Climb aboard the Lapland Express for a fun Christmas experience with Santa, Mrs Claus and their elves.

Need help with coupon codes from the 2023 floods? See this page.

Join Santa, Mrs Claus and their cheeky elves on the Lapland Express – yes we’re back for 2024 after the flooding!

Dates and times

• Sunday 1st December
• Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th December
• Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th December
• Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd December

Trains depart Downpatrick at 12:00, 13:15, 14:30, 15:55 and 17:10

Not all times are available on all dates, please check carefully when booking.

Fares

• Adults: £19
• Children: £24  (includes a present)
• Infants (aged 0-12 months) not requiring a present, drink or treat: FREE *
• Eligible carers: free if you meet the criteria – please see the FAQs below.

* A 50p booking fee applies to infant tickets as we still incur a charge with the ticketing company

Presents from Santa are age-appropriate gifts. Our gifts are not selection boxes or other food items, so you have no worries about food allergies with them.

Please be sure to choose the correct aged tickets for the children, either 0-5 years old, or 6+ years old. If you choose the wrong age by accident, don’t worry, just Contact Us and we will sort this out.

On the day

• On arrival you will be welcomed by our volunteers at our Downpatrick station
• Christmas drinks and treats will be served on board the train, included in your ticket price.
• Santa’s helpers will help to get you all on board the train before departure
• The event will last approximately 45 minutes, including train ride to Inch Abbey and back, with entertainment from Santa, Mrs Claus and the Elves
• Entertainment will include an interactive magic display and other fun and games
• Santa will visit you at your seat
• Children will receive a age appropriate present

Please note: due to unavailability of steam engines this year, a heritage diesel train is being used. This does not make your visit any less fun!

On arrival

Please arrive 20-30 minutes before your train. We will always do our best to accommodate you if there are any changes in your travel plans or you experience travel issues on the day, but due to limited numbers on our trains this may not be possible.

Make sure you have your eTicket or reference number with you, either on paper or on your mobile phone.

Lapland Express – your questions answered

We’ve listed the common questions about our Lapland Express trains below. Use our Contact Us page if your question isn’t covered here.

Where does the train go?

The train runs to the platform at Inch Abbey and will return to Downpatrick station.  Passengers will remain on board for the entire journey. Santa and his helpers will entertain passengers throughout the journey. Journey will take approx. 45 minutes.

My child or someone else in my group has a food allergy. What do we do about the treat?

Please contact us after you book to tell us of any special dietary requirements and we will do our best to accommodate them. We will try to provide allergen-free alternatives where possible.

If your child has a severe allergy to nut traces in foods that other people would be eating, we would advise against attending the event, as we cannot guarantee that this can be avoided.

I have a teenage son/daughter who doesn’t want a gift from Santa, do they have to pay the child’s fare?

No, if they’re too old for a gift from Santa they can book an adult ticket. There are no concessionary tickets for this event. All passengers will enjoy the same experience, and all passengers will receive a drink and treat.

What if I need to change my booking?

We understand that travel plans change, especially with families, so if you need to change your booking then please use our Contact Us page, provide your booking reference and let us know what you want to do. We will do our best to rebook you for another time or date if capacity is available.

If you are unable to travel, then we may offer you a refund or a voucher for a future event, depending on circumstances.

Can I bring a toddler who doesn’t need a present from Santa?

Yes, you are most welcome to bring a child aged 0-12 months if they don’t require a present or food and drink. We don’t charge for such young children, though do require the 50p booking fee to be paid, as the ticketing company still charges that. Please note that you must have at least one other child who is actually receiving a present.

Is the station and train wheelchair accessible?

Yes. There is level access from the car park to the platform, and a ramp can be deployed to assist wheelchairs onto the train. There is a dedicated area for wheelchair passengers where they can sit with their family. Wheelchair accessible toilets are available.

As spaces on this train are limited , we would recommend contacting us in advance so we can reserve this space for you and your family, to save any delay on the platform or train.

Can I bring a pram or buggy?

Space is limited on our trains, and it is not possible to wheel a pram down the carriages of the train you travel on. There is an area for prams and wheelchairs on one of our carriages, but we can only carry a few prams at a time. If possible, we would prefer you leave the pram in the station or in your car.

I am a carer – do I have to pay?

We provide free admission for a carer accompanying a paying adult visitor (aged 18+) to our railway to any event throughout the year, including the special events at Easter, Halloween and Christmas. This is intended to help people who are otherwise not able to travel independently to enjoy their visit to the railway. It does not generally apply to children who would always be accompanied by an adult regardless of any additional need.

Please check to see if you meet the criteria in our Carers Policy.

You can’t book this online, so please contact us after you book for the rest of your group to arrange this, explaining your requirements.

Do I have to pre-book?

Yes, advanced booking is essential. We will not have any ticket selling facilities on the day.

I don’t have a printer, what do I do with my tickets?

Don’t worry. You don’t need to print your ticket out, though some people do find it handy.
You can just show us your ticket on your phone, or you can even write down the booking reference and bring it with you.

What if I miss my train?

If you miss your booked time, don’t worry. We will try our best to accommodate you on the next train. If you manage to miss the last train of the night, then we will either re-book you onto another date or refund your ticket in full.

Are the Santa trains running during the week?

No, we only run trains on the weekend dates listed on this page.

Where is the railway station?

Downpatrick Station is on the main Downpatrick-Newcastle road (the Ballydugan Road). The entrance for the station is between Rathkeltair House (the tax office) and the Translink bus station. Look out for the brown road signs that say “Railway Museum” and follow those.

For more details, please see our How to Find Us page for maps and directions.

Where can I board the train?

For the Lapland Express you can only board at Downpatrick Station. Inch Abbey Station will not be open.

Are dogs allowed?

Due to the nature of the event we can only welcome Assistance Dogs onto the train.

Can you take Visa/Mastercard/etc.?

Yes, we can take credit cards and debit cards via our online booking system, or if you phone us to do a telephone booking. We cannot take any payments on the day.

Will the shop and museum be open?

Yes, the shop and museum are open throughout our Christmas season.

Will there be toilets on the train?

There are no toilet facilities on the train but we have toilets on our main platform at Downpatrick station. Please make sure you use the toilet before you board the train, especially in cold weather!