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Lapland Express at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway

Market Street, Downpatrick, County Down, BT30 6LZ
Santa at Downpatrick

About

Visit Santa and Mrs Claus and their elves on their special Christmas train

All children get a high quality present

Festive snacks and drinks

Special Quiet Train session for those who need it

Quiet train

A ‘quiet train’ session with reduced passenger numbers and reduced noise is running at 16:30 on Saturday 28th November. There is also a longer gap between this and the previous public train to ensure less crowding and waiting.

The quiet train is available for booking via the booking system and is indicated on the calendar when you choose Saturday 28th November.

 

On the day

On arrival you will be welcomed by our volunteers at our Downpatrick station

Christmas drinks and treats are included in your ticket price, and will be served at Inch Abbey station.

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 present from Santa

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

Facilities

Accessibility

  • All areas accessible to disabled visitors

Event Facilities

  • Booking Required

Parking & Transport

  • On site parking
  • Station nearby

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult£22.00 per ticket
(Gift Included)£27.00 per ticket
InfantsFree

Please contact the organiser for any further information that's required.

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Call direct on:

Tel +44 (0)28 4461 5779

Map & Directions

Opening Times

Season (28 Nov 2026 - 29 Nov 2026)
Season (5 Dec 2026 - 6 Dec 2026)
Season (12 Dec 2026 - 13 Dec 2026)
Season (19 Dec 2026 - 20 Dec 2026)

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

What's Nearby

  1. Travel back to the past with real vintage steam trains through St. Patrick's Country,…

    0 miles away
  2. Down Cathedral, a Cathedral of the Church of Ireland with magnificent stain glass…

    0.15 miles away
  3. The Saint Patrick Centre is the only permanent exhibition in the World about Ireland’s…

    0.19 miles away
  1. Down County Museum is located in the old county Gaol of Down. It houses fascinating…

    0.24 miles away
  2. Located in the heart of Downpatrick, Down Arts Centre is the operational base for the…

    0.35 miles away
  3. The foundation stone of this church was laid by Bishop Dorrian in 1886.

    0.38 miles away
  4. Built 1954 to the designs of S. McIlveen of Ferguson and McIlveen, Belfast. This is a…

    0.43 miles away
  5. Located on the north bank of the Quoile River, Inch Abbey was founded by John de Courcy…

    0.82 miles away
  6. The Strangford Lough and Lecale AONB boasts stunning landscapes and includes one of the…

    0.97 miles away
  7. Mourne Gullion Strangford Geopark is a UNESCO Global Geopark and recognised Area of…

    0.97 miles away
  8. Struell Wells was built around a stream flowing through a secluded valley. It was a…

    1.81 miles away
  9. The Reserve provides a relaxing natural retreat and offers visitors tranquil riverside…

    1.9 miles away
  10. Two miles outside Downpatrick is the replica of St Patrick's first church in Ireland.…

    2.12 miles away
  11. Castlescreen Farm is a working family run farm with many faces.

    Come and join us for one…

    2.99 miles away
  12. Situated 8.8km south east of Ballynahinch, on the north east shore of Loughinisland Lake,…

    3.47 miles away
  13. Restored ruins of a sixth century church of St. Tassach, said to have given the last…

    4.25 miles away
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Map & Directions

Road Directions

How to find us

Our main station is in the centre of Downpatrick, within ample free car parking, and an easy walk from the Ulsterbus station.

Our railway is easy to get to by car – it’s a mere 40 minutes drive from Belfast. 

SatNav Users

Enter our postcode into your SatNav: BT30 6LZ

Driving from Belfast and the north

From Belfast, take the A24 (Ormeau-Saintfield Road) and follow the signs for Newcastle/Downpatrick. At the Carryduff roundabout, take the A7 for Downpatrick. You will pass through the villages of Saintfield and Crossgar. When you reach the roundabout at the outskirts of Downpatrick follow the signs for Clough/Newcastle (the A25). Make sure you make a right turn at the second set of traffic lights in the town centre into Market Street.

When in Market Street, go straight across at the traffic lights, and watch out for the Ulsterbus (Translink) station on your right on the edge of town. Just past the bus station there is a filling station on your left, and you will see a brown direction sign on the right hand side marked ‘Railway Museum.’ Turn right and the railway station is in front of you across the car park.

Driving from Newry and the south

If you are travelling from the south, the quickest route is the A25 road from Newry to Castlewellan. For a more scenic, but longer, drive around the coast and through the Mourne countryside follow the signs for the A2 road to Newcastle. From either of these towns follow the signs for Clough or Downpatrick.

At the Clough roundabout take the A25 Downpatrick road. As you approach Downpatrick, watch out for ASDA supermarket on the left. Just past this you will see a brown sign marked ‘Railway Museum’. Turn left and the railway station is right in front of you.

Public Transport Directions

Public Transport

Our station in Downpatrick is a few minutes’ walk from the Translink bus station. You can see our railway when you step off the bus, across the carparks from the rear entrance to the bus station.

For buses from Belfast Europa Bus Centre (Great Victoria Street), take Service 15,  215 or 515 to Downpatrick.

If you prefer, you can use the Translink Journey Planner if you are travelling from further afield.

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