On its way south, the Great Central Railway's Santa Express pauses on Swithland Viaduct before rolling on to a 25-minute grotto visit at Leicester North. It leaves from Loughborough Central behind a steam engine and returns with a heritage diesel, on dates from 28 November to 24 December 2026. Planning more than one trip this winter? Our round-up of British Santa trains helps you compare.
The short version
- Season: 28 November to 24 December 2026; the railway does not list individual dates on its Santa page
- Departure: Loughborough Central (LE11 1RW); departure times are shown when you book
- Fares: from £27.50, with a Premium Private Compartment for up to eight also offered
- Booking: online for a fixed slot, no refunds, transfers only with more than 14 days' notice
- Tip: the stop at Leicester North includes a grotto photo with Santa and a drink in the tearoom
The Great Central Santa Express at a glance
- Railway
- Great Central Railway
- Departs from
- Loughborough Central, LE11 1RW, Leicestershire (return trip with a stop at Leicester North)
- 2026 dates
- Season from 28 November to 24 December 2026. Individual dates are not listed on the railway's Santa page; check availability in the booking system.
- Fares
- From £27.50 (no age bands listed). Premium Private Compartment for up to eight: price not given on the Santa page.
- Booking
- Online through the Great Central Railway booking site. Tickets are valid for the booked slot only, with no refunds. Transfers with more than 14 days' notice cost £5 per person plus any fare difference. Booking office 01509 632323. On 4 November 2026 the GCR had no sold-out notice on its Santa page.
- 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 East Midlands.
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.
From Loughborough Central over Swithland Viaduct to Santa's grotto
Arriving at Loughborough Central
The Santa Express starts at Loughborough Central, the Great Central Railway's main station, at postcode LE11 1RW. The railway asks families to arrive 30 minutes before departure. There is free on-street parking nearby, though on busy December weekends it is sensible to leave a little extra time to find a space and walk to the station with children.
Your ticket is for one particular slot, and the railway is firm that it is not valid on another train. The Santa page does not list departure times, so check your exact time on the booking confirmation and plan the journey from home around it.
Use the half hour before departure to sort coats, bags and toilet trips, and to let children have a good look at the train on the platform. A calm start makes a big difference when there is a grotto visit to come.
Songs, stories and a steam engine out of Loughborough
The outward journey is hauled by steam. On board, Santa, his elves and Mrs Claus bring songs and stories through the train, and children receive a Christmas Activity Pack along with festive drinks and treats. Adults are served an Irish Cream liqueur and a mince pie.
Santa makes a personal visit and gives a gift to each child. The railway has not said what the gift is for 2026, so keep it a surprise rather than promising anything specific.
A pause on Swithland Viaduct
One moment sets this ride apart: the train pauses on Swithland Viaduct. It is a chance to look out of the window, point out the view to children and take a photo. This is a double-track main line, the only one of its kind in heritage preservation in Britain according to the railway, so the line feels broad and open compared with many branch line Santa trains.
Twenty-five minutes at Leicester North
At Leicester North the train stops for about 25 minutes. During this time children visit the grotto for a photo with Santa, families get a drink in the tearoom, and there is time to spend with the elves. Having a break off the train halfway is a real help for small children who find sitting still difficult.
Twenty-five minutes passes quickly with a grotto, a drink and the elves, so have a plan: grotto first while children are fresh, then the tearoom, then a few minutes with the elves before the whistle.
After the stop, everyone boards again for the return to Loughborough, this time behind a heritage diesel. Children who love engines get two different types in one trip, which is a nice talking point on the way home. The railway's Santa page does not give a total journey time, so ask the booking office if you need to know how long to allow.
The Premium Private Compartment
For a larger family or a group of friends, the Premium Private Compartment takes up to eight people. It adds extended time with Santa, hot chocolates and a keepsake. The price is not shown on the Santa page, so check it when you book.
Choosing your Great Central Santa Express slot
With a baby on the Great Central
The Santa page does not list age bands, a free age or a lap fare, and prices start from £27.50 without saying who that covers. Before booking, call the booking office on 01509 632323 and ask whether a baby needs a ticket and whether a seat is allocated. An earlier slot usually suits babies best, and the 25-minute stop at Leicester North gives you a chance to feed or change them off the train.
If your baby is still feeding often, the stop at Leicester North is your best window, as the tearoom gives you somewhere warm to sit.
Two to six: two meetings with Santa
Young children get the most from the halfway stop: they see Santa twice, once on board and once in the grotto, and have a break from their seats in between. The songs and stories from the elves and Mrs Claus are pitched at this age. A late-morning or early-afternoon slot avoids the very early start and the dark, cold platform at the end of the day.
For a child meeting Santa for the first time, the grotto can be the gentler of the two meetings. The railway does not say which meeting comes first, so if your child is nervous, let them watch other children greet Santa before their own turn.
Older children on the Great Central
Older children often enjoy the engineering side: a steam engine on the way out, a heritage diesel on the way back, and a stop on a viaduct. If you have a train fan, let them look up the double track before the trip and count the trains you pass. A later slot gives a dusk return, which can feel more exciting for children who are getting too old for grottos.
Budget, rules and weather
Prices start at £27.50, and the railway says nothing about which dates are cheaper, so compare options in the booking system. Because there are no refunds and changes need more than 14 days' notice at £5 per person, pick a slot you are sure you can make. The grotto stop at Leicester North means stepping off the train, so pack coats, as the platform will be cold in December.
For a group of six to eight, compare the per-person price with the Premium Private Compartment. The compartment adds extended time with Santa, hot chocolates and a keepsake, which can be good value for two families travelling together.
The last main line to London, saved by volunteers in Leicestershire
The track the Santa Express runs on was once part of the last main line built from the north to London. The Great Central Railway company was formed in 1897, and its London Extension officially opened to passengers and freight in 1899.
Its life as a through route was short. After the Beeching report of 1963, the line closed as a through route in 1966, apart from the London section. The stretch between Nottingham and Rugby carried on until 1969, when it closed to commercial traffic.
Preservation began almost immediately. The Main Line Preservation Group, later known as the Main Line Steam Trust, was formed in 1969. In 1970 it received a lease on Loughborough Central, and in 1971 the line was bought for £75,000 and given charitable status. On 30 September 1973 the locomotive No. 5231 hauled the first passenger train since closure, running to Quorn and back, and the GCR reopened on 23 March 1974. Great Central Railway (1976) PLC was formed in 1976.
Leicester North, where the Santa Express stops for the grotto, opened in the early 1990s. On 1 June 2000 double track opened between Loughborough and Rothley, which is what lets the railway describe itself as a double-track main line. The Swithland project was completed in May 2012.
The railway's double track is more than a curiosity. It means trains can pass each other, and during galas several trains can be on the move at once, giving visitors a rare idea of what a busy main line looked like in the age of steam. For the Santa Express, it gives the journey a wide, open feel through the Leicestershire countryside.
Today the railway runs for 8 miles from Loughborough to Leicester North, on standard-gauge track, with four stations in use. During galas up to six trains can run at the same time. Work is also under way to link the line with the Nottingham section across the Loughborough Gap, including a new bridge over the Midland Main Line completed in 2017.
- 1897The Great Central Railway company is formed
- 1899The London Extension opens to passengers and freight
- 1966The line closes as a through route, apart from the London section
- 1969The Main Line Preservation Group is formed
- 1971The line is bought for £75,000 and gains charitable status
- 1973No. 5231 hauls the first passenger train since closure on 30 September
- 1974The GCR reopens on 23 March
- 2000Double track opens between Loughborough and Rothley on 1 June
- 2012The Swithland project is completed in May
- 2017A new bridge over the Midland Main Line is completed in the Loughborough Gap
For a six-year-old: this was once a big, fast railway all the way to London, and when it closed, people bought a piece of it so steam trains could keep running, and now Santa rides along it every Christmas.
Loughborough, Leicester and Nottingham in December
Loughborough sits between Leicester and Nottingham, so you can easily turn the Santa Express into part of a bigger day out. Leicester is about 25 minutes away by car and Nottingham and Derby about 30 minutes.
Nottingham's Winter Wonderland is listed by JustPark for 12 November to 31 December 2026, closed on Christmas Day. It is a good option if you want lights and stalls after an earlier train. Check Nottingham's official listings before you travel, as we have not seen the city council's 2026 page. We could not find confirmed 2026 dates for a Christmas market in Leicester or Loughborough, so check local listings.
Loughborough itself is a market and university town with plenty of places for lunch, so ask the railway or check a map for the walking route from Loughborough Central if you want to eat in town. If you are making a day of it, put the Santa Express first, when children are at their most excited, and leave a city visit for the afternoon when the lights come on.
If you want to keep the train theme going, remember that the Great Central Railway also has a station at Quorn and Woodhouse and another at Rothley along the line. On non-Santa days these make good stops for a winter walk. For more ideas around the city, our guide to Christmas outings with children in Leicester brings together events in the area.
Families who want to compare other Santa trains nearby could look at the Midland Railway Butterley Santa Specials with a puppet show in Derbyshire, or the Peak Rail Santa Special from Rowsley South further into the Peak District.
Parent notes for the Loughborough Santa Express
Pushchairs at Loughborough Central
The Santa page does not say whether pushchairs can be taken on board or left at the station. Because you step off at Leicester North for the grotto, ask the booking office whether you can keep a buggy with you or whether a carrier would be easier.
If you do bring a pushchair, a light, quick-folding one is easiest when you leave and rejoin the train at Leicester North.
Toilets and food on the Great Central
The Santa page does not mention toilets on the train. There is a tearoom at Leicester North, where the drink included in your trip is served. Ask the railway about toilets and baby changing at Loughborough Central and Leicester North if you need them.
The adults' Irish Cream liqueur is served on board, so if the driver would prefer something else, ask the railway what alternatives there are. If anyone in your family has allergies, ask the booking office about the children's festive treats before you travel.
Heating and clothing on the Great Central
The page does not describe how the carriages are heated. Dress children in layers, with coats for the grotto stop and the platforms at both ends.
Parking and arrival at Loughborough Central
There is free on-street parking near Loughborough Central, and the car park at Leicester North is free. Arrive 30 minutes before your slot. If you are coming from Leicester, ask the railway whether you can join the train at Leicester North instead, as the Santa page does not say.
On-street spaces can be in demand on December weekends, especially for midday slots. Plan an extra ten minutes for parking, and carry change or a parking app in case you end up in a paid car park nearby.
Tickets, changes and refunds
Tickets are valid only for the slot you book. There are no refunds. You can transfer to another slot only with more than 14 days' notice, for £5 per person plus any difference in price. Make sure your plans are settled before you book.
Accessibility and dogs at Loughborough Central
Wheelchair spaces can be reserved online when you book. Dogs are not allowed on the Great Central Santa Express unless they are assistance dogs. If you need help with access at Loughborough Central or Leicester North, call the booking office on 01509 632323 before your visit.
If someone in your group uses a wheelchair, reserve the space with your other tickets.
Weather at Loughborough Central
Leicestershire winters are usually damp and grey rather than snowy, but frost is common. The stop on Swithland Viaduct and the grotto visit mean children will want to look out, so clean glasses and a warm hat make a difference.
If heavy snow or ice is forecast, call the booking office before setting off to check the train is running, as the no-refund rule makes it worth knowing early.
Packing for a Great Central Santa Express
A short list built around the steam and diesel trip with a grotto stop halfway.
- Your booking confirmation showing the exact slot
- Coats and hats for the 25-minute stop at Leicester North
- A phone or camera for Swithland Viaduct and the grotto photo
- Pencils for the Christmas Activity Pack
- A baby carrier, in case pushchairs are awkward at the grotto
- Spare wipes for festive treats on board
- A bag for the gift and the activity pack
- A small snack for the drive home, as the trip includes treats but not a meal
The Great Central Santa Express in numbers
- 1899: the year the London Extension opened
- 1974: the year the preserved railway reopened
- 8 miles: from Loughborough to Leicester North
- 4: stations in use on the line
- 25 minutes: the grotto stop at Leicester North
- 8: people in a Premium Private Compartment
- £75,000: what the line cost to buy in 1971
Driving to Loughborough from Leicester, Nottingham and Derby
Allow about 25 minutes from Leicester and about 30 minutes from Nottingham or Derby, without traffic. Park on the street near Loughborough Central and arrive 30 minutes before your slot.
| From | Drive time (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Leicester | about 25 minutes |
| Nottingham | about 30 minutes |
| Derby | about 30 minutes |
More Santa trains in the East Midlands
These are the closest other Santa trains to Loughborough in our guide.
- Butterley Santa trains and Pinxton puppets Ripley, East Midlands
- Derwent Valley Santa Special from Rowsley South Darley Dale, East Midlands
- Severn Valley Railway Christmas trains from Kidderminster Kidderminster, West Midlands
More for Christmas train families
Great Central Railway Santa Express: questions from parents
When does the Great Central Railway Santa Express run in 2026?
The season runs from 28 November to 24 December 2026. The railway's Santa page does not list individual dates, so check availability in the booking system.
What time does the Santa Express leave Loughborough Central?
Departure times are not shown on the Santa page. Your slot time appears when you book, and the railway asks you to arrive 30 minutes early.
How much does the GCR Santa Express cost?
Tickets start from £27.50. The Santa page does not show age bands, and the Premium Private Compartment price is not listed.
How do I book the Great Central Santa Express?
Book online through the railway's booking site. Tickets are for one slot only, there are no refunds, and transfers need more than 14 days' notice at £5 per person.
Do babies need a ticket for the Loughborough Santa train?
The railway does not say. Call the booking office on 01509 632323 to ask before you book.
How long is the Great Central Railway Santa Express?
The Santa page does not give a journey time. It includes a 25-minute stop at Leicester North, so ask the booking office how long to allow overall.
Where does the GCR Santa Express leave from and where can I park?
It leaves from Loughborough Central, LE11 1RW. There is free on-street parking nearby, and the car park at Leicester North is free.
Can I bring a pushchair on the Great Central Santa Express?
Pushchairs are not covered on the GCR Santa page. Ask the booking office whether buggies can come on board and to the grotto at Leicester North.
Are there toilets on the Great Central Railway Santa train?
Toilets are not covered on the GCR Santa page, so ask the railway about facilities on board and at Loughborough Central and Leicester North.
Is the Loughborough Santa Express heated?
The railway does not describe the heating on its Santa page. Bring layers and coats for the grotto stop.
Will my child see Santa on the GCR Santa Express?
Yes. Santa makes a personal visit on board with a gift for each child, and there is a grotto photo with Santa at Leicester North.
What treats are included on the Great Central Santa Express?
Children get a Christmas Activity Pack and festive drinks and treats. Adults get an Irish Cream liqueur and a mince pie, and everyone has a drink in the tearoom at Leicester North.
Which Santa Express slot from Loughborough suits a baby best?
An earlier slot usually fits around naps, and the stop at Leicester North gives you time to feed or change a baby off the train.
Is the Great Central Santa Express wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair spaces can be reserved online when you book. For help at Loughborough Central or Leicester North, call the booking office on 01509 632323.
What is the weather usually like for the Loughborough Santa Express?
Expect damp, cold December weather and possible frost. Bring warm coats for stepping off at Leicester North.
Can we bring the dog on the Great Central Santa Express?
Only assistance dogs are allowed on the Great Central Santa Express, so family pets need to stay at home.
When was the Great Central Railway in Loughborough saved?
Preservation began in 1969, the line was bought for £75,000 in 1971, and the GCR reopened on 23 March 1974.
What can we do near Loughborough after the Santa Express?
Leicester and Nottingham are both within about half an hour by car, and the railway's stations at Quorn and Rothley are good for a winter walk on another day.
Is there a Christmas market near Loughborough in 2026?
Nottingham's Winter Wonderland is listed by JustPark for 12 November to 31 December 2026, closed on Christmas Day. We could not find confirmed 2026 dates for a market in Leicester or Loughborough.
Are there other Santa trains near Leicester and Nottingham besides the Great Central?
Yes. Our UK Santa trains hub lists the Midland Railway Butterley and Peak Rail in Derbyshire.
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 East Midlands.
Sources
- Great Central Railway: official page (gcrailway.co.uk) (opens in a new tab)
- Great Central Railway, heritage railway (Wikipedia) (opens in a new tab)
- UK Christmas markets 2026 (JustPark) (opens in a new tab)
Checked on the railway’s official pages on 4 November 2026. This train is run by Great Central 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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