Most London families who want a Santa train drive out to the countryside, but on two Saturdays this December a steam engine comes to them: the Santa Steam Express leaves from London Victoria, one of the capital's great terminus stations, for a 90-minute trip in decorated vintage carriages. It runs on 12 and 19 December 2026, and for heritage railway alternatives, see our full list of Santa trains around the UK this year.
The short version
- Dates: Saturday 12 and Saturday 19 December 2026 only
- Departs: London Victoria, posted times 9.15am, 11.45am, 3.15pm and 5.15pm
- Journey: 90 minutes, steam hauled, with Santa and a gift for each child
- Booking: online per departure, or by phone on 01483 209888
- Tip: with only eight posted departures in total, book as early as you can
The Santa Steam Express from Victoria at a glance
- Railway
- Steam Dreams Rail Co.
- Departs from
- London Victoria
- 2026 dates
- Saturday 12 December and Saturday 19 December 2026
- Times
- Departures posted at 9.15am, 11.45am, 3.15pm and 5.15pm. The times carry an asterisk on the operator's page that is not explained, so check your departure when you book.
- Duration
- 90 minutes, steam hauled
- Booking
- Book online for your chosen departure on the Steam Dreams website, or call 01483 209888. Fares are shown during booking. Sold-out status was not stated when we checked 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 London.
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 Saturday steam trip out of Victoria, hour by hour
Getting to Victoria and finding your train
The big advantage of this Santa train is where it starts. London Victoria is in the middle of the city and served by the Underground and many bus routes, so most London families can arrive without a car. That also means no motorway queues with an overexcited toddler in the back.
Victoria is a busy working station on a Saturday, with ordinary commuter and airport trains running alongside your steam special. The operator's page does not say which platform the Santa Steam Express uses or how early you should arrive, so check your booking confirmation and give yourself plenty of time to get through the concourse with children in tow. Watching a steam engine arrive among modern electric trains is a sight in itself.
If you are travelling in from outer London or the suburbs, check engineering works for that Saturday before you set off. Weekend closures on the Underground and national rail are common in December, and a planned diversion is far less stressful than a surprise one with a pushchair and a child in a Santa hat.
Ninety minutes of steam and storytelling
The trip lasts 90 minutes and is hauled by steam. Steam Dreams describes the carriages as vintage and decorated for Christmas, and promises festive entertainment along the way: storytelling, singalongs and what it calls travelling theatre, where performers move through the train.
The operator does not publish the route on its Santa page, so do not promise your children particular sights out of the window. Instead, treat the journey as the show itself, with the rhythm of the steam engine up front and characters popping up in the corridor.
Travelling theatre on a moving train is a lovely idea for children who like to be part of the action. Little ones who are more cautious may prefer to watch from a parent's lap until they warm up; nobody will mind if your child just stares. The singalongs are a good moment for shy children to join in from a safe distance, so it can help to practise a couple of favourite carols at home in the week before.
Santa's visit and a traditional gift
Every child meets Santa during the trip and receives a traditional gift. There is also a snack and a drink included. The operator only describes the gift as traditional, so keep expectations open and let it be a surprise.
Choosing between the four departures
Four departure times appear on the operator's page: 9.15am, 11.45am, 3.15pm and 5.15pm. Each one is marked with an asterisk that the page does not explain, so confirm your exact time on the booking screen. The two afternoon departures will return after dark, which can add a little magic but means a later bedtime for younger children. Once you are back at Victoria, you are in the middle of town, with buses and the Tube right outside.
Matching a Victoria departure to your child's age
Babies and young toddlers
For babies, the morning departures fit best around feeds and naps. The 9.15am train gets you home by lunchtime, while the 11.45am suits a baby who naps early. The operator's page does not mention pushchairs, baby changing or how infants are priced, so ask Steam Dreams on 01483 209888 before booking.
Preschoolers and the travelling theatre
Ninety minutes with entertainment is about right for this age group. The 11.45am departure avoids a dawn start across London, and the singalongs and theatre suit pre-schoolers who love to join in. If your child gets restless in long car journeys, the lack of a drive is a real bonus here. Think about the journey to Victoria too: for a family coming from the edge of London, an hour on public transport each way plus 90 minutes on the train adds up, so a midday start gives everyone a calmer day.
Older children on the Santa Steam Express
Children of six and over may enjoy the later trains, with a darker sky and the bright lights of the city on the way back into Victoria. A steam engine in central London is also a novelty that older children who already know heritage railways may appreciate. Older children could also be given the job of spotting the engine's name and number when it backs onto the train, which turns waiting on the platform into a game.
Budget and alternatives
Fares are not shown on the Santa page, only when you choose a departure, so compare them with the heritage line options before you decide. With only two Saturdays, this train suits families who want the city convenience; if neither date works, the Bluebell Railway Santa Specials in Sussex and the Kent and East Sussex Railway's Santa trains at Tenterden run on many more days, though you will need to get out of London. The weather matters less on a city trip, since you will be indoors at the station and on the train most of the time.
Bear in mind that the two dates fall in the busiest shopping weeks of the year, when central London is packed. If crowds overwhelm your child, the 9.15am departure gets you through Victoria before the busiest part of the day.
Victoria station and the company that brings steam back to it
London Victoria began as two stations side by side. According to Network Rail, the London Brighton and South Coast Railway opened its half on 1 October 1860, and the London Chatham and Dover Railway opened the other half on 25 August 1862. The station was first called the Grosvenor Terminus, after the old Grosvenor Canal basin it was built on, and it takes its present name from Victoria Street rather than directly from Queen Victoria.
Both halves were rebuilt in the early twentieth century, the Brighton side in 1908 and the other side in 1909, and in 1923 the two companies became part of the Southern Railway, which opened archways between them. In the 1930s, Victoria was the departure point for the Brighton Belle and for overnight boat trains to France and Belgium. Later, in 1958, it gained a terminal for passengers flying from Gatwick, and the Gatwick Express arrived in 1984.
Steam Dreams, the company behind the Santa Steam Express, is far younger. Its own history page says its first journey left Waterloo on 16 December 1999, with more than 150 passengers on a day trip to Salisbury. In December 2018 the company was bought by David and Patricia Buck, owners of the steam locomotive Mayflower, and in June 2022 it was acquired by Locomotive Services Group.
Steam Dreams also runs tours under the name Cathedrals Express, which borrows the title of a British Railways service between Hereford and London Paddington that began in 1957. Unlike the heritage railways in our guide, Steam Dreams does not have its own line: it runs its steam trains on the main national network, which is why it can start a Santa trip in central London.
Running steam on the national network takes a lot of planning, as a special train has to fit between the regular timetabled services. That is also why a steam train at Victoria feels so special: for most of the year, the platforms there see only modern electric trains.
- 1860The Brighton company's half of Victoria station opens on 1 October.
- 1862The Chatham and Dover company's half opens on 25 August.
- 1908The rebuilt Brighton side opens, with longer platforms and a royal entrance.
- 1923Both sides of Victoria become part of the Southern Railway.
- 1957British Railways starts the original Cathedrals Express between Hereford and Paddington.
- 1999Steam Dreams runs its first trip, from Waterloo to Salisbury, on 16 December.
- 2018David and Patricia Buck, owners of the locomotive Mayflower, buy Steam Dreams.
- 2022Locomotive Services Group acquires Steam Dreams in June.
To tell a six-year-old: Victoria station is so old that it used to be two stations, and once a year a real steam train puffs into it to take children to meet Santa, just like trains did long ago.
Around Victoria on a December Saturday
Victoria is a short walk from some of London's most famous sights, which makes it easy to turn the Santa trip into a full day out. Buckingham Palace is just up the road, and St James's Park beyond it is a lovely place for children to run about and look at the birds on the lake. Green Park and Hyde Park are close by too.
Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament are around a 15-minute walk from Victoria, and children who have just ridden a steam train often enjoy hearing Big Ben. On a cold day, a bus ride on the top deck past the sights is a cheap, warm way to see the city.
If you are taking a morning train, plan lunch afterwards rather than before, as children will be full of snacks and excitement. With an afternoon departure, a morning in the parks and an early lunch works well.
London has many Christmas events in December, from lights and ice rinks to markets, but dates and prices change every year. We only list events we have confirmed, so for 2026 ideas see our London Christmas with kids guide, which we keep updated.
If you want to try a heritage line on another weekend, the Father Christmas steam trains on Hampshire's Watercress Line are one of the closer options to the capital.
Remember that Victoria is a busy station and the surrounding streets get crowded on Saturdays before Christmas. Keep young children close, and agree a meeting point in case anyone gets separated. Older children can be shown a clear landmark in the concourse, such as the departure boards.
For a quieter end to the day, the streets of Pimlico just south of the station are calmer than the main roads, with cafés and small squares. Wherever you go, check opening times for Saturday 12 or 19 December in advance, as many places run special Christmas hours.
What to check before your Santa Steam Express
Pushchairs at Victoria
The operator's page does not say whether pushchairs can go on board or where to store them. Ask Steam Dreams when you book; a light folding buggy or a sling will be easier on a busy station concourse either way.
Loos at Victoria and on the vintage train
There is no information on the Santa page about toilets on the train. Victoria station has toilets, so use them before boarding, and ask Steam Dreams whether there are toilets and changing space in the vintage carriages. With a 90-minute trip and a drink included, it is worth knowing before you set off.
Heating on the Santa Steam Express
Steam Dreams says nothing about heating on its Santa page. Vintage carriages can vary, so ask when you book, and dress children in layers they can take off once on board. Remember that you may spend time waiting on an open platform at Victoria before the train is ready to board.
Arriving by public transport
Victoria is served by the Underground and many bus routes, and by national rail services. Allow extra time on a December Saturday, when trains and the station are busy. If you must drive, look up parking near Victoria in advance, as it is limited and expensive in central London.
Tickets and departure times
You book a specific departure online or by phone on 01483 209888. The posted times are marked with an asterisk that the page does not explain, so check the time and any conditions carefully at the booking stage. Ask about the refund policy and how children and babies are priced before you pay.
Accessibility and dogs at Victoria
The operator does not give accessibility or dog information on its Santa page. If anyone in your party uses a wheelchair, or you would like to bring a dog, call Steam Dreams before booking to find out what is possible on a vintage mainline train. Older carriages often have narrow doors and steps, so ask about boarding help and where a wheelchair can travel.
Weather and steam
Mainline steam operations can be affected by weather or operational issues. Keep your phone handy in the days before travel in case Steam Dreams needs to contact you about changes. Make sure the email address and phone number on your booking are ones you check regularly.
Allergies and food
A snack and drink are included, but the page does not say what they are. If your child has a food allergy or intolerance, ask Steam Dreams for details before travel and bring a safe snack of your own.
A city Santa trip bag for Victoria
Pack as you would for a day in central London with a treat in the middle.
- An Oyster card or contactless card for the Tube and buses
- A sling or light folding buggy for the station
- Layers for a vintage carriage of unknown temperature
- A safe snack if your child has allergies
- A bag for the traditional gift
- Wipes and tissues
- A charged phone for photos of the engine
- A small toy for the wait on the concourse
The Santa Steam Express in figures
- 90 minutes: length of the steam journey
- 2: Saturdays the train runs in 2026
- 4: departure times posted for each date
- 1860: year the first half of Victoria station opened
- 1999: year Steam Dreams ran its first trip
- 150 plus: passengers on that first Steam Dreams trip
- 1984: year the Gatwick Express started from Victoria
Getting to London Victoria without the car
Victoria is in central London, so the Tube, buses or national rail are usually quicker and easier than driving. If you do drive, allow plenty of time and book parking in advance.
| From | Drive time (approx.) |
|---|---|
| London | in central London |
More Santa trains an easy trip from London
If you would rather ride on a heritage line, these are the closest in our UK guide.
- Bluebell Railway Santa Specials at Sheffield Park Sheffield Park, South East England
- Kent and East Sussex Railway Santa trains Tenterden, South East England
- Father Christmas Express trains from Ropley, Hampshire Ropley, South East England
More for Christmas train families
Santa Steam Express London: questions parents ask
When does the Santa Steam Express run from London Victoria in 2026?
It runs on two Saturdays only, 12 December and 19 December 2026.
What times does the Santa steam train leave London Victoria?
The operator lists departures at 9.15am, 11.45am, 3.15pm and 5.15pm. These are marked with an asterisk that is not explained, so confirm your time when booking.
How much is the Santa Steam Express from Victoria?
Fares are not shown on the Santa page and appear when you choose a departure on the Steam Dreams website. You can also call 01483 209888.
How do I book the London Santa steam train?
Book online for a specific departure on the Steam Dreams website, or phone 01483 209888.
Do babies pay on the Santa Steam Express London?
The operator's page does not say how babies are priced. Ask Steam Dreams before booking.
How long is the Santa Steam Express from Victoria?
The steam journey lasts 90 minutes.
Where in London does the Santa Steam Express depart from?
It leaves from London Victoria station. Check your booking confirmation for platform details and arrival time.
Can I bring a pushchair on the Santa Steam Express from Victoria?
Pushchairs are not covered in the Santa details. Ask Steam Dreams when booking, and consider a sling or light folding buggy.
Are there toilets on the Santa steam train from Victoria?
The Santa page does not mention toilets on board. Use the facilities at Victoria before boarding and ask Steam Dreams about the carriages.
Is the Santa Steam Express from London heated?
The page does not mention heating, so ask when you book and dress children in layers.
Does every child get a present on the Victoria Santa train?
Yes. Every child meets Santa and receives a traditional gift.
Is food included on the Santa Steam Express London?
A snack and a drink are included. If your child has allergies, ask Steam Dreams about the contents.
What entertainment is on the London Santa steam train?
Steam Dreams promises storytelling, singalongs and travelling theatre in decorated vintage carriages.
Which Santa Steam Express departure from Victoria is best with a baby?
The 9.15am or 11.45am departures are usually easiest around naps and feeds, and get you home before dark.
Does the weather affect the Santa Steam Express from Victoria?
You will be indoors on the train and at the station most of the time. Mainline steam can occasionally be affected by weather, so keep an eye on messages from the operator.
When did London Victoria station open?
According to Network Rail, the first half opened on 1 October 1860 and the second on 25 August 1862.
Who runs the Santa Steam Express from Victoria?
Steam Dreams, a steam tour operator that ran its first trip in December 1999 and has been part of Locomotive Services Group since June 2022.
What can we do near Victoria after the Santa train?
Buckingham Palace, St James's Park, Green Park and Hyde Park are all close by. Our London Christmas with kids guide lists confirmed festive events.
Are there other Santa trains near London?
Yes. The Bluebell Railway, the Kent and East Sussex Railway and the Watercress Line all run Santa trains within reach of London; see our UK Santa train guide.
Is the London Santa Steam Express accessible, and can dogs come?
The Santa page gives no accessibility or dog information. Call Steam Dreams on 01483 209888 before booking.
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 London.
Sources
- Steam Dreams Rail Co.: official page (steamdreams.co.uk) (opens in a new tab)
- The history of London Victoria station (Network Rail) (opens in a new tab)
- Our story (Steam Dreams) (opens in a new tab)
- Cathedrals Express (Wikipedia) (opens in a new tab)
Checked on the railway’s official pages on 4 November 2026. This train is run by Steam Dreams Rail Co.. 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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