Plan your visit
How to book
We recommend you consider the following information, before pressing book now. As these are the questions you’ll be asked in the booking process:
When booking you will be prompted to:
- Choose your date: from 22 dates across November or December – Midweek or Weekends (see calendar below)
- Choose your train departure time: there are 4 trains a day on weekends and 2 trains on weekdays:
- Midweek: 1800 | 2000
- Weekends: 1200 | 1400 | 1600 | 1800
- Choose your carriage from the seating plan: VIP | Premium | Standard
- Choose your seat in your chosen carriage: you can be seated at a table or in an airline style seat dependent on which carriage you choose
- Choose number of Adult /Children tickets : (3-8 yrs) or (9-15yrs) or discounted carers (Standard carriage only)
- Add on special tickets: 2’s & under go free on adults knee | wheelchair space | blue badge parking (proof required) etc. All other parking is included & does not need pre-booking.
Season dates
There are 22 dates to choose from:
| Nov-24 Off Peak | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | |||||||
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | |||||||
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | |||||||
| December 2024 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | |||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |||||||
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | |||||||
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | |||||||
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | |||||||
| 29 | 30 | ||||||||||||
Train times & durations
All of the trains run from Stanhope Station:
Four trains run daily on Weekends (Sat & Sunday) :
1200, 1400, 1600 and 1800
Two trains run daily Midweek:
1800 and 2000
Christmas Eve (24th December)
1200, 1400
The duration of each train journey is 1 hour approx.
Ticket prices
November & December
| Ticket Type | *Early Bird | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | £27 | £30 |
| Premium | £31.50 | £35 |
| V.I.P | £36 | £40 |
Ticket types
Your ticket types have different elements to them. What’s the difference between a Standard, Premium or VIP ticket ?
Standard
with no table
-
Table
-
Catering
-
Santa
-
Gift For Child
-
Souvenir For Family
-
Early Bird Discount
-
Under 2's go Free
Premium
with a table
-
Table
-
Catering
-
Santa
-
Gift For Child
-
Souvenir For Family
-
Early Bird Discount
-
Under 2's go Free
V.I.P
with wider, comfier seats
-
Table
-
Catering
-
Extra time with Santa
-
Gift For Child
-
Souvenir For Family
-
Early Bird Discount
-
Branded gift for all
-
Under 2's go Free
-
Dedicated Parking
How to find us?
Stanhope Train Station
Our journey begins from Weardale Railway, Stanhope Station, Off Bondisle Way, Stanhope, Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
Sat Nav: DL13 2YS
What3Words: porch.daydreams.record
The Santa Express festive train journeys into Weardale and returns without stopping. (just over 1 hour duration)
For further info, see our Travel FAQ’s which have more detailed travel help.
Location & car parking
Your ticket includes on site parking BEHIND Stanhope Station.
Once you turn off the main road onto off Bondisle Way, you will drive PAST the Station entrance, and be directed by Christmas Crew, down to the bottom of the road, before turning left into the car park.
There are a limited number of Blue Badge parking spaces at the station (These must be pre-booked when booking your train tickets).
There is also a drop-off area at the entrance to the station for disabled passengers.
For more info see our location, parking & arrival FAQ’s
Stanhope Station is located in Weardale, County Durham and is:
- 20 miles West of Durham City Centre along the B6299/B6297/A689
- 28 miles North West of Darlington along the B6279/B6275/A68/A689
- 39 miles North West of Middlesbrough along the A19/A68/A689
- 34 miles South of Newcastle upon Tyne A191/A69/A68
Travelling by car
From the Market Place, the turn off to Stanhope Station is approximately 500 metres on the right , just before Weardale Motors Service Station. The street name is Bondisle.
Stanhope Station is the next left, just after Weardale Motors Service Station. The street name is Bondisle.
Accommodation
Overnight stays..
Extend your stay and explore more of Weardale and Bishop Auckland.
