Steam Trains and Family Santa Experiences in Gloucestershire (2025)
Discover the best Steam trains & family Santa experiences as Christmas events in Gloucestershire for 2025. Dates, times, addresses, official websites, ticket links, and parking—everything families need.
Updated 12/12/2025
Gloucestershire turns into a storybook each December, and nowhere is the magic stronger than on its heritage railways. This guide brings together six standout Steam trains & family Santa experiences as Christmas events in Gloucestershire, blending the cozy hiss of steam with twinkling lights, hot treats, and unforgettable meet-and-greets.
Whether you’re gliding through the Cotswolds on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, winding under forest canopies on the Dean Forest Railway, or making memories at Perrygrove’s woodland adventure line, you’ll find rich traditions paired with family-friendly touches: gifts for little riders, festive snacks, photo moments, and warm welcomes from elves and volunteers.
We’ve curated everything you need—exact dates and times, full addresses, official websites, direct ticket links, and clear parking info—so planning is painless and the excitement starts now.
Some events sell out fast (especially Santa rides), so early booking is wise. We also include two festive steam experiences that complement Santa trains: a post-Christmas “Mince Pie” special and an atmospheric carols-by-steam evening, both perfect for extending the seasonal glow.
Read on for six immersive, well-organized picks across Cheltenham, the Forest of Dean, and South Gloucestershire, each one a reliable, joy-filled choice for families, grandparents, and train lovers alike. All aboard!
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway – Santa Express (Cheltenham)
Climb aboard beautifully restored carriages at Cheltenham Racecourse Station for a classic Santa journey through Cotswold scenery. The Santa Express pairs heritage steam with cheerful elves, family-friendly carriages, and gifts for children, creating a festive ritual you’ll want to repeat each year. It’s a polished, volunteer-led experience: stations are dressed for Christmas, there are platform photo spots, and the whole trip feels timeless and warm.
Your journey begins at Cheltenham Racecourse on most dates, with a special Toddington departure on 13 December only. Services run across late November and December, typically mid-morning through late afternoon, giving you flexible slots for naps and mealtimes.
Parking is ample and free at Cheltenham Racecourse and other GWSR stations, making arrival smooth even with bulky prams and winter gear. Because this is one of the region’s headline seasonal events, advance booking is essential; popular times vanish quickly.
Date: 22 Nov – 23 Dec 2025 (mainly weekends)
Time: 10:00–17:00 (service windows)
Address: Cheltenham Racecourse Station, Evesham Rd, Cheltenham GL50 4SH (station for GWSR services)
Website & Ticket Link: via official website here
Parking: Free parking at Cheltenham Racecourse & other GWSR stations
If you’re after the archetypal steam-and-Santa day out—authentic locomotives, cosy carriages, smiling helpers, and a magical meet with Father Christmas—this is Gloucestershire’s gold standard, and a wonderful way to introduce children to the romance of rail at Christmastime.
Dean Forest Railway – Santa Specials (Lydney/Norchard)
The Dean Forest Railway’s Santa Specials deliver a 75-minute woodland adventure where Santa visits every family at their seats as the steam train trundles between Norchard, Parkend, and Lydney Junction. Children receive age-appropriate presents, adults are treated to warming festive touches (including mince pies), and the friendly crew keep everything running smoothly.
Starting at Norchard Station—home to the museum, café, shop, and a large free car park—this trip is perfect for prams and grandparents alike. The route’s changing scenery feels intimate and wintry, with a brief pause while the engine runs round at Parkend, adding a peek behind the scenes. It’s a thoughtful, well-paced journey that balances excitement for kids and comfort for adults.
Date: Select dates 29 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
Time: Approx. 75-minute experience; departures vary by date
Address: Norchard Station, Forest Rd, Lydney GL15 4ET
Website & Ticket Link: via official website here
Parking: Free parking at Norchard (cars & coaches)
Tickets are popular and strictly advance-booked, so choose your date early and aim to arrive with time to explore Norchard’s platform, grab hot drinks, and snap pre-ride photos. If your family loves cosy compartments, gifts, and a proper steam setting inside real Dean woodland, this is a heartwarming, can’t-miss Christmas classic.
Perrygrove Railway – Father Christmas at Perrygrove (Coleford)
Tucked in the Forest of Dean, Perrygrove turns Christmas into a full-day family adventure. Your ticket bundles unlimited rides on the Christmas Express, an interactive theatre show where Santa “comes down the chimney,” and a personal meet-and-greet with a gift for every child.
Between trains, explore the Twilight Village indoor play, Foxy Hollow covered playground, treetop walkways, tunnels, and woodland trails—ideal for burning off mince pies while keeping spirits high. For 2025, you can even add optional ice skating for extra sparkle.
The site is famously family-friendly: buggy parking is provided, and dogs are welcome on site (not in the theatre or skating marquee). With festive décor, photo spots, and plenty of sheltered activities, the experience works in all weathers.
Date: 7 – 24 Dec 2025
Time: Open daily 09:30–17:00 (ticket includes full Christmas programme)
Address: Perrygrove Railway, Perrygrove Rd, Coleford GL16 8QB
Website & Ticket Link: via official website here
Parking: Large free car park on site
Pre-booking is essential because dates sell out quickly near Christmas. On arrival, you’ll find straightforward wayfinding, helpful staff, and a generous on-site car park—great when you’re managing coats, scarves, and excited little elves. If you want a steam-themed day that’s as much about play as the train ride, Perrygrove’s immersive, polished format is a winner for mixed-age groups.
Avon Valley Railway – Santa Specials (Bitton, South Gloucestershire)
A short hop from the county boundary, the Avon Valley Railway’s Santa Specials at Bitton Station are a family favourite worth the easy drive from Gloucestershire. Expect festive carriages, a relaxed ~50-minute round trip, platform cheer (look out for Christmas donkeys on selected dates), and a friendly Santa meet with gifts for children.
Trains typically depart five times per day, giving you flexible choices around naps and meals. The railway publishes transparent date-by-date pricing and runs multiple December weekends, plus extra pre-Christmas days—so late planners can sometimes still catch a slot. Parking at Bitton is free, and the site is compact, making arrivals and departures quick even with buggies and winter layers.
Date: 23 Nov; 29–30 Nov; 6–7 Dec; 13–14 Dec; 19–24 Dec 2025
Time: Typical departures 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30, 16:00; journey ~50 mins
Address: Bitton Station, Bath Rd, Bitton, Bristol BS30 6HD
Website & Ticket Link: via official website here
Parking: Free car parking at Bitton Station
For families who want a streamlined Santa ride that balances value with proper heritage-rail charm, this is a reliable, polished option—especially if your plans include Bristol or Bath Christmas attractions the same day. Book early for prime times, then arrive a little ahead to soak in the station atmosphere and snap those platform portraits under the lights.
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway – Mince Pie Special (Post-Christmas Steam)
When the wrapping paper settles, keep the festivities rolling on the GWSR Mince Pie Special. Running between Christmas and New Year, these cheerful steam services are a brilliant way to “blow away the cobwebs,” admire crisp Cotswold views, and enjoy a traditional seasonal treat.
Families love the relaxed pace—no Santa queues, just warm carriages, friendly volunteers, and that nostalgic rhythm of wheels on rail. It’s ideal for visiting relatives and multi-generational days out: plenty of seating, easy station access, and the same well-organized parking you’ll know from Santa Express days.
The timetable usually offers multiple departures across the late-December/early-January window; booking ahead is still advised because many locals make this an annual tradition.
Date: 27 Dec 2025 – 4 Jan 2026 (service window)
Time: Typically 10:00–17:00 (check daily timetables)
Address: GWSR network (Cheltenham Racecourse/Toddington/Winchcombe; see site for chosen departure)
Website & Ticket Link: via official website here
Parking: Free at Cheltenham Racecourse & Toddington; limited at Winchcombe
If you’re looking for a low-pressure, joyfully old-fashioned outing that stretches Christmas feelings into the New Year, this is a perfect pick—especially paired with a pub lunch or a stroll in one of the nearby Cotswold towns.
Avon Valley Railway – Carols & Steam Evening (One-Night Special)
For something delightfully different, the Carols & Steam Evening at Bitton wraps festive music around an atmospheric night ride. On Saturday 6 December 2025, families gather on the platform before boarding a steam train where a local brass band leads classic carols between journeys.
It’s cozy and communal—hot drinks in hand, breath in the cold air, and carols echoing against the carriages as steam curls beneath the lamps. The format is short and sweet, ideal for school-age children who love singing and for grandparents who enjoy traditional Christmas tunes. Because it’s a one-night event, advance booking is essential; tickets are attractively priced and often snapped up by locals.
Date: 6 Dec 2025 (one-night special)
Time: Evening event; listings show ~18:30–20:30
Address: Bitton Station, Bath Rd, Bitton, Bristol BS30 6HD
Website & Ticket Link: via official website here
Parking: Free at Bitton Station.
Free parking at Bitton keeps logistics easy, and the compact station layout helps with prams and early exits if little ones get sleepy. Pair it with a simple supper in Keynsham or a festive wander in Bath earlier in the day, then end with music, steam, and a warm glow that lasts all week.
From Santa’s cheerful visits to sing-along steam nights and post-Christmas mince-pie rides, these Steam trains & family Santa experiences as Christmas events in Gloucestershire deliver heartwarming traditions with reliable, family-friendly logistics.
Each pick blends heritage charm with modern comfort: clear timetables, straightforward booking, and free or easy parking at most stations. Choose your favourite—Cotswold panoramas on the GWSR, forest magic at Dean Forest, a play-rich day at Perrygrove, or flexible options at Avon Valley—and book early for prime times.
Dress warm, plan a little buffer for photos and snacks, and let the glow of carriages, fairy lights, and friendly volunteers set the tone for a season of shared memories. All aboard for Christmas!
