Our Review of Severn Valley Railway’s Santa Steam Special 2025

On behalf of Raring2go! magazine, we were invited to experience Severn Valley Railway’s Santa Steam Special, and it truly was a magical festive adventure for our family of five – Mum, Dad, Jack aged seven, and our one-year-old twins Harry and Lizzie. The experience is clearly aimed at younger children, with seven being about the perfect upper age in our opinion.

From the moment we arrived at Kidderminster Station, the Christmas excitement was already building. We recommend arriving early. We did, and it paid off as it gave us time to park and enjoy the festive atmosphere, with Christmas characters greeting families, carol singers filling the air with music, and plenty of brilliant photo opportunities to kick-start the day.

The thirty-minute steam train journey to Arley felt enchanting, made even sweeter by a complimentary gingerbread biscuit for everyone on board. Travelling in the beautifully restored vintage carriages added a nostalgic charm that really heightened the Christmas magic.

Once at Arley, we headed straight into the brand-new Christmas production, The Great Christmas Train Rescue. Lasting around thirty minutes, the show was packed with colour, music and festive fun. Children were captivated by the story of brave Polly the polar bear and her mission to stop the sneezy scoundrel Victor Von Sneeze from ruining Christmas. With appearances from Santa, two mischievous elves and plenty of pantomime-style humour, it kept little ones fully engaged. The impressive puppetry (created by Matthew Forbes, Associate Puppetry Director for the National Theatre’s War Horse) really brought the characters to life and added a layer of theatrical magic.

Our twins fell asleep in the pram during the show, and the staff kindly moved us into the disabled section of the marquee so they could stay comfortable. This thoughtful gesture summed up how attentive and welcoming the team were throughout our visit. The food at Arley smelled wonderful, and although we only had time for a tea and a hot chocolate, it added to the cosy atmosphere.

On the return journey, Santa’s elves had been busy: presents were waiting at our table. Jack was thrilled with his Santa sleigh train set, while Lizzie and Harry each received an adorable cuddly toy. It was a lovely finishing touch to an already heart-warming day.

Overall, the Santa Steam Special is a beautifully run and delightfully festive experience that younger children will absolutely adore. With a magical steam train ride, an engaging Christmas show, stunning puppetry and incredibly thoughtful staff, Severn Valley Railway delivers a Christmas day out that feels truly unforgettable.

There is also a brand-new festive journey for 2025: The Elf Express, departing from Bridgnorth. This experience whisks families through the Severn Valley, where they’ll meet Santa’s handpicked team of North Pole elves. Filled with interactive on-train entertainment, festive songs, silly antics and heart-warming surprises, it’s a magical theatrical adventure in its own right – and each child receives a present-shaped treat along the way.

If you’d like to book either festive experience, or find out more about both trains, full details and ticket links can be found here:
https://raring2go.co.uk/event/santa-trains-severn-valley-railway/
or directly via Severn Valley Railway at
https://svr.co.uk/all-events/