The English steam train where kids can meet much-loved Bluey and Paw Patrol characters – but you’ll have to be quick
PARENTS looking for a Christmas gift for their young ones could get them a ticket for a steam train that will visit some of their favourite characters.
The Spa Valley Railway in Kent describes itself as “a railway with a destination at every station”.
And at the start of next year, appearing at one of its stations will be kids’ TV fave Bluey, as well as both Chase and Rubble from Paw Patrol.
The characters will feature at Groombridge station on selected days in January and February, with kids able to see them while the steam engine changes ends of the train.
The journey will set off from Tunbridge Wells before turning around at Groombridge.
From there it will return to Tunbridge Wells, to complete the journey.
The Spa Valley Railway website says: “Take a steam train ride from Tunbridge Wells West travelling to Groombridge where you can alight to see Bluey as the steam locomotive changes ends of the train.”
Bluey will be in place on Saturday January 27 and Sunday, January 28.
Meanwhile, Chase from Paw Patrol will make his appearance on Saturday, February 3, while Rubble will be there on Sunday, February 4.
Trains will depart Tunbridge Wells West on all three days at 10:30am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm and 3pm, returning and hour later.
Each train will spend 30 minutes at Groombridge, allowing kids to meet and take pictures with the characters.
Tickets start at £6 for children and £13 for adults.
The steam train doesn’t just have special rides for children, with a Kent Cheese Train service also running.
Passengers will take a return trip along the railway, while enjoying a selection of local cheeses from The Cheese Shop in Tunbridge Wells.
A burns night dining experience, a gin train and fish and chip murder mysteries are also among the events held on board the carriages.
The railway has a total score of 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor, with hundreds of five star reviews from previous guests.
Plenty of them were particularly impressed with the Polar Express experience put on earlier this year.
One wrote: “We were taken on a magical journey re-enacting the Polar Express film.
“Every detail was absolutely perfect and the performances on the train were spell binding. It was a fabulous day out from start to finish.”
Another said: “Our family trip to the Polar Express was brilliant from start to finish. Excellently and cleverly run.”
A third added: “I don’t want to spoil the experience by going into too much detail, but it was great interactive fun, go for it.”
Meanwhile, this train route is one of the most picturesque in the UK.
And two of the best train journeys in the world are also found in the UK.