Keep up date with festive happenings in the capital on our Christmas 2026 in London page.
London's not short of light festivals and illumination shows each winter, but there's one that always gets our attention — a steam train covered in twinkling fairy lights.
The Epping Ongar Lights Party Express (previously called Light Fantastic) is just that — an illuminated train ride through woodland on the London-Essex border.
Watch the the illuminated carriages — hauled by a steam locomotive — pull into Ongar station, and snap a few pictures before climbing aboard. As the train pulls out of the station and wends through the countryside, peer out of the window for illuminated line-side displays designed specially for Lights Party Express passengers, and visible only from the train. Passengers receive individual LED wristbands to turn the inside of the train into a neon wonderland too.
For Christmas 2026, the Epping Ongar Lights Party Express is offering three brand new shows, each with a different soundtrack provided by an onboard DJ:
- Christmas Gold offers Christmas carols and festive songs everyone knows, ideal for a family singalong;
- The Party Anthems Train dials things up a notch with pop anthems — more suited to families with older children;
- The Groove Train is the route to Funky Town, via a lively soundtrack of disco hits and floorfillers from the 1970s-80s. This one's for adults, and more mature teenagers (and it runs on New Year's Eve, to get your celebrations off to a banging start before you head off to party elsewhere).
Regardless which service you board, you'll receive a song sheet with all the lyrics. As always, an onboard commentary is provided by "Voiceover Man", as heard on Britain's Got Talent and The X Factor, accompany the sights, the experience lasting about an hour, and returning you back to Ongar station.
Basically, it's the closest you'll ever get to riding the Polar Express. Look:
Alternatively, book your family onto one of the daytime Santa Specials (selected dates 28 November-24 December 2026). You won't see the lights, but you will get to ride a vintage London bus, pick up refreshments from a festive food stall while listening to a live brass band at North Weald station, and hop onto Santa's fantastically festive train where the man himself will visit you at your seat. All children receive a present too.
Epping Ongar Lights Party Express takes place on selected dates, 14 November 2026-2 January 2027 departing from Ongar station. Tickets start at £25 per adult/£20 per child, with private compartments available from £160.
