UK & Ireland Festive & Winter Rail Tours
Make your Christmas an unforgettable one with Railtrail festive and winter holidays in the UK & Ireland. From perfect pre-Christmas delights around Berkshire, to decking the halls in Durham, to the ultimate Hogmanay celebration in the Highlands, get in the festive spirit with Railtrail.
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Yuletide Yorkshire - 2026
Enjoy a fantastically festive tour to Yorkshire staying in the beautiful spa town of Harrogate. Discover Castle Howard in all its Christmas glory, sail through the beautiful countryside at Skipton, indulge in a festive afternoon tea, and experience the enchanting glow-winter illuminations at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens plus free time to explore the medieval city of York.
Departure Dates
25th November 20264 Days from
£695 Per person
Festive Highlands Tartan & Taster - 2026
Enjoy a delightful pre-Christmas tour of the spectacular Scottish Highlands packed with fantastic attractions and amazing rail journeys. Discover picturesque scenery from the comfort of your seat, experience Scotland's "Great Railway Journey of the World", and journey on the West Highland Line across the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct. Visit the Eilean Donan Castle, tour the Ben Nevis Distillery, and indulge in true Scottish hospitality and entertainment.
Departure Dates
1st December 20265 Days from
£695 Per person
Step into Christmas in Windsor & Blenheim - 2026
Step into Christmas on this delightfully festive tour based in the historic city of Oxford. Visit the charming Windsor Castle in its spectacular winter glory, discover the beautiful country estate of Blenheim Palace transformed into a winter wonderland, and marvel at the spectacular Festive Light Trail plus enjoy free time to explore 'Christmas in Oxford'.
Departure Dates
9th December 20264 Days from
£819 Per person
Torquay, Tinsel & Christmas Cheer - 2026
Enjoy all things Christmas on this relaxing short-break tour in the beautiful seaside town of Torquay. Journey on the spectacular Christmas Train of Lights, discover the Christmas Illuminations at Babbacombe Model Village, and visit Plymouth's Winter Wonderland plus enjoy free time in Torquay to soak in the atmosphere on this magical Christmas adventure.
Departure Dates
18th December 20264 Days from
£529 Per person
Stratford Festive Delights - 2026
Relax on a delightfully festive tour in the historic town of Stratford staying in a beautiful countryside hotel. Explore the birthplace of Shakespeare, visit Warwick Castle in all its festive glory, and indulge in a wonderful, traditional Christmas Day lunch. Enjoy mince pies, Christmas cake, and festive cheers galore.
Departure Dates
23rd December 20265 Days from
£1,025 Per person
Winchester Christmas Celebration - 2026
Experience the festive season in style on this relaxing tour in the historic city of Winchester staying in the elegant Winchester Royal Hotel. Explore this medieval city, visit the magnificent Cathedral in all its festive glory, discover the iconic Spinnaker Tower, and indulge in a wonderful, traditional Christmas Day lunch.
Departure Dates
23rd December 20265 Days from
£1,249 Per person
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a Christmas train holiday in the UK?
A Railtrail Christmas train holiday includes rail travel, accommodation, a Tour Manager throughout, and a programme of festive excursions and visits. On UK tours, your rail fare from any mainland UK station is included, with seat reservations arranged where applicable. Meals vary by tour, so it is worth checking individual itineraries for what is and is not covered.
Can I travel to a Christmas train holiday from my local station?
Yes. Rail travel from any mainland UK station is part of the fare, with seat reservations arranged where applicable, so your journey is planned from the moment you leave home.
What is the most beautiful winter train journey in the UK?
The West Highland Line through the Scottish Highlands is the standout choice in winter. The route crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct and runs through open moorland and loch-side scenery that looks its best after a frost or snowfall. Railtrail runs festive tours along this line, so you travel it with a Tour Manager and all connections arranged rather than piecing the journey together independently.
Are Christmas market train trips available in the UK?
Yes, though the range is broader if you include European departures. In the UK, Railtrail’s festive tours visit seasonal events, illuminated gardens, and Christmas-themed attractions rather than traditional open-air markets in the continental style. For classic Christmas market experiences, the European programme includes Cologne and the Rhineland, with tours visiting markets in Cologne, Bonn, and Aachen. Strasbourg is also available as part of a festive rail and river cruise itinerary along the Rhine.
Are Christmas train holidays suitable for solo travellers?
They are well suited to solo travel. The escorted format means you join a small group with a Tour Manager handling all logistics, so there is no need to navigate connections, transfers, or evening plans alone. Railtrail’s groups are typically small, which means solo travellers tend to find the social side easy rather than overwhelming. Single supplements apply on most tours; it is worth checking the fare details for the specific departure you are interested in.
What financial protection do I have when booking a Christmas rail holiday?
Railtrail is a member of ABTOT (member no. 5577), which provides financial protection for non-flight packages including UK and European rail holidays. For flight-inclusive tours, Railtrail holds ATOL licence 9056, which protects your money if the operator ceases trading.
How far in advance should I book a Christmas train holiday?
Earlier is generally better, particularly for popular festive departures. Christmas and winter tours attract strong demand, and some itineraries sell out well before the season begins. Booking early also lets you secure your preferred dates and, on UK tours, your preferred rail class from your home station. You can hold a place with a deposit from £75 per person.
Can I book a Christmas train holiday last minute?
Sometimes, yes. Railtrail occasionally has late availability on festive departures where places have become free closer to the travel date. These are listed on the late availability page and can represent good value. That said, specific festive dates and routes are not guaranteed to have spaces late in the season, so if you have a particular departure in mind it is safer not to leave it to chance.
Christmas & Winter Train Holidays in the UK
A Railtrail winter train holiday brings together reserved rail travel, carefully chosen hotel accommodation, seasonal excursions, and the company of a dedicated Tour Manager, all arranged before you set off. Every tour in our UK & Ireland festive and winter programme runs on this same escorted format, backed by over 40 years of operating escorted rail holidays, so there’s nothing to book independently and no logistics to manage once you’re aboard.
Departures run from late November through to the New Year, with four and five-day breaks priced from £529 to £1,249 per person. A traditional Christmas Day lunch is included on several tours, alongside castles and country estates dressed for the season and illuminated gardens and light trails around the country. In the Highlands, the season builds towards Hogmanay celebrations to welcome in the New Year.
Rail is the primary mode of travel throughout each tour, with free time built in for exploring York, strolling around Christmas in Oxford, or relaxing in Torquay after a day of sightseeing.
If you’d rather take a rail holiday UK without the festive theme, browse our Classic UK & Ireland train holidays for departures throughout the rest of the year.
Where Our Festive Train Holidays Go
Eight tours make up the 2026 programme, each built around a different kind of winter break.
Yuletide Yorkshire is based in the spa town of Harrogate, with a Christmas visit to Castle Howard and a ride through the countryside at Skipton. The Glenfinnan Viaduct on the West Highland Line is the centrepiece of Festive Highlands Tartan & Taster, with Eilean Donan Castle also on the itinerary.
Step into Christmas in Windsor & Blenheim stays in Oxford, where Windsor Castle and the festive light trail at Blenheim Palace fill the days. Devon gets its own tour in Torquay, Tinsel & Christmas Cheer, built around a ride on the Christmas Train of Lights and a visit to Plymouth’s Winter Wonderland.
Four tours include a traditional Christmas Day lunch: Stratford Festive Delights in Shakespeare’s home town, the Winchester Christmas Celebration beneath Winchester Cathedral, Yuletide Magic in County Durham with its visit to Auckland Palace, and Seasonal Splendour in Stirling, which pairs Stirling Castle with the festive atmosphere of Edinburgh.
Every tour includes reserved rail travel, hotel accommodation and a Tour Manager throughout. 2026 departures run from late November to 23rd December, with further dates already on sale for 2027.
For a winter break on the continent instead, our Christmas train holidays in Europe cover the Christmas markets of Germany, plus a scenic Christmas tour along the Glacier Express route in Switzerland.
Booking Your Christmas Rail Holiday
Each tour travels in a small group, with a dedicated Tour Manager on hand from the moment you leave your local station to the moment you return. Luggage is handled between hotels and all tickets and seat reservations are arranged well in advance.
You can book with a small deposit from £75 per person, with the balance due well ahead of departure. All UK & Ireland tours are covered by ABTOT (member no. 5577), and Railtrail has been rated Excellent on Trustpilot after over 40 years of operating escorted rail holidays as a family business.
Not sure a winter tour is right for you? Call our customer care team on 01538 382323, or request a free brochure to see the full programme before you decide.
