Santa Specials 2022

Meet Santa at the Kent & East Sussex Railway

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CHRISTMAS IS SO EXCITING!

We love Christmas at the Kent and East Sussex Railway and we have been welcoming families to meet Santa on our trains for nearly 50 years! There’s nothing quite like the pleasure of a steam train ride knowing your child will meet Santa and receive a gift, all from the comfort of your allocated seats.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the journey!

The experience for 2022 includes:

• 70 minute return steam train journey
• A complimentary refreshment pack for each family to enjoy during the journey
• Age-appropriate presents for all children 11 and under
• Chocolates from Santa for children aged 12-15
• Babies under 18 months of age are free of charge and receive a gift
• Magician providing on-board entertainment
• Free rides on the vintage gallopers at Tenterden
• Free photograph of your family group
• Visit to the station’s Christmas model village

The main attraction, Santa himself, will be travelling on the train giving presents to your children – have your camera ready to capture that all-important moment!

Availability

Trains contain a mix of seating styles – there are open-plan style carriages with tables, or exclusive private family compartments. Choose from:

Standard Class

• Seating for 4 people around a table in an open plan carriage
• Private family compartments with seating 8 people

First Class

• Seating for 2 people around a table in an open plan carriage
• Seating for 4 people around a table in an open plan carriage
• Private family compartments with seating 4 people
• Private family compartments with seating 6 people

Online booking prices are shown below and save £3 on prices applicable to telephone and in-person bookings. We do not charge an online booking fee.

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Booking

When making a booking, you should purchase sufficient tickets for your entire group as seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Whilst we will always do our best to assist, it is not normally possible to add additional tickets to existing bookings or allocate seats for different bookings adjacent to one another.  Any alterations to your booking will incur a £5 administration charge.

Online booking prices shown above save £3 on those applicable to telephone or in-person bookings. We do not levy a booking fee.

For full terms and conditions relating to the Santa Specials visit:  http://www.kesr.org.uk/terms-conditions/#santa-specials

Parking

Limited free parking is available at Tenterden Town Station. In the event that our own car park becomes full, we suggest visitors make use of the Pay & Display car parks nearby.

Please ensure that you allow sufficient time for your journey & to find a parking space, adding additional time for inclement weather & Christmas congestion. Our Santa Specials are very popular & we regret that we are unable to provide accommodation on later services if you miss your booked train. Missing your booked departure will be treated as non-attendance and no refund will be possible.

Guests with reduced mobility

Please note that we’re currently unable to provide blue badge parking in the station forecourt or ramped access to Santa Special trains: reduced mobility visitors may be dropped off and collected at the station entrance & vehicles parked in the main car park. Our staff will be pleased to offer every assistance if help is required – contact us in advance by telephone or via enquiries@kesr.org.uk

Refreshments

A range of light refreshments will be available to take away from the kiosk adjacent to the platform or eat-in in our Station Refreshment Rooms near the gallopers.

FAQ’s

1. I have a K&ESR Gift Card – how can I book a ticket?
   If you’ve a K&ESR Gift Card that you’d like to use in payment for a booking, do get in touch with us via enquiries@kesr.org.uk and we’ll gladly make the booking for you. Telephone & in-person bookings available from Tuesday 5th July. Please remember to bring the Gift Card with you when you visit us so that we may take the balance due. If you don’t have the Gift Card with you, you’ll need to pay using a debit or credit card.
2. There are more of us than will fit in the space we’d like – can we squeeze another person in?
   If, for example, you’re a family of two adults and three children and would like to occupy four standard class seats at a table for four, you can add an extra adult above the capacity of the space you’re booking for a small additional charge. Details of how to do this are shown during the booking process. Please note that it is not possible to accommodate more than two people at a table for two.
3. Can I bring my dog?
   Pets and dogs, other than Assistance Dogs, are not permitted at Santa Special events.
4. Is the Gift Shop open?
   Our Tenterden station Gift Shop will be open. We also have an online shop where you may purchase a K&ESR Gift Card.
5. Can I buy refreshments at the station?
   Your ticket includes a goodie bag of light refreshments to enjoy on the train. The take away kiosk adjacent to the platform provides a range of hot food to purchase that may be taken onboard the train, whilst the Station Refreshment Rooms offers home cooked meals to enjoy at the station.
6. Is there wheelchair accommodation on the train?
   Although we are pleased to offer every assistance, we’re unable to provide ramped access to Santa Special trains or blue badge parking in the station forecourt. Visitors with reduced mobility may be dropped off and collected at the station entrance & vehicles parked in the main car park. Our Booking Office staff will be pleased to assist in planning your day if help is required – contact us via enquiries@kesr.org.uk
7. What time does the station open and close?
   Gates open at 10:00 and close 30 minutes after arrival of the last train. If you’re due to travel on the last departure of the day, we recommend that you enjoy the station activities before travelling on the train (although you’re welcome to ride the gallopers before and after your train ride!)
8. Have another question?

Please contact us via enquiries@kesr.org.uk if you have any questions that have not been answered in our FAQs.

Terms & Conditions – Santa Specials

When purchasing tickets, you are indicating your agreement to our terms & conditions  http://www.kesr.org.uk/terms-conditions/#santa-specials

Information is believed to be correct at time of publication E&OE.