Get ready to take THE POLAR EXPRESS™ to the North Pole this festive season at Swanage Railway!

Introducing THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride: A Magical Journey to the North Pole from Swanage Railway.

Prepare to embark on an extraordinary adventure as THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride comes to Swanage Railway in Dorset for the first time.  Step aboard this enchanting train experience and be transported into the captivating world of the beloved film.

Immerse yourself in a theatrical day filled with joy, surprises, and endless fun for the whole family.  Get ready to sing, dance, and witness the magic unfold while indulging in delicious hot chocolate.  Dress in your comfiest pyjamas and let the festive atmosphere surround you, creating unforgettable memories.

Don't miss out on this extraordinary journey that will run from November 17th to December 30th 2023.  Tickets for this location in Dorset are exclusively available on SeeTickets.com, so secure your spot now and embark on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tickets are on sale at 9am Friday July 14th 2023 and demand is expected to be huge.  THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride has become a beloved Christmas tradition in the UK, with over 300,000 guests taking the magical trip at 11 locations in 2022.  Worldwide, over 1.4 million guests enjoyed this enchanting experience last season.

During the one-hour train ride, expect to be immersed in festive fun, accompanied by beloved songs and characters from the film.  As it is Christmas, and with magic filling the air, you never know who you might encounter or receive a special gift from.  Just be sure to stay on the good list!

The steam train will take up to five journeys each day, with seven carriages: Rudolph, Blitzen, Comet, Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, and Cupid, the accessible carriage.  For locomotive fans, the carriages include a beautiful 1930s Maunsell coach (Rudolph), and five 1950s, British Railway Standard Carriages.  THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride promises to be an unforgettable experience for all ages.

“We are delighted to be working with Fused Events and Crosstown Concerts to bring the magic of the THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride to the Swanage Railway this Christmas”. - Swanage Railway Chairman, Trevor Parsons. 

“THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride has been a smash hit in the UK and we are thrilled to add Swanage Railway to our roster of locations this Christmas season.  The team in Dorset will host a fantastic event and we can’t wait to experience their live recreation of the classic story.” - Rail Events Inc. Marketing Director, Jamie Ryan.

For full details and FAQs, please visit Crosstown Concerts and to book tickets please visit See Tickets.

An arcade entertainment centre has recently opened in Poole Dolphin Centre with over 80 classic and the newest games to play.  A set price hourly session can be booked and then once you’re in you have that time to go on as many games as you like and our children did their best to cover all the favourites before trying some we’ve never seen before.

The games are much bigger and more impressive than the ones you get in normal seaside arcades and our children have different tastes so my son enjoyed the typical shooting games and cars and my daughter enjoyed bowling, air hockey and an updated version of a sport game I loved as a child where you had to press the button fast to spin and then launch a discus ect.  For one of the games you did actually have to run on the footpad and jump and my daughter loved her character doing gymnastics.

There was a few that stood out for me which included the piano where you play the keys shown in order, the giant Pac Man which brought back many happy memories, a dance machine, a Star Wars fighter pod and a huge projected game where you had to kill the bad pirates in lost city.

The staff are all really friendly, especially the manager who is very keen for the venue to be inclusive and told me that there is a monthly SEN session with reduced capacity, machine volumes turned down low and lights turned up.  At present they are in the process of organising party packages however if you wish to bring a group for a special occasion they will do everything they can to ensure they have fun and will allocate a seating area for you.

Good to know:

Arrive 10 minutes before your time slot to check in at reception and receive your hand stamp.  There are currently no toilets within the arcade so it’s best to go beforehand so you don’t lose any time.  The nearest one is upstairs in the Dolphin Centre near Wilkos.

There is no food or drink sold in the arcade (this may change in the future) but you are welcome to bring anything you need and use one of the tables in the viewing area.  Maybe not a roast dinner though haha.

For more information, session times, prices and SEN dates, please visit High Score Arcades.