Santa and Christmas experiences 2026
Santa and Christmas experiences for families, soonest first. 32 events listed, 3 of them free. Each one shows dates, times, prices and tips, and we check them against the organisers' websites.
November 2026
- Fenwick Christmas Window
1 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Reveal Sunday 1 November, 6.30pm (live online); windows open to everyone from Monday 2 November
Fenwick, Northumberland Street, Newcastle · Free - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, Churnet Valley Railway
7 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Churnet Valley Railway, Cheddleton · Adult £28.95 · Child £28.95 - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, Spa Valley Railway
7 Nov 2026 to 30 Dec 2026
Tunbridge Wells West station · See event website - Walking with The Snowman at Belsay
7 Nov 2026 to 10 Jan 2027 · 10am-4pm
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens · See event website - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, Wensleydale Railway
13 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Leeming Bar station, Wensleydale Railway · See event website - A Christmas Carousel at Bamburgh Castle
14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · 10am-4pm (closed 25-26 Dec)
Bamburgh Castle · See event website - Edinburgh's Christmas
14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Usually 10am-10pm; closed 25 Dec
Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh · Free - Kielder Winter Wonderland
14 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Kielder Forest · See event website - Raby Castle at Christmas
14 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Raby Castle, Staindrop · Adult £25 · Family £70 - Christmas Village, Old Eldon Square
19 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Old Eldon Square, Newcastle · See event website - Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
19 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 · Usually 10am-10pm (some later openings); closed Christmas Day
Hyde Park, London · Adult £1 · Child £1 - Newcastle Christmas Market
19 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Grey's Monument and Grey Street, Newcastle · Free - Father Christmas at Lilidorei
20 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Lilidorei, The Alnwick Garden · See event website - Christmas at Beamish
21 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026 · 10am-4pm; closed 25-26 Dec
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North · See event website - Christmas at Gibside
21 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Gibside, Rowlands Gill · See event website - Christmas at Wallington
21 Nov 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Wallington, Cambo · See event website - Father Christmas at Raby Castle
21 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Raby Castle, Staindrop · Family £32 - Santa's Enchanted Elf Journey, Whitehouse Farm
21 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Whitehouse Farm Centre, near Morpeth · See event website - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, Birmingham Moor Street
22 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Birmingham Moor Street station · See event website - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, South Devon Railway
27 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Buckfastleigh station · See event website - Christmas at Abbotsford
28 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Abbotsford, Melrose · See event website - Christmas at Seaton Delaval Hall
28 Nov 2026 to 3 Jan 2027
Seaton Delaval Hall NE26 4QR · Adult £15 · Child £7.50 · Family £37.50 - North Pole Express, Tanfield Railway
28 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026 · Hourly departures 10.25am-4.25pm; about 2 hours in total
East Tanfield Station, DH9 9UY · Adult £24 · Child £24 - Santa Express, Weardale Railway
28 Nov 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Weardale Railway · Adult £33 · Child £33 - Traquair Christmas Opening
28 Nov 2026 to 29 Nov 2026 · 10am-4pm
Traquair House, Innerleithen EH44 6PW · See event website - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, Edinburgh Waverley
29 Nov 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
Edinburgh Waverley station (Platform 2) · See event website
December 2026
- Father Christmas: Tales and Treats at Ushaw
1 Dec 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Ushaw Historic House, Durham DH7 7DW · See event website - Santa at Paxton House
1 Dec 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Paxton House, near Berwick · See event website - Santa's Grotto at Bowhill
1 Dec 2026 to 24 Dec 2026
Bowhill House, near Selkirk · See event website - Father Christmas at Belsay
5 Dec 2026 to 22 Dec 2026
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens · Child £12 - THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride, London Euston
5 Dec 2026 to 23 Dec 2026
London Euston station · See event website - Mr and Mrs Claus in the Yuletide Yurt, Raby
6 Dec 2026 to 20 Dec 2026
Raby Castle, Staindrop · See event website
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