seven or eight may be more interested in the steam engine than in the balloons. The family Santa quiz in the goody bag gives them a role, and a later departure means you finish as it gets dark, which feels more festive. The final week runs every day from 19 to 24 December except Monday 21, so there are weekday choices on 22 and 23 December once schools have broken up.
Budget and weather on the South Pole train
We cannot quote prices because the railway publishes them only on the booking system. Open the Digitickets page for your preferred date and compare ticket types there before you commit. The railway lists refreshments at the station, so ask when booking whether they are included in the fare. Most of the day is on the train or at the station, but bring coats for the platform: December in the Mendips can be colder and damper than in Bath or Bristol. Christmas Eve is the date most families want, so if it matters to you, look at that one first. If you also want to visit Bath Christmas Market, which closes on 13 December, the first two weekends are the ones to book.
From Homer in 1858 to David Shepherd's Cranmore
The East Somerset Railway was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1856 and opened on 9 November 1858 between Witham and Shepton Mallet. According to the railway's own history page, the first train was hauled by an engine named Homer. On 1 March 1862 the line was extended to Wells, making it 13 miles 65 chains (22.2 km) long.
The line was not built to the standard gauge used today. In 1874 it was converted to standard gauge, and the company, which had run short of money, was taken over by the Great Western Railway, which bought it on 2 December 1874.
Passenger trains ended in the early 1960s. Wikipedia gives the last passenger service as 7 September 1963, and the railway's own page says the main line closed to business in July 1964, a year after passengers were last carried, with freight continuing for a few more years. Part of the route later carried bitumen trains, which finally stopped in 1985.
The 2018 season marked a special anniversary: on 9 November 2018 the railway celebrated the line's 160th birthday, counting from that first train in 1858. Not many family days out in Somerset can point to a starting date that precise, and it gives children a fun sum to do on the platform: how old will the line be next November?
- 1856An Act of Parliament authorises the East Somerset Railway
- 1858The line opens from Witham to Shepton Mallet on 9 November
- 1862The extension to Wells opens on 1 March
- 1874The line is converted to standard gauge and bought by the Great Western Railway
- 1963Passenger services end on 7 September
- 1974The heritage railway officially opens to the public on 1 August, according to the railway
- 1985The heritage line is extended to Mendip Vale
The heritage railway exists because of the wildlife artist David Shepherd. He was looking for a home for two steam engines he had acquired, Black Prince and The Green Knight, and found it at Cranmore, where he bought the station and a section of track in the early 1970s. Restoration began in 1972 and the engine shed and workshop at Cranmore were built in 1973. The sources differ on the public opening: the railway's history page says the heritage line officially opened on 1 August 1974, while Wikipedia gives 1975, so we give the railway's date and note the difference. The line was extended to Mendip Vale in 1985 and the preserved section is about 1 mile 63 chains (2.9 km) long.
A version for a six-year-old: a man who loved painting animals also loved steam engines, so he bought an old railway station to keep his engines safe, and now his little railway takes children to the South Pole to see Santa.
Around Cranmore and the Mendips in December
Cranmore is a small village in the Mendips, a few miles east of Shepton Mallet and within reach of Wells, Frome and Bath. The railway is the main attraction in the village itself, so most families combine the Santa trip with a visit to one of those towns.
With only a 30-minute ride plus the visit to Santa, the East Somerset trip leaves plenty of the day free. That is useful for families travelling a long way: you can build in a proper lunch stop, a playground break or a visit to relatives without the children flagging. It also means the trip works for grandparents who would rather not spend a whole day on their feet.
Bath Christmas Market runs from 26 November to 13 December 2026, according to Radio Bath, and Bath is about 40 minutes' drive from Cranmore. That makes the first two Santa weekends, 5 and 6 or 12 and 13 December, the ones that pair with the market. Bath gets very busy on market weekends, so a morning train and an afternoon in the city is usually easier than the other way round, and park and ride is worth looking into before you go.
Bristol is about 50 minutes away by car. Our Christmas ideas for families in Bristol collects events and family days out in and around the city. We have not found a Christmas market in Wells or Shepton Mallet with confirmed 2026 dates yet, so check the local council and tourism listings closer to the time. Wells is close enough for a lunch stop after an early train, and Frome is a similar distance in the other direction for families coming from Wiltshire. Because the Santa visit itself is short, a December day can easily include the railway in the morning and a wander in one of these towns in the afternoon.
If your children are still keen on steam after Cranmore, the North Pole trains at Toddington in the Cotswolds make an interesting comparison: one railway goes north, the other south.
East Somerset Santa notes for parents
Times and prices
Neither is shown on the event page. Open the Digitickets booking page for your chosen date to see the departures and ticket types, or call the railway on 01749 880417. Ask at the same time whether babies need their own ticket and whether there is a free age.
Pushchairs at Cranmore
The Santa page does not say whether pushchairs can travel on the train or where to leave them. Ask the railway before you go, and bring a sling as a backup for babies and young toddlers.
Accessibility at Cranmore
Accessibility information is on a separate page of the railway's website, at eastsomersetrailway.com/disabled-access. Read it before booking and call the railway if you need a wheelchair space or step-free boarding on a particular train.
Toilets and heating on the South Pole train
The event page does not describe toilets, baby changing or carriage heating. Ask when you book, and dress children in layers they can remove on the train and put back on for the platform.
Parking and arrival at Cranmore
The station address is Cranmore, Shepton Mallet, BA4 4QP. Parking is not described on the Santa page, so check the railway's visitor information or ask on the phone. Rural Somerset roads can be slow in winter, so leave plenty of time.
Refreshments
Mulled wine, soft drinks, biscuits and mince pies are listed as station refreshments. Ask whether alternatives are available for children with allergies, and bring your own snacks if in doubt. If you are driving home, keep the mulled wine for a passenger and ask for a soft drink instead.
Goody bags and gifts
Every child gets a goody bag and a gift from Santa. If you are bringing a child who is not on the booking, such as a visiting cousin, check with the railway that they have a ticket, so nobody is left without a present.
Balloons and allergies
Because the balloon modeller is part of the ride, families with a latex allergy should contact the railway before booking to ask what balloons are used and whether a different carriage can be arranged.
Dogs on the South Pole train
The Santa page does not set out a dog policy. If you hoped to bring the family dog, ask the railway first.
Questions worth asking on the phone
Because so much is held on the booking system rather than the event page, a quick call to 01749 880417 can save a wasted trip. Useful questions are: which departure times are left on your date, whether under-twos need a ticket, where to leave a pushchair, which carriage suits a wheelchair, and whether the refreshments are served before or after the train.
A South Pole bag for Cranmore
The trip is short and refreshments are provided, so the bag can be small but should cope with balloons and crayons.
- A large carrier bag to get balloon animals home without popping them
- A baby carrier, in case pushchairs cannot board at Cranmore
- A pencil case for the colouring sheets and crayons from the goody bag
- Warm hats and gloves for the platform at Cranmore
- Ear defenders for children who jump at a popping balloon
- A clean top in the car, in case of mince pie crumbs and mulled wine spills
- Your Digitickets confirmation with the departure time
The East Somerset Santa Specials in figures
- 9 Santa dates in December 2026
- 30 minutes: the ride to the South Pole
- 1858: the year the line opened from Witham to Shepton Mallet
- 13 miles 65 chains (22.2 km): the original line once it reached Wells in 1862
- 1874: the year the railway was converted to standard gauge
- About 1 mile 63 chains (2.9 km): the preserved line today
- 2 engines, Black Prince and The Green Knight, that brought David Shepherd to Cranmore
Getting to Cranmore from Bath and Bristol
Cranmore is a rural station east of Shepton Mallet, best reached by car; drive times below are approximate without traffic.
| From | Drive time (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Bath | about 40 minutes |
| Bristol | about 50 minutes |
More Santa trains in the West Country
If Cranmore is full or your dates do not fit, these are the closest Santa trains in our UK guide.
- West Somerset Railway Santa Express from Bishops Lydeard Bishops Lydeard, South West England
- Santa Express to Winchcombe's North Pole in the Cotswolds Toddington, South West England
- Watercress Line Father Christmas Express at Ropley Ropley, South East England
More for Christmas train families
East Somerset Railway Santa Specials: questions from parents
When do the East Somerset Railway Santa Specials run in 2026?
They run on 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 December 2026.
How much does the East Somerset Railway Santa train cost?
The Santa page carries no fares; they are shown on the railway's Digitickets booking system for each date.
How do I book the Cranmore Santa Special?
Book online in advance through the East Somerset Railway's Digitickets page, or call the railway on 01749 880417.
Do babies travel free on the East Somerset Santa Specials?
The event page does not state a free age. Check the ticket types on Digitickets or ask the railway.
How long is the East Somerset Railway Santa trip?
The steam ride to the South Pole takes about 30 minutes, followed by your visit to Santa back at Cranmore.
Where does the East Somerset Santa train leave from?
It leaves from Cranmore station, Cranmore, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4QP.
Is there parking at Cranmore for the Santa Specials?
Parking is not described on the Santa page, so check the railway's visitor information or call 01749 880417.
Can I take a pushchair on the East Somerset Santa train?
The Cranmore Santa page is silent on pushchairs. Ask the railway before you travel and bring a sling as a backup.
Are there toilets at Cranmore station?
Toilets are not mentioned on the Santa page. Ask the railway about toilets and baby changing when you book.
Is the East Somerset Santa train heated?
Carriage heating is not covered on the Cranmore page. Dress children in layers for the train and the platform.
Does every child get a gift on the East Somerset Santa Special?
Yes. Every child gets a gift from Santa and a goody bag with colouring sheets, crayons and a family Santa quiz.
What refreshments are there on the Cranmore Santa Special?
The railway lists mulled wine, soft drinks, biscuits and mince pies at the station.
What does the balloon modeller do on the East Somerset Santa train?
A balloon modeller travels on the train making balloon animals, hats and swords for the children.
Which East Somerset Santa departure is best with a baby?
Departure times are on Digitickets; an early slot usually suits babies best, and the short 30-minute ride is gentle for a first trip.
What if it rains on the East Somerset Santa day?
The page says nothing about bad-weather changes, so call 01749 880417 if the forecast is wild. Bring coats for the platform, as the Mendips can be cold and damp in December.
When did the East Somerset Railway first open?
The original line opened from Witham to Shepton Mallet on 9 November 1858, and reached Wells on 1 March 1862.
Who started the heritage East Somerset Railway at Cranmore?
The wildlife artist David Shepherd, who needed a home for his engines Black Prince and The Green Knight and bought Cranmore station in the early 1970s.
Is there a Christmas market near Cranmore in 2026?
Bath Christmas Market runs from 26 November to 13 December 2026, about 40 minutes' drive from Cranmore.
Are there other Santa trains near Bath and Bristol besides Cranmore?
Our UK Santa trains hub lists them, including the West Somerset Railway at Bishops Lydeard, the GWSR at Toddington and the Watercress Line at Ropley.
Can we bring a dog on the East Somerset Railway Santa Special?
The Santa page does not give a dog policy, so ask the railway before you travel.
2027 ticket alert
Santa trains sell out fast
The best dates are often gone weeks before December. Leave your email and we will write once, the moment 2027 bookings open in South West England.
Sources
- East Somerset Railway: official page (eastsomersetrailway.com) (opens in a new tab)
- East Somerset Railway (Wikipedia) (opens in a new tab)
- A brief history (East Somerset Railway) (opens in a new tab)
- Bath Christmas 2026 dates (Radio Bath) (opens in a new tab)
Checked on the railway’s official pages on 4 November 2026. This train is run by East Somerset Railway. Rally Takes the Train is a children’s picture book; we are not partners with or affiliated to the railway. Book only on the official site and check dates and fares before you travel.
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