Santa Specials 2026 at Middleton Railway, Leeds

The Santa steam train experience right on your doorstep

Ride a real steam train with Santa to Middleton Park and back. Santa gives every fare paying child aged 10 and under a specially chosen wrapped present on the train, and a children’s entertainer keeps the fun going. Back at the station, make your way to Santa’s grotto for a chat and photos, then it’s mince pies and juice. One ticket price covers all the fun, no add-ons

Santa climbs aboard the steam engine with his sack of presents as families wait on the platform in Leeds

Your Santa Special at a glance

How your Railway visit works

Santa kneels to shake hands with a little boy beside a maroon carriage on a Santa Special in Leeds

Santa joins you on a magical steam train journey right here in Leeds

Family enjoying mince pies, tea and juice in the festive café after a Santa Special at Middleton Railway, Leeds

Enjoy an included drink and snack in our decorated café

Children laughing with Grumble Bear in a festive scarf on board a decorated Santa train in Leeds

Children's entertainment from Penny and Grumble Bear

Family taking a selfie with Santa in his grotto at Middleton Railway's Santa Specials in Leeds

Chat to Santa in his grotto and take some memorable photos

Santa hands a wrapped present to a young boy on board a Santa Special train in Leeds

Specially chosen presents for every paying child delivered by Santa

Family walking through the Display Hall decorated with Christmas lights, past a green steam engine

Take a wander through our beautifully decorated museum

Ready to book?
Santa waves from the end of a maroon carriage as a family walks along the platform to board

One low price with everything included

Your ticket covers the whole visit: the steam train ride, Santa's present for every paying child aged 10 and under, the children's entertainer, a chat and photos with Santa in his grotto, refreshments and the decorated museum. There's no booking fee online, no premium seats and no upgrade packages. Every family gets the same proper Christmas.

A present chosen specially for your child

Every child aged 10 and under, with a paid fare, gets a high-quality, age-appropriate present from Santa, wrapped individually. When you book online, you'll be asked how old each child will be on the day of travel and whether you'd like a boy's, girl's or gender-neutral present, so Santa's helpers can choose well. If you book by phone, just tell us.

Looking for a slightly quieter experience?

The 09:45 trains on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December include a Quiet Coach, with fewer people and a calmer, quieter atmosphere. It suits anyone who finds noise or crowds difficult. Just add "Quiet Coach" in the special requirements box when you book online, or mention it when you phone. Places are limited and allocated first come, first served.

Latest trip availability

Santa Availability

DATE DEPARTURE TIME
Saturday
5th 		09:45 (Q) 10:30 11:15 12:00 13:15 14:00 14:45 15:30
Sunday
6th 		09:45 (Q) 10:30 11:15 12:00 13:15 14:00 14:45 15:30
Saturday
12th 		09:45 10:30 11:15 12:00 13:15 14:00 14:45 15:30
Sunday
13th 		09:45 10:30 11:15 12:00 13:15 14:00 14:45 15:30
Saturday
19th 		09:45 10:30 11:15 12:00 13:15 14:00 14:45 15:30
Sunday
20th 		09:45 10:30 11:15 12:00 13:15 14:00 14:45 15:30
Wednesday
23rd 		09:45 10:30 11:15 12:00 13:15 14:00 14:45 15:30
Thursday
24th 		09:45 10:30 11:15 12:00 13:15 14:00 14:45 15:30

Last updated 25 October 2026 at 11:00am

Service highlighted in  YELLOW  means that seats are selling fast and  RED  means that all seats have already been sold. 

To check for last minute cancellations, please call our Santa Hotline on 07376 744 799 Monday to Friday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm only.

Book your tickets

Good to know

  • Parking: Free on site, next to the building entrance, subject to availability including marked disabled bays.
  • Accessibility: Our building and trains are accessible, with an accessible toilet and baby change just inside the Engine House.
  • Concessionary fares: Members’ free tickets, complimentary tickets, HRA passes and all other passes are not valid for December services. The only exception to this is for a carer accompanying a fare-paying passenger. Please call us for further information.
  • Departure time: Please arrive at least 20 minutes before your train. Trains have to run to time and can't wait. If you miss yours, we'll do our best to help, but we can't guarantee another seat.
  • Round trips: Each ticket is for one round trip on the train you've booked. You can't get off at Park Halt and come back on a later train.
  • Refreshments: Café drinks aren't on sale before your journey, and hot drinks aren't allowed on the trains.
  • Assistance dogs: Due to limited space, the only animals permitted to travel on Santa Specials are assistance dogs.
  • The locomotive: Trains are normally pulled by a steam locomotive but operating conditions may mean a diesel will be added at the back of the train.
  • Photography: As these trains are family experiences, please be mindful of other people's children when taking pictures or videos.
  • Terms & Conditions: Whilst every effort will be made to run the advertised services, The Middleton Railway Trust Ltd reserves the right to amend, alter or cancel any train service without notice. Press here to read the full Santa Specials terms and conditions...
Dad and child wave to Santa in the cab of a steam train on a snowy platform at dusk in Leeds

Frequently asked questions

Santa Specials run on Saturday 5, Sunday 6, Saturday 12, Sunday 13, Saturday 19, Sunday 20, Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 December 2026. There are eight trains a day, from 09:45 to 15:30.

Advance tickets are £14.50 for adults, £18.00 for children aged 3 to 10 and £12.50 for children under 3 (both with a present from Santa), and £7.50 for young people aged 11 to 15. Babies under 12 months who don’t need a seat or present travel free. Christmas Eve tickets are £1 more.

Everything is included: the steam train ride, a wrapped present from Santa for every child aged 10 and under, a children’s entertainer on the train, photos with Santa in his grotto, tea or coffee and a mince pie for adults, juice and biscuits for children, and our decorated museum. There’s no booking fee and nothing to upgrade.

The train ride to Middleton Park and back takes about 30 minutes. Arrive 20 minutes before your train to collect your tickets. Afterwards, make your way to Santa’s grotto, then enjoy the café at your own pace.

Each Santa Special has two carriages. Santa rides in one and gives every fare paying child aged 10 and under their present, while a children’s entertainer is in the other. For the journey back they swap carriages, so every child gets a present from Santa and time with the entertainer. 

Every child aged 10 and under with a paid ticket gets a high-quality, age-appropriate wrapped present. Babies under 12 months travelling free don’t receive a present, and children aged 11 and over are treated as adults.

When you book online, you tell us each child’s age on the day of travel and whether you’d like a boy’s, girl’s or gender-neutral present. Santa’s helpers use this to choose. If you book by phone, just let us know. We can’t always exchange presents on the day.

Yes. When your train gets back to Moor Road, make your way through the Display Hall to Santa’s grotto, where you can take photos on your own phone or camera. There’s no charge for photos. Please be mindful of other families’ children in the background.

We strongly recommend it. Booking in advance is cheaper and guarantees your seat. Christmas Eve (24 December) is pre-book only, with no tickets sold on the day.

Call the Santa Hotline on 07376 744 799, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. If nobody answers, leave a message saying “Christmas booking” with your name and number, and we’ll call you back.

Online booking for each train closes at 2am on the Thursday before it runs. 

Yes. Parking is free on site subject to availability, next to the building entrance, with marked disabled bays. Use the postcode LS10 2JQ.

Yes. Our building and trains are accessible, and there’s an accessible toilet and baby change inside the Engine House. If a wheelchair user is in your party, please tell us in the special requirements box when you book.

Yes. The 09:45 trains on 5 and 6 December include a Quiet Coach with fewer people and a calmer atmosphere. Request it in the special requirements box when booking. Places are first come, first served.

Yes, inside the Engine House, including an accessible toilet and baby change. There are no toilets on the trains.

Only assistance dogs can come on Santa Specials. Dogs on leads are welcome on our normal running days from Easter to the end of October.

No. Concessions, members’ tickets and passes aren’t valid on Santa Specials. A carer accompanying a fare-paying passenger is the only exception: please phone the Santa Hotline.

Yes, Santa Specials are normally steam hauled. Due to some operation reasons, a diesel may occasionally be added at the back of the train.

Trains must run to time, so please arrive 20 minutes early. If you miss your train we’ll do our best to make other arrangements, but we can’t guarantee a seat on a later train.

Not on Santa Specials. Your ticket is for one round trip on your booked train, so everyone returns to Moor Road together.