Every December, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway turns into a Christmas wonderland. The Santa Special service is an exciting train journey with Santa Claus and his elves on board. The special team of elves spread plenty of holiday spirit to everyone on board. We went on this magical ride on a steam train over the weekend, so let’s find out more about it. 

About The Santa Special

The Santa Special service is an unforgettable journey that takes place on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a heritage railway that has a rich history and stunning scenic views. It’s an hour-long return journey. The train ride is a magical Christmas experience that is fun for the whole family.

The Santa Special services are known as “The Santa Express”. The train is decorated for Christmas and feels all festive, ready to give children a magic journey. There’s even a special meet and greet with the onboard Santa. From the moment you set foot on the heritage carriages, the charming atmosphere sweeps you off your feet, transporting you into a world of enchantment.

The Stations: Pickering and Grosmont

The Santa Express can be boarded at either Pickering Station or Grosmont Station. The stations themselves are filled with festive decorations with Christmas music playing. It really does take you back in time! 

Pickering Station

The Pickering Santa train departs from Pickering Station in North Yorkshire, about 30 minutes from York. This is where we went for our Santa Specials journey. The station has a vintage charm and it looked lovely with all the Christmas decorations! We arrived early and had plenty of time, so popped into the tea rooms for some hot drinks, I had hot chocolate and tea cake. 

Grosmont Station

Grosmont Station offers another entry point for the Santa Express. Located in the quaint village of Grosmont, close to Whitby.

Meeting Santa Claus and His Elves

We were in the tea rooms when The Santa Express entered the station. One of the staff members came in and told us that the train was on its way, so we were able to pop out and watch it arrive at the station. My little boy’s face lit up when he saw this steam locomotive! It was his third birthday and he LOVES trains, so it was a fantastic present for him.

After the train had been cleaned, we boarded. We were greeted by two of Santas elves! The jolly helpers came up and down the train talking to all of the children. When they found out it was my son’s birthday, they got everyone to sing Happy Birthday to him. It was a really magical experience. 

As the train chugged along the tracks, you could see the beautiful scenery, while the team of playful elves kept us all entertained with silly jokes. Then Father Christmas appeared and made his way through the train carriages to speak to each child. He asked what they wanted for Christmas, and told my son he needed to brush his teeth better. Which is funny as we have a really difficult time brushing his teeth. How did he know? He’s magic. 

Santa Claus has a special gift for every well-behaved child on board. These special soft toys serve as a token of Santa’s appreciation for being on the nice list this year. Leo got a teddy hedgehog that came with a heart, stuffing and a passport. The children stuffed the hedgehog on board and the elves then stamped the passport. 

Around this time, Peppermint the Elf wrote in the steam on the window opposite ‘Peppermint Was Here’ and then ‘Happy Birthday Leo’. Very cute.

After a while, we stopped. The train uncoupled and then coupled to the back of the train to take us back to Pickering. We did a Christmas quiz and sang lots of Christmas songs on the way back to the train station. Our hour-long journey did take a little longer, it was about 1 hour and 15 minutes in total (I think we had to wait for a train to pass). The time went so quickly, we could have stayed on longer! 

When we left the train, we popped into the gift shop. I got my son some Thomas The Tank Engine socks and a model of The Flying Scotsman for his wooden train set which we will put away for Christmas. 

Information: 

Prices

The fare for the Santa Specials service is priced at  £30 per person for both adults and children. The fare includes the train ride, a meeting with Santa Claus and his elves, and a special gift. Children under 12 months ride for free, although they won’t have a seat or gift unless you bring one for Santa to distribute.

(Note: these were the prices at the time of our visit and may have increased for 2026).

Dates:

The Santa Express typically runs every Saturday and Sunday from late November through to Christmas Eve. Check the official NYMR website for the exact 2026 dates.

What To Wear:

​The train is steam-heated, so it can get chilly. There is one blanket on the table, but you are invited to bring more so there is one for everyone. We wore our coats and hats. I did take my coat off halfway through as I also had the blanket and felt warm enough.

When To Arrive:

It’s recommended to arrive 40 minutes before departure. We arrived at Pickering station 50 minutes before and this gave us time to sort out parking in the car park, go to the toilet and visit the cafe. We also got to see the train pull in. We boarded the train about 15 minutes before our departure time. I wanted to leave extra time as we had never been before, and I have been told the car park can get full. 

The Parking Facilities

Both Pickering and Grosmont stations have car parks available, so you will have a safe and convenient place to park your vehicle. The car parks are located close to the stations, allowing for easy access to the Santa Express. 

At Pickering, it costs £5 to park all day. Ideal if you would like to explore Pickering after your magical journey on the train! 

A Lovely Festive Journey 

The Santa Express service on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a magical adventure. We loved our train ride and it was so much fun seeing our son meet Santa Claus and his playful elves. We made such festive memories, the atmosphere was great! 

Whether you’re a fan of steam trains or not this festive journey is great fun. Book your tickets now and go on the famous Santa Express, filled with laughter, joy, and festive cheer.

Book now! Tickets are selling fast!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pickering Santa train? It is a special festive steam train service run by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) that travels from Pickering Station on an hour-long return journey with Santa on board.

How much are the NYMR Santa Special tickets? For our trip, tickets were £30 per person, which included the journey, a meeting with Santa, and a soft toy gift. Check the official site for current 2026 pricing.

Does the Santa Express Pickering have toilets? There are toilets available at Pickering Station, including accessible facilities and baby changing. It is recommended to use these before boarding the train.

What is the best Santa train Yorkshire has to offer? The NYMR Santa Special is widely considered one of the best in Yorkshire due to the authentic heritage steam trains and the beautiful scenery of the North York Moors.

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