Santa Trains

Can anyone recommend a good Santa train?
We took our son to Longleat last Christmas Eve & did the santa train and were very disappointed.
I have seen that Avon Valley railway, and Brokerswood do a similar thing, has anyone done these before?
Or have you ventured anywhere else to see a good Santa? Anything good in London?
Really want something that is full of Christmas Spirit!
Thanks.

Eek I have only ever heard good things about the longleat one.. we were going to take our toddler this year. Why were you disappointed? Not tried the others... a friend did the brokerswood and said it was sweet... lower key than the longleat one. Sarah

my parents booked us tickets for the Santa train at Avon Valley last year and it was excellent! It was a proper old steam train which my little one loved. Santa wandered through every carriage handing out toys to all the children and mince pies/cookies for parents which was lovely. Definitely doing it again this year, would highly recommend.

The German Christmas market in London is amazing. Not to see Santa just really fairy tale like, lots of little rides/cabins etc-very magical. Trains-wise, we have done Aon Valley Steam Railway which was lovely, very simple and old fashioned but my niece was scared of Father Christmas and he comes into each compartment so she couldn't even get away she was terrified but my boys were fine. Never done Brokerswood but did Longleat last year and absolutely loved it so doing that agin this year.

The other lovely thing is the Nativity carol service in Bath Abbey, classic carols with a real donkey and the children are encouraged to dress up x

Thanks for the replies.
We felt longleat was very rushed. Our son spent about 20 seconds with Santa, it felt like a conveyor belt, in and out as quickly as possible. Just didn't seem like it was worth the money.
Will look into Avon Valley. and the Nativity carol service sounds great too! Thanks.

We like Whitehall Garden Centre.
Great if you book a quiet session. They do tea and breakfast with Santa tickets too. No train but you walk through the elves workshop then sit in santa's lounge for a story followed by choose a pressie room.and then real reindeers and a sleigh to have your picture in.

yummymummy - thank you! That sounds perfect!!

It's Whitehall Garden Centre at Lacock. You book online...weekday mornings at 9a.m are often quiet. And the children get a mini Christmas tree as well.
I much prefer it to Avon Valley as there is more to it than a brief meeting with Santa on a train. You go in in a group or so of 10 children roughly.
At Wookey Hole you see Santa individually in his grotto but i preferred the different elements at Lacock

We also see Santa free at the christmas light switch on in Moorland Rd