SEND Santa 2025

SEND Santa 2025

Due to the popularity of our SEND Santa 2024 experience we are pleased to announce we will be offering this service again during 2025.

These visits to Santa are a specially tailored experience designed for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.  Families will be able to enjoy all the magic of Christmas together at Whistlestop Valley with a few tweaks here and there to make our event more accessible.  

The SEND Santa trains will have calm carriages, reduced capacity numbers, quieter music volume and no flashing lights on the day light trains.  The evening SEND departure trains will have flashing lights.

Unfortunately due to the design of our heritage coaches we are unable to accomodate wheelchairs, if the wheelchair user is able to climb a step and walk a short distance we can assist in boarding.  Wheelchairs must be able to fold and can be transferred to Shelley North Pole.

The time you select is your train departure time.

Please be on the platform 10 minutes before this time.

Please DO NOT BE LATE as we maybe unable to accomodate you on a later departure train

Seats on the train are allocated.  If you wish to be seated together please only make one booking for your party.

If after you have booked and wish to add other guests to an existing booking please give us a call on 01484 865727 where we can check availability, add on extra guests if we have the capacity and take payment.

What’s happening on the day? 

• Return steam train ride from Clayton West Station to Shelley North Pole.  Your journey begins at Clayton West Station.  You may arrive anytime before your train departure time (the time you have selected is your train departure time) to enjoy the facilities at Clayton West station.  We do advise if you are not booked on the first departure please arrive after this time to avoid the rush!  Train departure times are available on our website.

Clayton West Station:  Where your Christmas Adventure Begins:

• Magic Show in The Shed at various times of the day between 11am & 5pm  Please note The Shed will NOT be open for playing or seating for any of our Christmas events.
• Unlimited rides on the Clayton Flyer
• Unlimited use of the Jumping Pillow
• Crazy Golf.  Plesae note the Crazy Golf will clost at 16.30pm due to planning regulations
• Pedal Cars.  Please note the Pedal cars will close at 16.30pm due to planning regulations.
• Unlimited traditional merry-go-round (subject to availabilty, the merry-go-round is not owned by Whistlestop Valley)
• Unlimited use of the Playground
• North Pole Post office in the Cabin 
• Photo Opportunity in the Cabin to capture your magical Christmas memories
• Gift shop for your last minute Christmas gifts
• Firebox Cafe serving a festive menu, hot food will be served one hour before we close.

Shelley - North Pole

• One-on-one meeting with Father Christmas in his grotto with a gift for the children
• Reindeer food station, make up a bag of magical reindeer food to take home
• Write your Christmas wish and hang it on the Wishing Tree in Wishing Tree Wood
• Edible festive treat for all guests over 12mths, please select at the time of booking
• Complientary festive tipple for all adults, please select at the time of booking
• Unlimited juice/water for the children
• Look out for Father Christmas’s cheeky elf making Christmas Mischief  – see if you can spot them!
• Tram platform rides at the North Pole
• The Turntable dessert parlour will be open at the North Pole
• Colouring crafts in the bottom marquee

IMPORTANT INFORMATION 

• The train ride and visit to Father Christmas lasts approximately two hours (e.g. the 10am train will return at 12pm.  The 18.25pm departure train will arrvive back at Clayton West at 20.25pm)
• Visitors are welcome to arrive from when we open and enjoy the facilities at Clayton West before your journey to Shelley North Pole and are welcome to stay until we close.
• If you are travelling on the 18.25 departure train the facilities at Clayton West will be closed except for the toilets. 
• Whistlestop Valley operates a NO TICKET NO ENTRY policy due to the event being all inclusive

SEND Santa Timetable & Prices 2025

Saturday 29th November - 10.00am & 18.25pm - Adult £25.95 Child 1-16 £29.95 Carer (proof MUST be shown upon arrival at the Entrance Cabin £22.95  Infant under 12 month £7.95)

Saturday 6th December  - 10.00am & 18.25pm - Adult £25.95 Child 1-16 £30.95 Carer (proof MUST be shown upon arrival at the Entrance Cabin £23.95  Infant under 12 month £7.95)

Saturday 13th December  - 10.00am & 18.25pm - Adult £25.95 Child 1-16 £30.95 Carer (proof MUST be shown upon arrival at the Entrance Cabin £23.95  Infant under 12 month £7.95)

Age Categories for Gifts 

PLEASE NOTE: the age you choose when booking dictates the age-appropriate gift given to the child by Santa.  If your child's age is towards the end of a category, we advise moving up to the next age category.  Please ensure that you select the correct age category.  If you select the wrong age category please email us at info@whistlestopvalley with your order reference number immediately, changes cannot be made on the day.

• Under 12 months
• 1-2 year old
• 3-5 years
• 6-8 years
• 9-13 years
• 14-17 years 

Booking Terms & Conditions 

• Concessions, family tickets, discounts, vouchers, promotions, passes & offers are NOT available/valid on Christmas services
• All bookings incur a £1.80 booking fee per transaction (not per ticket)
• All tickets will be available collect on arrival from the entrance cabin. You will recieve an email with your order reference number and booking details. 
• Advance booking is necessary – online only! 
• Once purchased, tickets cannot be cancelled and are non-refundable
• If the event goes ahead and a ticket-holder is unable to visit for whatever reason, we regret that tickets cannot be refunded, cancelled, transferred or exchanged
• Whistlestop Valley operates a NO TICKET NO ENTRY Policy due to this being an all inclusive event

• For a full list of Ts & Cs, please visit https://www.whistlestopvalley.co.uk/terms-conditions. By booking tickets, you are agreeing to our Ts & Cs 

Terms & Conditions 

• Once purchased, tickets cannot be cancelled and are non-refundable
• If the event goes ahead and a ticket-holder is unable to visit for whatever reason, we regret that tickets cannot be refunded, cancelled, transferred or exchanged
• For a full list of Ts & Cs, please visit https://www.whistlestopvalley.co.uk/terms-conditions. By booking tickets, you are agreeing to our Ts & Cs