Santa Specials near Crowborough for 2026: Bluebell from 28 November, adults from £35 and children from £10; the Lavender Line at Isfield on six December days.

Three heritage railways within easy reach of Crowborough are running Father Christmas trains this year, and all three are already taking bookings. The Bluebell Railway’s Santa Specials start from Sheffield Park on 28 November; the smaller Lavender Line at Isfield runs on six December days at lower prices; and the Spa Valley Railway runs The Polar Express from Tunbridge Wells West.

The quick answer

  • Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park: 28 and 29 November, then December weekends and 19 to 24 December. Adults from £35, children from £10
  • Lavender Line, Isfield: 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December. Children £21 to £22, adults £17 to £18
  • Spa Valley Railway: The Polar Express, 6 November to 30 December, from Tunbridge Wells West

All three were checked against the railways’ own booking pages on 25 September 2026.

At a glance

Bluebell Railway Lavender Line Spa Valley Railway
Event Santa Specials Christmas Trains The Polar Express Train Ride
Starts from Sheffield Park, TN22 3QL Isfield, TN22 5XB Tunbridge Wells West
Dates 28 Nov to 24 Dec 5 to 20 Dec, weekends 6 Nov to 30 Dec
Adult from £35 £17 or £18 see booking site
Child from £10 £21 or £22 (ages 1 to 12) see booking site
Length about 2 hours 40-minute ride, plus tearoom not stated
Present collectible toy from Santa age-appropriate present silver sleigh bell

Bluebell Railway Santa Specials

The Bluebell’s Santa Specials page lists these 2026 dates:

  • November: Saturday 28 and Sunday 29
  • December: Saturday 5 and Sunday 6, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13, then every day from Saturday 19 to Thursday 24 December

Trains leave Sheffield Park at 10am, 11.05am, 1pm and 2.05pm for Horsted Keynes. Families ride in their own compartment or at reserved seats in open carriages. At Horsted Keynes there is a Christmas fair with classic fairground rides included in the ticket, seasonal stalls, and Santa, who gives every child a collectible toy. New for 2026, each child also gets an activity pack on the train.

Things the railway is firm about:

  • arrive in good time: trains cannot be held, and a missed train is not refunded or rebooked
  • no dogs, other than registered support dogs
  • no buggies or prams on board; they can be left at Sheffield Park
  • some of the fair is outdoors, so dress for the weather

Prices are adults from £35 and children from £10, and the whole visit takes around two hours.

Lavender Line, Isfield

The Lavender Line’s Christmas trains page is the cheaper, shorter option and the closest to Crowborough. Every child meets Father Christmas on a 40-minute train ride and gets an age-appropriate present, then a squash or hot chocolate in the tearoom. Adults get a mince pie, apple pie or Bakewell tart with tea, coffee or hot chocolate, with gluten-free options. There is singing, and every ticket includes a ride on Riley’s Miniature Railway, weather permitting.

Dates Child (1 to 12) Adult Under 1
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December £21 £17 Free without a present, £11 with one
Saturday 12, Sunday 13, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December £22 £18 Free without a present, £11 with one

Trains leave at 11am, 12.15pm, 1.45pm and 3pm, with an extra 4.30pm train on Saturdays only. Every adult must come with a child; the railway takes no adult-only groups.

When we checked, most trains showed good availability, but the 3pm on Sunday 20 December was down to its last 13 seats. Questions go to christmas@lavender-line.co.uk.

Spa Valley Railway: The Polar Express

The Spa Valley Railway runs The Polar Express Train Ride from Tunbridge Wells West rather than a traditional Santa Special. It is a live retelling of the story on board, with the Conductor, dancing chefs, hot chocolate and a treat, and pyjamas encouraged. Santa gives each child a silver sleigh bell.

The run starts on Friday 6 November and goes on to Wednesday 30 December, including Christmas Eve and 28 to 30 December. Most days have departures from mid-morning to early evening; prices are on the booking site rather than the railway’s page.

Father Christmas in Crowborough itself

If a train is too much, Crowborough’s own Christmas Cracker on the High Street on Friday 27 November includes a land train to Santa’s grotto at the Social Club on Croft Road, according to Crowborough Town Council. The whole evening is free; details are on our Christmas lights switch-on page.

Getting there

Several roads south of Crowborough have had closures this autumn. Check our roadworks and travel page before you set off, and our Christmas trains and buses page if you are relying on public transport.

Still to be confirmed

  • the Bluebell’s full price range, which it gives only as “from” prices
  • the Polar Express ticket prices, which sit on the booking site
  • whether the Bluebell adds any New Year trains; its 2026 Santa dates end on 24 December

Also on Crowborough Today

Sources