Families planning a Christmas trip near Kendal in 2026 will need to act early for two popular Father Christmas attractions. Tickets for Ambleside’s Santa cruises on Windermere go on sale at 10am on 1 October, while Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway’s Tinsel Trains open for bookings at 10am on Wednesday 4 November.
There will also be opportunities to see Father Christmas in Kendal itself, including the town’s Christmas lights switch-on on Friday 27 November and a Santa’s grotto planned as part of Kendal BID’s Christmas Celebration in early December.
Lakeside Tinsel Trains: dates, prices and booking details
The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway will run its Tinsel Trains on six December weekend dates: Saturday and Sunday, 5 and 6 December, 12 and 13 December, and 19 and 20 December 2026.
The one-hour steam-train experience takes place in a decorated first-class compartment. Characters visit passengers first, followed by Father Christmas, who visits each compartment to hand out presents.
Each departure is scheduled for 10am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm. A compartment costs £125 for up to four people. Extra passengers cost £30 each, with a maximum of eight people in a compartment.
Bookings open online only at 10am on Wednesday 4 November 2026. The railway says spaces fill up fast and buyers may be held in a waiting room on the morning tickets launch, so customers are advised to have their payment details ready.
Children aged from birth to 10 will receive a personalised soft toy, while those aged 11 to 17 will receive a festive goody bag. Every child also receives a gingerbread person and a soft drink. Adults receive a seasonal cold drink, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, and a snack.
Everyone travelling must have a paid place, “from birth upwards”. Pushchairs and car seats cannot be accommodated on the train or at the station. There are no refunds or transfers after booking, and the railway warns that e-tickets can take up to five working days to arrive.
One compartment on each departure has wheelchair access. Anyone requiring that option is asked to call 015395 31594. The railway says the experience is best suited to children aged three to 10.
Ambleside Santa cruises on Windermere
Ambleside’s Christmas lights switch-on will begin on Windermere on Saturday 21 November 2026, with two Santa cruise sailings from Waterhead Pier. Departures are scheduled for 11am and 2pm, with passengers boarding 30 minutes before departure.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on 1 October. The organisers say the Snow Queen and her attendants will entertain passengers on board before Father Christmas “will magically appear to meet the children and give each of them a small present”.
After the afternoon sailing, Father Christmas is due to walk along the promenade at Waterhead before travelling by sleigh into Ambleside to meet the lantern bearers. Prams can be taken on the front deck, and dogs are welcome.
Ticket prices had not been published on the pages checked for the event.
Santa in Kendal and nearby Bowness
Kendal Town Council’s Christmas lights switch-on is scheduled for Friday 27 November. The event will include entertainment, Father Christmas and a special late opening of Kendal Farmer’s Market, although times have not yet been published.
Kendal BID is also planning a Christmas Celebration in the Market Place in early December, featuring Santa’s grotto, Christmas music and stalls selling Christmas fare. However, the published listings disagree on the date: Kendal BID’s calendar gives Sunday 6 December, while Visit Kendal lists Saturday 5 December. The date and further details are expected in October or November.
Families heading towards Bowness can also see The Gingerbread Boy at the Victoria Wood Theatre from 19 to 24 December. The 50-minute show at the World of Beatrix Potter is followed by a meeting with Santa, and every child receives a free gift. Tickets cost £10 for a child and £12 for an adult.
The World of Beatrix Potter will also host Letters to Father Christmas on 28 and 29 November. The drop-in session runs from 10.30am to 4pm in The Burrow, where children can write a letter, post it in the Peter Rabbit post box and make a bag of reindeer food. The cost is £5 per child.