Santa Specials — Lincolnshire Wolds Railway

The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway runs its Santa Specials from Ludborough Station. The railway describes itself as Lincolnshire's only standard-gauge heritage steam railway, run entirely by volunteers, and invites families to a festive journey along the line behind a heritage steam train.

Santa visits each carriage during the journey, accompanied by his band of elves, and hands out gold coins for the children to spend in the toy shop afterwards. At the end of the ride families step into Santa's grotto to take their own photos, then go into the toy shop where each child picks a gift. The operator says the total journey is just under an hour.

The Santa train runs as four carriages. Entertainment, with singing and dancing in your seats, is in three of them, and one carriage is kept as a quiet carriage. Passengers choose their own seats when they book. The operator asks guests to wear their best Christmas costumes and jumpers, or something Christmassy, and says dogs are not allowed at this event.

A journey of just under an hour on a heritage steam train, with Santa and his elves visiting each carriage, singing and dancing in your seats in the entertainment carriages (one carriage is quiet), gold coins for the children, photos in Santa's grotto and a gift chosen from the toy shop. Dressing up in Christmas costumes or jumpers is encouraged.

Trains leave from Ludborough Station, Station Road, Ludborough, Lincolnshire DN36 5SH, where parking is free. Advance booking is required and you choose your seats at booking: three carriages have entertainment and one is a quiet carriage. Babies under one travel without a seat on a grown-up's lap but must still be included in the booking. No dogs are allowed on this event. The operator says it will do its utmost to provide entertainment but that it is subject to change in case of technical difficulties, and that there is no entertainment in any carriage on the Monday date. Santa enquiries: 07849 444986.