The Polar Express train rides: every UK location 2026
13 host venues listed and checked. The official comparison the operator does not publish: dates, prices and availability side by side.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride is a licensed theatrical event staged at heritage railways and mainline stations around the UK each winter, based on the Warner Bros. film. Around a dozen venues host it each year under licence, from mainline departures at London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley to preserved lines in Devon, Kent, Staffordshire and Yorkshire, plus one tramway. Each host sells its own tickets on its own site, which makes comparing them tedious. This page does it for you, and it is re-checked every week.
The show is broadly the same everywhere: a night-time round trip with the story performed in the carriages, hot chocolate served, Santa aboard, and a silver sleigh bell for the children. What differs is the traction (steam at some hosts, diesel or tram at others), journey length, price and how fast the good slots go.
| Host venue | County | 2026 dates | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tunbridge Wells West Station, Spa Valley Railway | Kent | Selected dates, 7 Nov – 30 Dec 2026 | From £39.95 | Tickets available |
| Froghall Station, Churnet Valley Railway | Staffordshire | Selected dates, 7 Nov – 23 Dec 2026 | From £28.95 | Tickets available |
| Mid-Norfolk Railway, Dereham station | Norfolk | Dates TBC | From £27.50 | Tickets available |
| Bolton Abbey Station, Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway | North Yorkshire | Selected dates, 13 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | Adults £15 | Not checked |
| Pant Station, Brecon Mountain Railway | Merthyr Tydfil | Selected dates, 13 Nov – 23 Dec 2026 | From £12 | Tickets available |
| Wensleydale Railway, Leeming Bar Station | North Yorkshire | Selected dates, 13 Nov – 23 Dec 2026 | Adults £5 | Tickets available |
| Telford Steam Railway, The Old Loco Shed, Horsehay | Shropshire | Selected dates, 21 Nov – 23 Dec 2026 | From £33.99 | Tickets available |
| Birmingham Moor Street station | West Midlands | Selected dates, 22 Nov – 23 Dec 2026 | From £56 | Tickets available |
| Buckfastleigh Station, South Devon Railway | Devon | Selected dates, 27 Nov – 23 Dec 2026 | From £35.95 | Tickets available |
| Seaton Tramway, Seaton Station | Devon | Selected dates, 27 Nov – 24 Dec 2026 | From £29.95 | Tickets available |
| The Station, Park Road, Brechin | Angus | Selected dates, 28 Nov – 20 Dec 2026 | From £30.95 | Not checked |
| Edinburgh Waverley station (check-in on Platform 2) | City of Edinburgh | Selected dates, 29 Nov – 23 Dec 2026 | — | Tickets available |
| London Euston station | Greater London | Selected dates, 5 Dec – 23 Dec 2026 | From £5 | Tickets available |
Statuses come from the weekly box-office check; the availability tracker covers every festive train, not just these. THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements are trademarks of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. TractionAction lists the licensed events factually and is not affiliated with the operator or licensor.
The Polar Express: quick answers
Is the Polar Express ride on a steam train?
It depends on the host. Some railways run it behind steam, others diesel, and Seaton Tramway in Devon runs the only tram version in the country. If steam matters to you, check the host railway’s own page before booking, as motive power can change on the day.
How much does the Polar Express cost?
Prices vary by host, date and time. Standard seats typically start around the low £20s per person at smaller railways and rise past £50 for peak Saturday evenings at the big operations, with private compartments well beyond that. Everyone pays per seat, adults and children alike, at most hosts.
When should I book?
Earlier than feels reasonable. Tickets go on sale from spring and the peak December evening slots at well-known hosts are usually gone by October. Late November and midweek dates last longest.
What is the pyjama tradition?
Families ride in their pyjamas, as in the film. It is encouraged at every host, and the evening departures in the dark are when the experience works best.
Is Tanfield Railway’s North Pole Express the same as the Polar Express?
No. Tanfield Railway runs its own festive train called the North Pole Express, which is a separate, unlicensed event, not part of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ programme listed in the table above. It has its own dates, price and grotto visit: see the <a href="/events/north-pole-express-at-the-tanfield-railway/">North Pole Express at Tanfield Railway page</a> for details. Several other heritage railways run their own similarly named Christmas trains that are also not part of the licensed Polar Express.