Norfolk Lights Express

Four Seasons in Colour

Friday 15 Nov 2024 – Saturday 4 Jan 2025

Advance Booking Essential
  • Experience a wintertime classic!
  • See the lineside lit up by the constantly changing lights from your illuminated train
  • Historic train illuminated by thousands of tiny lights
  • Bar car included in the train
  • Please note dogs are not permitted on this service
BOOK TICKETS

What is the Norfolk Lights Express?

The Norfolk Lights Express is an immersive, wintertime experience that is fun for the whole family! Arrive after dark at Sheringham Station and you’ll be greeted by the magical sight of a steam-hauled train illuminated by thousands of tiny lights.

As your train steams from Sheringham to Holt and back, you will literally see the countryside in a whole new light as the on-board lights shine on to the scenery in a series of changing colours. The theme for this year, Four Seasons in Colour, will also be brought to life by the on-board narration and music. During the 5½ mile journey to Holt you’ll pass around 10 colourful lit-up displays on the lineside or dramatically set in the woods adjoining the track, all telling the story of the changing seasons.

Your journey will break with an intermission at Holt, giving you the option to hop off and take photographs with the train or to visit the onboard bar. The return journey provides another opportunity to enjoy the lineside displays  with the on-board soundtrack complete with some seasonal music adding to the spectacle.

The Old Luggage Office buffet at Sheringham will be open for you to purchase hot festive baps, hot drinks, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, delicious homemade cakes and savoury refreshments. A licensed bar will also be on board each train and can be visited before departure and during the intermission.

Dates & Times

The Norfolk Lights Express will be operate on the days shown. The letters and colours indicate the fares applicable to each train.

Please check our Booking System to see the live ticket availability of each train.

Tickets

Fares range depending on the date of travel; please see the fare guide above for guidance.

Under 3s travel free of charge on this service providing they do not occupy a seat – the safest place for little ones is for them to sit on the lap of one of their parents. Our Santa Special Steam Trains are recommended for families with young children. As there are only limited seats on each train, we are not able to offer discounts or concessions on Norfolk Lights Express trains.

Seats are set out in blocks of four; please note that if your party does not fill the table it is likely that you will be seated with another party.

Please check our Booking System to see the live ticket availability of each train. Should you wish to amend or add to your booking please call 01263 820800 (Option 4 then 1). Please note that as each passenger is allocated a specific seat we may not able to add to an existing booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Overall, the experience lasts for around an hour and 40 minutes from leaving Sheringham to arriving back. However the Old Luggage Office Buffet at Sheringham Station will be open before departure and you should also allow time to check in and find your seats, so we suggest arriving early!

Our bookings system updates availability in real time – if your chosen date and time is full, a message asking you to select a different train will be displayed.

Advance bookings close at 11.59pm – to see if you are able to book tickets for travel the same day, please call 01263 820800 (Option 4 then 1). Please check availability below before calling. Higher fares may apply to tickets booked on the day of travel.

Each passenger is allocated a specific seat so we are often not able to add to an existing booking. If you wish to add to your booking please call 01263 820800 (Option 4 then 1) – our booking team will then advise you whether this is possible.

It is not possible to add tickets on trains that are fully booked.

Seating in most carriages is arranged around tables that seat four; please note that if your party does not fill a whole table (or tables) it is likely that you will be seated with another party. A very limited number of compartments seating up to six or 8 are available on each train and can be booked when you order your tickets (Select Private Compartment for up to 6/8).

Yes. Each service will have an accessible compartment for a wheelchair-user and their party – please call our booking team on 01263 820800 (Option 4 then 1) to book and reserve. Please note that space is limited and this will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Wheelchair users who are able to transfer out of their chair and walk a short distance can be accommodated in the standard saloons. Should you have any queries or require extra assistance please call the bookings team.

We will have a range of refreshments available at Sheringham for you to enjoy! There will also be a licenced bar on board each train which you can visit before departure and during the intermission.

Please note that the onboard bar will be closed whilst the train is moving as all interior lights are turned off for the duration of the show.

There are a limited number of toilets on board the train, but the inside of the train is dim so passengers can enjoy the illuminations. Therefore, we recommend you use the toilets at the stations instead – there will be time to alight at Holt before the train starts the return journey.

No;  as trains are likely to be full and there are lighting effects so dog tickets cannot be purchased for the Norfolk Lights Express. Assistance dogs, are permitted – please telephone should you wish to book a group that includes an assistance dog.

The trains are warm (heated by spare steam from the engine!), dry and able to operate in almost all weather conditions.

Once booked, tickets are non-refundable. Depending on the ticket type and availability it may be possible to transfer a booking to a different date. Please note that any changes should be requested at least 5 days before the date of travel and will incur a fee of £5.00.

Please see full details of our Terms and Conditions here.