Train experience gifts UK: days out worth giving

The best train experience gifts in the UK put someone on a real train doing something they'd never do on an ordinary journey. Think driving a steam locomotive on a heritage line, eating Sunday lunch in a vintage dining car, waking up in the Highlands after a night on the sleeper, or crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct behind a steam engine. Britain has all of these and more, spread from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands. The catch is that most run on set dates or seasons, so a little planning goes a long way.

Which train experiences make the best gifts?

It depends on how hands-on they want to be:

Footplate and driver experience days

For a serious train lover this is the big one. Many heritage railways offer footplate or driver experience days, where the recipient learns how a steam or diesel locomotive works and then takes the controls under the eye of an experienced crew. Some are short taster sessions, others take up most of a day.

A few things to check before buying:

• Age limits. Most have a minimum age, and some have health or fitness requirements too.
• Dates. Experiences tend to run on specific days, which the railway sets each year.
• Voucher terms. A voucher lets them pick the day, but check how long it's valid.

These are run by railways all over Britain, from Sussex to the Scottish Highlands, so it's worth looking at the lines closest to the person you're buying for. Our guide to heritage railways by region is a good starting point.

Dining trains and Pullman days

If they'd rather be waited on than shovel coal, a dining train is the answer. Plenty of heritage railways run lunch, afternoon tea or evening dining trains in restored carriages, and the British Pullman, run by Belmond, offers day trips from London Victoria in vintage Pullman cars. Either makes a lovely anniversary or birthday present, and you can usually buy them as vouchers.

Scenic journeys and steam in the Highlands

The Jacobite runs between Fort William and Mallaig on the West Highland Line, crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct (familiar to anyone who's watched the Harry Potter films). It usually runs from spring to autumn, so it suits a "next summer" present unwrapped at Christmas.

You don't always need a special train, either. Some of Britain's best rail scenery is on ordinary timetabled services: the Settle to Carlisle line over the Ribblehead Viaduct, the sea wall at Dawlish in Devon, or the Cambrian Coast line in Wales. A pair of tickets and a pub lunch at the far end is a cracking day out. Our scenic train journeys in the UK guide covers more routes.

A night on the sleeper

Britain still has two sleeper services. The Caledonian Sleeper runs overnight between London Euston and Scotland, serving destinations including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William. The Night Riviera, run by GWR, goes between London Paddington and Penzance in Cornwall. Falling asleep in London and waking up beside a Scottish loch or the Cornish coast never gets old. More detail in our sleeper trains in Britain guide.

Santa specials for families

For young children, a Santa special on a heritage railway is about as exciting as December gets. They usually include a steam train ride and a visit from Father Christmas, and they sell out early. See our guide to Santa specials for booking tips.

Something to unwrap on the day

Experience gifts have one weakness: on Christmas morning, there's just an envelope. Pairing the voucher with something to unwrap helps. A reproduction poster of the line, a book about the route or a printed itinerary all work.

Or give them something they'll use every day until the trip comes round. TrainTicker Desktop is a compact amber LED departure board, 320 x 80 mm, that shows live trains from any National Rail station in Great Britain, laid out like the one on the platform. It's £199.99 one-time with no subscription, and it ships within 3 to 4 weeks, so order in November for Christmas. Try the free live demo to see what it would show for their station.

Always check dates, prices and age requirements directly with the railway or operator before you book. They change from year to year.