Before anyone boards the Elf Explorer, the elves put on a 20-minute show in the Exhibition Hall at Oxenhope, the quiet terminus at the top of the Worth Valley above Haworth. Then comes about an hour on the train, with Father Christmas stopping at every family, juice and chocolate coins for children and mulled wine for the grown-ups, on twelve dates in 2026. For a wider view of the season, every Santa Special we cover in Britain is gathered in one guide.
The short version
- Dates: 28 and 29 November, 5, 6, 12 and 13 December, then every day from 19 to 24 December 2026
- Departures: 9am, 10.30am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 3.15pm from Oxenhope, about 2 hours in total
- Fares: from £26 per person in November up to £36 on Christmas Eve; babies up to 6 months on a lap are included
- Booking: online, with parking at Oxenhope as a £4 timed slot you book in advance
- Tip: pushchairs cannot be taken, so bring a sling or carrier for little ones
The Elf Explorer at Oxenhope at a glance
- Railway
- Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
- Departs from
- Oxenhope station, at the end of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, West Yorkshire
- 2026 dates
- Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November; Saturday 5, Sunday 6, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December; every day from Saturday 19 to Thursday 24 December 2026
- Times
- 9am, 10.30am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 3.15pm
- Duration
- About 2 hours in total: a 20-minute Elf Show, then about 1 hour on the train
- Fares
- Per person: 28 and 29 November £26; 5, 6, 12 and 13 December £30; 19 to 23 December £34; 24 December £36. Babies 0 to 6 months on a lap included; 7 to 23 months on a lap £10 extra. Parking at Oxenhope £4 per car, timed slot, booked in advance.
- Booking
- Online through the railway's booking system. Groups of more than 20 book by email with the booking office. Essential Companion Tickets do not apply. No Elf Explorer date was flagged as sold out on 4 November 2026.
- 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 Yorkshire and the Humber.
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.
Oxenhope's Elf Show, the steam train and Father Christmas
Arriving at the top of the valley
The Elf Explorer runs from Oxenhope only, so this is where your day begins whatever station you would normally use. Oxenhope is the end of the line, a small station in the Bridgehouse Beck valley just beyond Haworth. If you are driving, the car park at Oxenhope works on timed slots at £4 per car, booked in advance with your tickets, so choose the slot that matches your train rather than turning up and hoping.
Families who would rather leave the car further down the valley can use the free travel the railway offers to Oxenhope on a diesel train or a special bus. Check with the booking office which pick-up points and times apply on your date before you plan around it.
At check-in, each child gets an age sticker. It looks like a small detail, but it is how the elves and Father Christmas know which gift to hand over later, so keep it somewhere visible on your child's coat.
Give yourself a margin on the lanes into Oxenhope. The valley roads are narrow and climb steeply from Haworth, and on a frosty morning the last mile can take longer than a sat nav suggests. Arriving with a quarter of an hour in hand means you can find the hall, sort out coats and visit the toilets before the elves begin.
Twenty minutes with the elves in the Exhibition Hall
Before boarding, everyone gathers in the Exhibition Hall for the Elf Show, which lasts about 20 minutes. There are letters to Father Christmas to write and other festive activities, which gives younger children a chance to settle and burn off a bit of energy before they are asked to sit still on a train.
The railway does not publish a script, so we cannot tell you exactly what happens in the show. What we can say is that this is a chance for children to meet the elves on their own level before the train journey.
If your child is shy, sit near the edge of the group rather than in the middle. They can watch the elves from a comfortable distance and join in when they feel ready, which often works better than being right at the front.
An hour on the Worth Valley line
The train itself takes about an hour. The railway intends to run with steam, but warns that a diesel may stand in without notice, so do not promise a particular engine. During the ride Father Christmas visits every family, and each child receives the special gift that matches their sticker, along with juice and chocolate coins. Adults are given mulled wine and a mince pie.
There is no bar on the train. If you want something more after the ride, the volunteer bar is in the Marquee at Oxenhope.
From start to finish, the Elf Show and the ride add up to about two hours. That is longer than many Santa trains, so plan the day around a child's usual meal and nap times, especially for the 12.15pm and 1.45pm departures.
Picking the right Elf Explorer slot for your family
Babies under two
Babies up to six months travel on a lap at no extra cost, while children aged seven to 23 months on a lap cost an extra £10. Because pushchairs cannot be accommodated, you will be carrying your baby for around two hours, so a comfortable sling matters more here than on most Santa trains. The 10.30am slot often works well: you are not rushing out of the house at dawn, and you are finished before a long afternoon nap.
Preschoolers and the Elf Show
The Elf Show is a real advantage for this age group, as it breaks the two hours into a lively start and a calmer train ride. The 9am train is the one for early risers who are at their best first thing. If your child is likely to flag, avoid the 3.15pm, which ends well into the December dusk.
A knock on the compartment from a man in a big red coat can be a lot for a three-year-old. Talk through the order of the day on the drive: first the elves, then the train, then a knock from Father Christmas with a present. Knowing what is coming makes it easier to enjoy.
Older children on the Elf Explorer
School-age children who like a story will enjoy the connection with The Railway Children, filmed on this line. Ask the railway how far down the valley your Elf Explorer runs; if it passes Oakworth, that is the station from the film. For this age, a later departure is fine, and the darker run back up the valley adds atmosphere.
If you want a train that feels more grown up, the railway also runs Mince Pie Specials between Christmas and New Year, which can be a gentle way to bring an older child back to the line once the excitement of Christmas has passed.
Fares and the West Yorkshire weather
The opening weekend is the cheapest at £26 per person. The first two December weekends cost £30, the week before Christmas £34 and Christmas Eve £36. For a family of four, choosing 28 or 29 November over 24 December saves £40 before parking. The Worth Valley sits high on the Pennine edge, and Oxenhope can be wet, windy or icy in December, so if you are travelling a long way, the weekday dates from 21 to 23 December give you a little more flexibility around the forecast.
How a mill owners' branch line became the Railway Children line
The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway was built between 1864 and 1866 and opened on 15 April 1867, paid for by wealthy local mill owners who wanted a link for their valley. Trains were worked by the Midland Railway, which later bought out the original company. After nationalisation in 1948 the line became part of British Railways.
In the 1920s the line passed to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. It was a busy branch serving the mills, villages and people of the valley for almost a century.
By the end of the 1950s it was losing money. British Railways withdrew passenger trains in December 1961 and goods in June 1962, a closure that affected about 150,000 local passengers. Local people did not accept it, and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society was formed to fight for the line.
It took six years of negotiation and a legal battle to transfer the line and reopen it. Passenger trains returned on 29 June 1968. The society paid British Railways in instalments, with no interest, over more than 25 years, making the final payment in 1992. The railway describes this as the first privatisation of any part of British Railways.
Two years after reopening, the line found fame. The 1970 film of E. Nesbit's The Railway Children was shot here, with Oakworth station seen throughout, the Oakworth level crossing, Mytholmes Tunnel for the paper chase and landslide scenes, and Bents House above Oxenhope station. In 2022 the sequel The Railway Children Return came back to Oakworth, with Jenny Agutter again playing Bobbie. The railway still calls itself the Railway Children line.
Today the five-mile line links Keighley with Oxenhope through Ingrow West, Damems, Oakworth and Haworth, and runs trains on more than 200 days a year. In 2018 the railway marked 50 years of running between Keighley and Oxenhope.
- 1867The line opens on 15 April, funded by local mill owners
- 1948Nationalisation makes the line part of British Railways
- 1961Passenger trains are withdrawn in December
- 1962Goods traffic ends in June
- 1968Volunteers reopen the line to passengers on 29 June
- 1970The Railway Children is filmed, with Oakworth station at its heart
- 1992The preservation society makes its final payment to British Railways
- 2018The railway marks 50 years of running from Keighley to Oxenhope
- 2022The sequel The Railway Children Return comes out, with scenes at Oakworth
To tell a six-year-old: when the trains in this valley were stopped, the people who lived here saved up for years and bought the railway themselves, and that is why the elves have a station at Oxenhope today.
Haworth, Keighley and Leeds around the Elf Explorer
Oxenhope sits just above Haworth, so the natural add-on is a wander up Haworth's steep Main Street to St Mary's Church and the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Steep cobbles and frost do not mix, so take it slowly with small children and check the museum's own winter opening hours before you go.
Haworth is also an easy place to warm up: the village has plenty of tearooms, and a hot drink in the middle of a cold December walk tends to go down well with children who have just met Father Christmas. If the weather turns, the station buildings along the line are part of the fun too, with Oakworth worth a look for any fan of the film.
If you are booked on the opening weekend, East Riddlesden Hall near Keighley holds a Christmas Market on 28 and 29 November 2026, open from 10am to 6pm, according to Visit Bradford. It is a short drive down the valley and makes a good morning stop before an afternoon train.
For a city outing, Leeds is about 50 minutes away. JustPark lists the Leeds Christmas Market at City Square and Victoria Gardens from 19 November to 23 December 2026; check Leeds City Council's listings before you go. Our page on things to do with children in Leeds this Christmas gathers more ideas from across West Yorkshire.
Over the Pennines, the East Lancashire Railway Santa Specials from Bury are about an hour's drive away, and to the north east the Santa Express from Pickering on the moors line is a longer trip but makes a lovely contrast. Between Christmas and New Year, the Worth Valley line itself runs Mince Pie Specials from 26 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, with under-fives free.
Parent notes for the Worth Valley Elf Explorer
No pushchairs on this train
The railway is clear that pushchairs and buggies cannot be accommodated on the Elf Explorer. Bring a baby carrier or sling, and if you have a toddler who tires quickly, think about whether a shoulder ride or a carrier will see you through two hours.
Toilets at Oxenhope
There are accessible toilets at Keighley, Haworth and Oxenhope. The toilets on the train are not wheelchair accessible. Use the facilities at Oxenhope after the Elf Show and before boarding, as the hour on the train is a long time for a newly toilet-trained child.
If you are bringing a baby, ask the railway whether there are baby changing facilities at Oxenhope, as the Elf Explorer page does not say.
Heating and food
The railway does not describe the carriage heating on the Elf Explorer page, so dress children in layers. Children are given juice and chocolate coins and adults mulled wine and a mince pie, but there is no bar on the train, so bring water and a snack for anyone who needs more.
Mulled wine is served to adults, so if you are the driver, ask whether a soft alternative is available, or simply plan for the passenger to enjoy it.
Parking and arrival at Oxenhope
Parking at Oxenhope costs £4 per car and works on timed slots that you book in advance. Two accessible bays are kept for accessibility bookings. If you prefer not to drive to Oxenhope, the free diesel train or special bus can take you there; ask the booking office which stations or stops it serves on your date.
Because the parking works on timed slots, ask the booking office how early you can arrive within your slot, rather than assuming you can park whenever you like.
Accessibility, dogs and tickets
An Accessibility Coach with a wheelchair space is available, reached by a steep ramp. Essential Companion Tickets do not apply on the Elf Explorer, so ask the railway how to book a carer. Pets stay at home: the Worth Valley accepts assistance dogs only. Groups of more than 20 book by email with the booking office, and the railway's phone number for questions is 01535 645214.
Steam or diesel on the Elf Explorer
Steam is planned, but the railway may use a diesel without notice. For a child who is excited about a steam engine, it helps to explain in advance that the elves sometimes have to borrow a different engine.
Pennine weather
Oxenhope is higher and more exposed than Keighley, and winter weather can change quickly. Check the forecast and road conditions on the morning, and ask the railway what happens to bookings if snow or ice closes the roads.
Your bag for a two-hour Elf Explorer outing
With no pushchairs allowed and a two-hour programme, packing light and warm really pays off here.
- A sling or baby carrier instead of a pushchair
- Your parking booking for the timed slot at Oxenhope
- A safety pin to keep the age sticker on a coat
- Water and a small snack, as there is no bar on the train
- Layers and a warm hat for the walk between the hall and the platform
- A pen for letters to Father Christmas, just in case
- Grippy shoes for the cobbles if you are heading up to Haworth
- A tote bag for the gift and any chocolate coins left over
The Elf Explorer and the Worth Valley line in numbers
- 1867: the year the Worth Valley branch first opened
- 1968: the year volunteers reopened the line
- 5 miles: from Keighley to Oxenhope
- 6: stations on the line
- 12: Elf Explorer dates in 2026
- 5: departures a day, from 9am to 3.15pm
- 20 minutes: the Elf Show before boarding
- About 2 hours: the whole Elf Explorer experience
Driving to Oxenhope from Bradford, Leeds and Manchester
Allow about 30 minutes from Bradford, about 50 minutes from Leeds and about 1 hour from Manchester, without traffic. Book your timed parking slot at Oxenhope to match your train.
| From | Drive time (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Bradford | about 30 minutes |
| Leeds | about 50 minutes |
| Manchester | about 1 hour |
Other Santa trains within reach of the Worth Valley
These are the nearest Santa trains to Oxenhope in our guide.
- Santa Specials on the East Lancs line from Bury Bury, North West England
- Ribble Steam Railway Christmas trains in Preston Preston, North West England
- Peak Rail Santa Special in the Derwent Valley Darley Dale, East Midlands
More for Christmas train families
Elf Explorer at Oxenhope: questions from parents
When does the Elf Explorer run in 2026, and at what times?
It runs on 28 and 29 November, 5, 6, 12 and 13 December, and every day from 19 to 24 December 2026, with trains from Oxenhope at 9am, 10.30am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 3.15pm.
Is the Elf Explorer at Oxenhope wheelchair accessible?
An Accessibility Coach with a wheelchair space is available, reached by a steep ramp, and two accessible parking bays are kept for accessibility bookings. The toilets on the train are not wheelchair accessible.
How much does the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Elf Explorer cost?
Fares are per person: £26 on 28 and 29 November, £30 on 5, 6, 12 and 13 December, £34 from 19 to 23 December and £36 on 24 December.
How do I book the Elf Explorer Santa train?
Book online through the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway's booking system. Groups of more than 20 book by email with the booking office.
Do babies go free on the Elf Explorer?
Babies up to six months on a lap are included. Children aged seven to 23 months on a lap cost an extra £10.
How long does the Elf Explorer from Oxenhope last?
About two hours in total: a 20-minute Elf Show, then about an hour on the train.
Where does the Elf Explorer leave from and where do I park?
It leaves from Oxenhope only. Parking at Oxenhope is a £4 timed slot that you book in advance, and free travel to Oxenhope is offered on a diesel train or special bus.
Can I bring a pushchair on the Elf Explorer?
No. Pushchairs and buggies cannot be accommodated, so bring a sling or carrier.
Are there toilets on the Elf Explorer train?
There are toilets on the train, but they are not wheelchair accessible. Accessible toilets are at Keighley, Haworth and Oxenhope stations.
Is the Elf Explorer train heated?
The railway does not say on its Elf Explorer page. Dress children in layers and ask the railway on 01535 645214 if you need to know.
Does Father Christmas visit every child on the Worth Valley Elf Explorer?
Yes. Father Christmas visits every family on the train.
What do children get on the Elf Explorer?
Each child gets a special gift chosen by the age sticker given at check-in, plus juice and chocolate coins. Adults get mulled wine and a mince pie.
Which Elf Explorer time is best with a baby?
The 10.30am train often suits babies best, finishing before a long afternoon nap. As there are no pushchairs, a comfortable sling makes the two hours easier.
Can we bring the dog on the Elf Explorer?
No. Only assistance dogs are allowed on the Worth Valley Elf Explorer.
What is the weather like at Oxenhope in December?
Oxenhope is high on the Pennine edge and can be wet, windy or icy. Check the forecast and road conditions before you set off.
Was The Railway Children filmed on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway?
Yes. The 1970 film was shot on the line, with Oakworth station seen throughout, and the 2022 sequel returned to Oakworth.
When did the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway reopen?
Volunteers reopened the line to passengers on 29 June 1968, six years after British Railways closed it.
What is there to do near Oxenhope at Christmas?
Haworth's Main Street and the Brontë Parsonage Museum are just down the hill. Check the museum's winter hours before you visit.
Is there a Christmas market near Haworth in 2026?
East Riddlesden Hall near Keighley holds a Christmas Market on 28 and 29 November 2026, from 10am to 6pm, according to Visit Bradford.
Are there other Santa trains near Leeds and Bradford besides the Elf Explorer?
Yes. Our UK Santa trains hub lists the East Lancashire Railway Santa Specials from Bury and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Santa Express from Pickering.
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 Yorkshire and the Humber.
Sources
- Keighley and Worth Valley Railway: official page (kwvr.co.uk) (opens in a new tab)
- Keighley and Worth Valley Railway: official page (kwvr.co.uk) (opens in a new tab)
- Keighley and Worth Valley Railway: official page (kwvr.co.uk) (opens in a new tab)
- Our history (Keighley and Worth Valley Railway) (opens in a new tab)
- The Railway Children line (KWVR) (opens in a new tab)
- Christmas in Haworth (Visit Bradford) (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 Keighley and Worth Valley 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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