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Tickets for our Santa Special 2026 are now on sale!
Join us at the Avon Valley Railway to make unforgettable Christmas memories onboard our 2026 Santa Special.
Once onboard our festive trains the whistle will sound and you’ll depart on your fifty minute train ride. Whilst you’re travelling, you’ll enjoy a mince pie or festive biscuit and Santa will pass through the train saying hello to everyone. Then, when you return to Bitton Station each family group will meet Santa again and all good boys and girls will receive a present from him too! There will also be the chance for your family group to take photographs and create those special festive memories.
Premium Santa Experiences are back for 2026! Enjoy quality time with Father Christmas from the comfort of our first-class carriage. Children can have their photos taken with Santa and receive their present without having to queue. All Premium Santa passengers will also enjoy a cosy hot chocolate (or grown-ups can select a mini-festive tipple) alongside their festive sweet treat whilst travelling the line.
Finally, you’ll be pleased to know that the festive Christmas donkeys will be returning once again and you’ll be able to see these on the lawn at Bitton Station (BS30 6HD), either before or after you’ve travelled on the train. If you are travelling the last train of the day (16:00 departure), please make sure you see the donkeys before you board the train.
Trains depart at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30 and 16:00 and each roundtrip is approximately 55 minutes.
| Standard Santa Experience | Premium Santa Experience | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Adult OR Child | Adult + U1* | Adult OR Child | Adult + U1* |
| 22 Nov | £18 | £24 | £26 | £32 |
| 28-29 Nov | £22 | £28 | £31 | £37 |
| 5-6 Dec | £23 | £29 | £34 | £40 |
| 12-13, 19-20 Dec | £25 | £31 | £36 | £42 |
| 21 Dec | £22 | £28 | £31 | £37 |
| 22 Dec | £23 | £29 | £34 | £40 |
| 23 Dec | £25 | £31 | £36 | £42 |
| 24 Dec | £26 | £32 | £37 | £43 |
*The special price for an ‘Adult + U1’ is for a single seat, with the adult seated with an under-1 on their knee.
Booking Information
When booking a compartment in our standard carriages, choose your first seat and all 8 seats become highlighted so that no one else can book them. Then, just choose the different tickets types you need for each of your group from the drop down lists. For any seats not required simply choose the option ‘Empty Seat’. A minimum of 5 ‘paid for’ tickets must be booked in a compartment.
When booking seats at tables in one of the open carriages, please select the number you need. Tables may be shared between different parties.
If you book seven or more seats we’ll offer you a 5% discount on all the seats purchased, so why not bring grandparents or other family members with you and make the most of seeing Santa!
To make a booking over the phone, call 0117 332 0435, option 1.
We very much look forward to welcoming you to our Santa Specials!
Santa Special Trip – the journey
Avon Valley Railway is approximately 3 miles. The total experience of a round trip lasts approximately 55 minutes (6-mile roundtrip journey), which includes a travelling time of 24 minutes, and 8 minutes at both terminus stations for photographs and to view the locomotive being run-round.
Your train departs from Bitton Station (BS30 6HD) and heads on a short 5 minute journey towards the northern terminus station at Oldland Common. There are opportunities to alight and watch the train crew uncouple the locomotive to run-round the carriages, re-attaching the engine to the southern end of the train.
Then its ‘all-aboard’ again for the trip towards the southern terminus at Avon Riverside, taking approximately 17 minutes (with a brief stop at Bitton on the way). There will be another opportunity for photos and to see the locomotive run-round again, before re-attaching for the final leg of the journey back to Bitton Station.
Santa Special Trip – the present
Your child can expect to receive a soft toy – bespoke to Avon Valley Railway.
