At Tenterden Town, Santa does not hand out generic parcels: each child's present is named and arrives at their own seat on the steam train. Add unlimited rides on a set of vintage gallopers and a Winter Wonderland at the station, and you can see why tables go quickly. This page is part of our guide to Christmas steam trains in the UK.
The short version
- Dates: 29 November, then 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 December 2026
- Gates open 9.30am (10.30am on 29 November); departure times shown when you book
- From £100 for a Bronze table for two; babies under 18 months free with a gift
- Booking closes 7 days before travel; book online, it is £5 cheaper than by phone
- Tip: the 11.15am train on 29 November is a Quiet Train for children who find noise hard
The KESR Santa Specials at a glance
- Railway
- Kent & East Sussex Railway
- Departs from
- Tenterden Town station, Tenterden, Kent
- 2026 dates
- Sunday 29 November; Saturday 5, Sunday 6, Saturday 12, Sunday 13, Saturday 19, Sunday 20, Tuesday 22, Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 December 2026
- Times
- Gates open 9.30am (10.30am on 29 November). Departure times are shown at booking. The 11.15am train on 29 November is the Quiet Train.
- Duration
- 75-minute return steam journey, plus time at the Tenterden attractions
- Fares
- Priced per table or compartment in three bands (29 November / 5 to 13 December / 19 to 24 December). Bronze Standard table: 2 people £100 / £115 / £120; 3 people £115 / £125 / £130; 4 people £125 / £140 / £150 (also for 4 including one wheelchair user). Silver First: table for 2 £150 / £160 / £170; table up to 4 £260 / £270 / £280; compartment up to 6 £380 / £390 / £400; compartment up to 8 £430 / £440 / £450. Gold Premium First: table up to 4 £300 / £310 / £320; table up to 6 £405 / £415 / £425. Babies under 18 months travel free and receive a gift. Online is £5 cheaper than by phone; no booking fee.
- Booking
- Book the whole group in one go, first come first served. Bookings close 7 days before travel; changes before then cost £7. Some ticket types are sold out on some dates (as of 4 November 2026: Bronze for 2 on 29 November; Bronze for 2 and 3 and Gold for 4 and 6 on 24 December; Silver compartment for 8 on 13, 19 and 20 December).
- 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 East 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.
A Tenterden Santa morning, from the gates to the gallopers
Gates, Winter Wonderland and a mulled wine
The day begins at Tenterden Town station, where the gates open at 9.30am on most dates and at 10.30am on Sunday 29 November. Your exact departure time is not published on the main page; it appears when you book, so make a note of it and plan to be through the gates well ahead of it. The railway is clear that a missed departure means no refund.
Before or after your train there is plenty to fill the time. The station hosts a Winter Wonderland and a set of vintage gallopers, the old-fashioned carousel horses, and children get unlimited rides on them. Adults are offered a complimentary mulled wine or hot drink, and every family can have a free group photo taken.
A good plan is to arrive close to gate opening, do a first round on the gallopers while the queues are short, take the photo, and then head for the platform in good time. Children who have already had a ride or two tend to settle better on the train, and you avoid the rush of families from the next departure.
Your table on the steam train
Unlike many Santa trains, the Kent & East Sussex Railway sells seats by the table or compartment rather than by the person, which means your family sits together in decorated carriages for the whole 75-minute return steam journey. The level you choose shapes the trip. Bronze Standard tables come with a refreshment pack (a mince pie for adults, a chocolate bar for children, soft drinks) and a magician. Silver First adds an Elf Hat and a Diploma of Elfship for the children and a trolley service. Gold Premium First adds free-flowing Prosecco, beer or juice, cakes, mince pies and chocolates.
If you are a large group, the Silver compartments for up to six or up to eight people give you a private space with a door, and one extra adult can be added to a compartment for a small charge (not on the accessible or Premium options).
Santa comes to you
The detail children remember is that Santa brings a named, age-appropriate present to their seat. You give the names and ages when booking, so double check spellings before paying. Babies under 18 months travel free and also receive a gift, which is a kind touch for younger siblings. On Bronze tables, keep an eye out for the magician too, who adds a second moment of wonder to the trip for children who are shy of Santa himself.
Once you are back at Tenterden, the gallopers and Winter Wonderland are still there, so there is no need to rush everything before the train. If you parked in the free station spaces, remember the 3-hour limit when you decide how long to stay. Families coming from further west might compare this with the Bluebell Railway's Santa trains and Christmas fair, which work on per-person tickets.
Picking a KESR date, table and train for your children
Babies under 18 months
Babies under 18 months travel free and receive a gift, so you only pay for the table. A Bronze table for three or four usually fits two adults, a toddler and a baby on a lap. Earlier departures on the day tend to suit babies better, but since times only appear in the booking system, look at the full list before choosing.
Preschoolers, magic and the Quiet Train
This is the sweet spot for the magician on Bronze tables and the Elf Diploma on Silver ones. Children of this age often find the moment Santa arrives at the table overwhelming, so a compartment with its own door can feel calmer than an open carriage. For children who struggle with noise, crowds or surprises, the Quiet Train at 11.15am on Sunday 29 November is designed with them in mind.
Older children and grandparents
Primary school children usually like the gallopers as much as the train, and because the rides are unlimited, older brothers and sisters get real value from the ticket even if they are past the age of believing. A Silver table brings the Elf Diploma, which seven- and eight-year-olds often enjoy as a joke as much as younger children take it seriously. Gold Premium First suits a three-generation outing where grandparents want a treat of their own, with Prosecco, beer or juice and cakes at the table.
Budget and timing on the KESR Santa train
Prices rise through the season in three bands: Sunday 29 November is the cheapest date, 5 to 13 December sits in the middle, and 19 to 24 December costs the most. A Bronze table for two starts at £100 on 29 November, but that particular ticket type was already sold out for that date when we checked on 4 November 2026. Booking online saves £5 on phone prices and there is no booking fee. Remember that bookings close 7 days before travel, so you cannot leave a Christmas Eve decision to the last week. The weekday dates, 22 and 23 December, are a good bet once schools have broken up. Several ticket types were marked as the last few when we checked, so if you have a fixed date in mind, open the booking page soon and look at which table sizes are left before deciding on a level.
Weather barely affects the train itself, but it does affect the gallopers and Winter Wonderland outside. On a wet day, plan more time indoors in town.
Colonel Stephens and the light railway that came back
The Kent & East Sussex Railway began life as the Rother Valley Railway, one of the light railways linked to the engineer Holman F. Stephens, who became its general manager in 1899 and managing director in 1900. Freight services between Robertsbridge and Rolvenden began on 26 March 1900, and passengers followed on 2 April 1900.
Tenterden itself joined the network on 15 April 1903, when the line was extended to Tenterden Town and the original station called Tenterden was renamed Rolvenden. In 1904 the company took the name Kent and East Sussex Light Railway. Stephens, known later as Colonel Stephens, ran it until his death in 1931.
Regular passenger trains ended in January 1954. Sources disagree on the exact day: the summary on Wikipedia gives 4 January, while the main text says the final passenger train ran on 2 January, so we simply say early January. The line closed in June 1961, and the last remaining siding at Robertsbridge, serving a flour mill, closed on 1 January 1970.
Preservation brought the trains back in stages. Steam services returned between Tenterden and Rolvenden in 1974, reached Wittersham Road in 1977, Northiam in 1990 and Bodiam in 2000. Today the line is about 11.5 miles (18.5 km) long. One of its best-loved engines, the little Terrier No 3 Bodiam, was built in 1872, bought secondhand by the railway in 1901, and later came back to the heritage line after a long career elsewhere.
The railway has always been a country line, built cheaply under light railway rules and serving farms and small towns along the Rother. That character is still part of the charm: short trains, rural stations and gentle speeds, which make it well suited to a family Santa trip rather than a long excursion. Tenterden Town, where your Santa train starts, has been the line's northern hub since that 1903 extension, and it became the starting point again when volunteers ran their first heritage trains in 1974.
If your children ask why the railway is called Kent and East Sussex, it is because the line crosses the county border: Tenterden is in Kent, while Northiam and Bodiam, further down the line, are in East Sussex.
- 1900The Rother Valley Railway opens between Robertsbridge and Rolvenden
- 1903The line is extended to Tenterden Town on 15 April
- 1904The company is renamed the Kent and East Sussex Light Railway
- 1931Colonel Stephens dies
- 1954Regular passenger services end in early January
- 1961The line closes in June
- 1974Heritage steam returns between Tenterden and Rolvenden
- 1990Trains reach Northiam again
- 2000The heritage line reopens to Bodiam
A version for a six-year-old: more than a hundred years ago a clever engineer built this little country railway, then it was closed, and lots of friendly volunteers rebuilt it piece by piece so that steam trains could carry children to meet Santa again.
Tenterden and the Rother valley in December
Tenterden Town station sits close to the town's broad high street, which makes it easy to combine the train with a wander, a coffee or lunch. Because the Santa ticket includes unlimited galloper rides and the Winter Wonderland, many families find the station alone fills a good part of the morning. Plan any shopping or a café stop for after the train, when the children have had their big moment and are happy to slow down.
The town has its own Christmas market on Tenterden High Street from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 November 2026, according to the local My Tenterden listing. That is the week before the first Santa date, so it is a separate trip rather than an add-on, but it is handy if you live locally and want to start the festive season early.
The far end of the line is Bodiam, whose station sits about half a mile from the village and its fourteenth-century castle. The Santa Specials do not go that far, and the castle's December opening varies, so check its own listings if you want to plan a separate visit. Ashford is about 25 minutes' drive from Tenterden and Maidstone about 40 minutes, both with more shops and family attractions for a longer day. Families driving in from either town can easily treat the Santa train as a morning outing and be home for an afternoon nap, which younger children will appreciate after the excitement of the gallopers and the present at their seat.
If you are travelling down from the capital, our London guide to Christmas outings with children rounds up family events there. For a different style of Christmas train on a day out from London itself, look at the Steam Dreams Christmas trains from Victoria.
Practical KESR Santa answers for parents
Parking at Tenterden Town
There is limited free parking at Tenterden Town for up to 3 hours, with Pay and Display car parks nearby. There is no blue badge parking on the station forecourt, but you can drop off at the entrance. With 75 minutes on the train plus the gallopers and Winter Wonderland, three hours can go quickly, so keep an eye on the clock or use Pay and Display.
Wheelchair users
The accessible coach Petros, with a ramp and a wheelchair space, runs on selected trains. Bronze tables for four including one wheelchair user are priced like the standard four-person table. Book early and ask the railway which departures carry Petros on your chosen date. Accessible tables cannot have the extra adult added, so check your group size before booking.
Pushchairs at Tenterden Town
The Santa page we checked does not say whether pushchairs can go on board or where they should be left. Call or email the railway to ask, and bring a sling just in case, particularly for babies under 18 months.
Toilets and heating on the KESR Santa train
The page does not describe toilets on the train, baby changing or carriage heating. Ask the KESR before you travel, and dress children in layers they can take off once they are inside the decorated carriages.
Tickets and changes at Tenterden Town
Book your whole group together in one go, as the railway asks. Changes made more than 7 days before travel cost £7, bookings close 7 days before, and a missed departure is not refunded. Have children's names and ages ready, because the present from Santa is named.
Sensory needs
The Quiet Train at 11.15am on Sunday 29 November is the departure to choose for children who find noise and crowds hard. The page does not explain exactly what is adjusted on that train, so ask the railway if you want details.
Dogs on the KESR Santa train
No pets are allowed except assistance dogs, so make arrangements for the family dog before you set off, especially if you plan to spend the rest of the day in town.
Drinks and driving
Adults are offered mulled wine or a hot drink, and Gold tables include Prosecco and beer. Decide in advance who is driving home through the Kent lanes, and ask for the non-alcoholic option if it is you.
Arriving on time
Missed departures are not refunded, and the car park is small. On the busiest December weekends, aim to arrive close to gate opening so you are not hunting for a Pay and Display space as your train is called.
What to bring for a table on the Tenterden Santa train
Refreshments are included at every level, so this list is more about comfort, the gallopers and the walk around town.
- Children's names and ages written down for booking the named presents
- Warm layers for queuing at the gallopers and the Winter Wonderland
- A sling, until you have confirmed the pushchair rules with the railway
- Wet wipes for chocolate fingers after the refreshment pack
- A tote bag to carry presents and Elf Diplomas home flat
- Coins or a card for Pay and Display if you stay longer than 3 hours
- A designated driver plan if adults want the mulled wine or Prosecco
- Ear defenders for noise-sensitive children, even on regular trains
The Kent & East Sussex Santa trains in figures
- 10 Santa dates in 2026, from 29 November to 24 December
- 75 minutes: the return steam journey
- 18 months: babies younger than this travel free with a gift
- 3 hours: the limit for free parking at Tenterden Town
- 11.5 miles (18.5 km): the length of the heritage line
- 1903: the year trains first reached Tenterden Town
- 1974: the year heritage steam returned to Tenterden
- 1872: the year Terrier No 3 Bodiam was built
Driving to Tenterden from Ashford and Maidstone
Tenterden is a market town in the Kent Weald; drive times below are approximate without traffic, and the station car park is small, so leave a little extra time on December weekends.
| From | Drive time (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Ashford | about 25 minutes |
| Maidstone | about 40 minutes |
Other Santa steam trains within reach of Kent
These are the nearest alternatives in our UK Christmas train guide if Tenterden is booked up.
- Bluebell Railway Santa Specials with a fairground at Horsted Keynes Sheffield Park, South East England
- Christmas steam excursions leaving London Victoria London, London
- Father Christmas Express on Hampshire's Watercress Line Ropley, South East England
More for Christmas train families
KESR Santa Specials in Tenterden: questions from parents
When are the Kent & East Sussex Railway Santa Specials in 2026?
They run on Sunday 29 November and on 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23 and 24 December 2026.
How much does the Tenterden Santa train cost?
Tickets are sold per table. A Bronze Standard table for two starts at £100 on 29 November and rises to £120 from 19 December, with larger tables and First Class options costing more.
How do I book the KESR Santa Special?
Book online through the railway's Santa 2026 page; it is £5 cheaper than booking by phone and there is no booking fee. Book your whole group in one go, and note that bookings close 7 days before travel.
Can we bring the dog on the Kent & East Sussex Santa Special?
No pets are allowed on the Tenterden Santa trains, only assistance dogs.
Do babies go free on the Tenterden Santa Special?
Yes. Babies under 18 months travel free and also receive a gift from Santa.
How long is the KESR Santa train journey?
The return steam journey takes 75 minutes, and you can add time before or after for the gallopers and Winter Wonderland.
Where does the Kent & East Sussex Santa train leave from?
It leaves from Tenterden Town station in Tenterden, Kent.
Is there parking at Tenterden Town for the Santa trains?
There is limited free parking at the station for up to 3 hours and Pay and Display parking nearby. There is no blue badge parking on the forecourt, but you can drop off at the entrance.
Can I take a pushchair on the KESR Santa Special?
Buggies are not covered on the KESR Santa page. Contact the railway before you travel to ask where pushchairs can go.
Are there toilets on the Tenterden Santa train?
Toilets are not described on the Santa page, so ask the railway about facilities on board and at Tenterden Town.
Are the Kent & East Sussex Santa carriages heated?
Heating is not described for the Tenterden carriages. Dress children in layers, as you will also be outside at the gallopers.
Does every child get a present on the KESR Santa train?
Yes. Santa brings a named, age-appropriate present to each child at their seat.
What food is included on the Kent & East Sussex Santa Special?
Adults get a complimentary mulled wine or hot drink. Bronze adds a mince pie, chocolate bar and soft drinks; Gold adds Prosecco, beer or juice, cakes and chocolates.
Which KESR Santa departure is best with a baby?
Departure times appear at booking, so check the list and pick an early slot that fits your baby's routine. Under 18 months travel free.
Is the Tenterden Santa Special suitable for wheelchair users and children with sensory needs?
The accessible coach Petros, with a ramp and a wheelchair space, runs on selected trains, and the 11.15am departure on Sunday 29 November is a Quiet Train for children who prefer a calmer Santa experience.
What happens on the Tenterden Santa trip if it rains?
The railway's page does not cover bad weather, so ask if a storm is forecast. The gallopers and Winter Wonderland are at the station, so bring waterproofs for time outside.
When did the railway first reach Tenterden?
The line was extended to Tenterden Town on 15 April 1903, three years after the Rother Valley Railway opened.
Who built the Kent & East Sussex Railway?
It began as the Rother Valley Railway, run by the engineer Holman F. Stephens, later known as Colonel Stephens, from 1899 until his death in 1931.
Is there a Christmas market in Tenterden in 2026?
Yes, Tenterden Christmas Market runs on the High Street from 19 to 22 November 2026, the week before the Santa trains start.
Are there other Santa trains near Ashford and Maidstone besides Tenterden?
Our UK Santa trains hub lists them, including the Bluebell Railway at Sheffield Park, Steam Dreams from London Victoria and the Watercress Line at Ropley.
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 East England.
Sources
- Kent & East Sussex Railway: official page (kesr.org.uk) (opens in a new tab)
- Kent and East Sussex Railway (Wikipedia) (opens in a new tab)
- Tenterden Christmas Market 2026 (My Tenterden) (opens in a new tab)
- Bodiam railway station (Wikipedia) (opens in a new tab)
Checked on the railway’s official pages on 4 November 2026. This train is run by Kent & East Sussex 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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