Santa Express — Oakfield Park

Oakfield Park, in Raphoe, County Donegal, which has its own trains, stages the Santa Express as a family Christmas experience. The operator stresses that the Santa Express is a real train on 4.5 km of narrow-gauge railway, not a tractor. The train journey takes about 45 minutes and runs through the park's Christmas lights and decorations, including Candy Land and Toy Town and past what the operator calls the tallest Christmas tree in Ireland, on the way to Santa's Grotto.

The operator's programme includes a North Pole Passport to collect stamps and a Christmas token for each member of the party to exchange for an item. Santa gives individually wrapped gifts to children, and a professional photographer is on hand with framed prints available to buy in the grotto. The operator also lists a North Pole Post Office, a puppet show in the Map Room, reindeer games, a sensory room, a craft cabin and a restaurant, Buffers.

The whole experience takes around two to three hours. Tickets are sold per compartment of four, five or six people rather than per seat.

Allow two to three hours at the park, including the 45-minute train journey. The train is time-bound: the time on your ticket is the time it leaves the station. Everything else (lights, grotto, shows, food and games) can be enjoyed at your own pace. Passengers must stay seated at all times on the train and children must be supervised by a parent or guardian. It is an outdoor event, so warm and waterproof clothing is advised. It goes ahead rain or shine.

Oakfield Park, Raphoe, County Donegal, F93 XY1R. Arrive at the station at least 10 minutes before your train; trains leave on time and cannot wait for late arrivals. Tickets are for compartments only (four, five or six people), so the ticket price is for the whole compartment and not per person, with an extra booking fee charged by the booking company; infants up to 12 months do not take a space on the train but meet Santa and receive a gift. Multiple compartments can be booked for larger groups, and the operator asks groups of 30 or more to email for rates. Prams and buggies cannot go on the train but can be left in the buggy park at the station; toilets and baby changing are at the Piazza. Wheelchair access must be booked by email or phone, not online. Dogs are not permitted during the Santa Express, even though the park is dog-friendly the rest of the season. Tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged unless the whole event is cancelled.