Santa Express Day Trip 2025

The Santa Express captures the spirit of the season with its warmth and charm. Your family will love it!

The Santa Express returns… but only for those who know where to look.

All aboard the North East’s best-kept festive secret: a moving Christmas story set on a heritage train that winds through wild winter landscapes to a place few ever find… where Santa appears as if by magic, and memories are made that last a lifetime.

The Santa Express is a truly spectacular magical Christmas family adventure on a very special Heritage Railway beginning at Stanhope Station. The Festive adventure begins with a cup of hot chocolate and a yummy sweet treat at the station before boarding the train. The train then departs for a top secret location hidden deep in Weardale, where it is joined by Santa Claus. A narrated Christmas Story unfolds during the journey, with some familiar festive sing-along songs and some new Santa Express ones. Plus with immersive entertainment and bags of Christmas cheer all wrapped up in some good old Panto style family fun en-route.

Price includes:-

Return coach travel to and from your local joining point
A ride on the Santa Express from Stanhope Station

Child age 2 to 12 inclusive

Please find below our pick up points (not all pick up points will be available on all departure dates). View the pick-up point you require, then you’ll see a list of dates which are/aren’t available from your pick up point.

Name	Address	Distance
Birtley Southbound	Birtley Southbound Opposite Gregg's, Durham Road
Blaydon	Blaydon Bus Station, Stand A
Chester le Street	Chester le Street Market Place, Stand M
Cleadon Southbound	Cleadon Southbound Bus Stop on A1018 at Cleadon Pond
Dunston	Dunston Monument, Glebe Terrace
Durham	Durham Bus Stop on Sutton Street
Durham Services	Durham Bowburn Services A1M Jct 61, Coach Park
East Herrington South	East Herrington Southbound Bus Stop Opposite the Board Inn on A690
Fulwell Southbound	Fulwell Southbound Bus Stop opposite The Grange on A1018
Gateshead	Gateshead Metro Interchange, Stand X
Heworth	Heworth Metro Interchange, Stand X
Houghton le Spring	Houghton le Spring Layby on A182 behind Lidl
Metro Centre	Metro Centre Coach Park
Newcastle.	Newcastle Bus stop at bottom of Bewick St (opp Central Stn)
South Shields	South Shields Metro/Bus Interchange, Stand Q
South Shields, The Nook	South Shields, The Nook Sunderland Road, Opposite Harley's Bar
Sunderland, Park Lane	Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange
Swalwell	Swalwell Whickham Bank/Clavering Road Junction
Washington Galleries	Washington The Galleries Bus Station (layby outside)
Westoe Southbound	Westoe Southbound Bus stop on Westoe Road at St Michael's Church
Whickham - Bridle Path	Whickham Bridle Path, Front Street
Whickham - Church Green	Whickham Church Green, Bus Stop