A POPULAR Christmas steam train experience is set to return this year – with cheaper ticket prices.

Santa Steam Express, run by railway experience company Steam Dreams Rail Co., is returning for its fourth year.

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It is running this Christmas at London on December 20 and December 21.

The trips begin at London Victoria, where passengers will climb aboard the train’s vintage carriages that date back to the 1960s.

You’ll then embark on a 1hr30 minute adventure through south London, passing Chiswick, before heading towards Barnes and Clapham Junction.

The exact route is yet to be confirmed, but Steam Dreams Rail Co have said the route is likely to be similar to previous years, ending at London Victoria.

When onboard, children can expect to receive a sweet treat, drink and gift, while adults can enjoy some mulled wine, tea or coffee and a mince pie.

Families will also be riding along with festive characters, such as Mrs Claus, along with a merry band of elves who will hand out children’s gifts.

A copy of the International Elf Service North Pole Star newspaper with up-to-date stories and announcements from the Christmas Workshop, written by the Elves, will also be available.

And once the drinks and nibbles are done, children can get stuck into some Christmas activities, before meeting the man in red himself, Santa.

The festive trips will be hauled by two iconic steam locomotives – either the 700000 Britannia or 34046 Braunton, which date back over 70 years.

They’ll depart four times a day on December 20 and December 21, with slots running at 9:30am, 11:45am, 15:30pm and 18:15pm, with booking starting from £55 per person in Coach Class.

This is cheaper than last year, where the cheapest tickets were priced at £65.

For passengers who want something more private, you can opt to book a private carriage instead.

Head of Communications at Steam Dreams, Juliet Soley, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the magic of steam and Santa to London Victoria for the fourth year.

“It is a joy to be part of the Christmas countdown traditions of many families and we look forward to welcoming guests on board this year to create special memories.

“With only two dates this year, we encourage guests book early once tickets are available.”

Tickets for Club Class, with luxury cushioned seating and spacious tables within a festively adorned carriage, start from £75.

For a private compartment which seats up to six people, prices start from £550.

Elsewhere in Europe, a new train route linking two of Europe’s most popular cities will be up and running in time for Christmas market season.

The high-speed service will run from Berlin to Paris, between Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Paris Gare de L’Est, with stops in Frankfurt, Strasbourg and Karlsruhe.

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DOWNHAM Market in Norfolk has been dubbed a “Gingerbread Town” – because of the colour of its buildings.

The moniker is because of the colour of the sandstone bricks, created by fusing local white brick and carrstone to make the gingerbread colour.

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Having been a town for over 2,000 years, it officially became a market town in 1046, making it one of the oldest of its kind in Norfolk.

Because of its long history, there are plenty of noteworthy buildings to visit including Downham Market Town Hall, which is one of the main buildings to have the gingerbread ‘slabs’.

Another example of the “Gingerbread brick” can be found on the corner of Priory Road and London Road.

Head to the Discover Downham Heritage Centre to find out about the town’s history as well.

The tiny museum has a number of artefacts and interactive displays to look at as well as workshops including weaving and mosaic making.

Entry into Discover Downham Heritage Centre costs £4 per person.

Downham Market’s black and white clock tower is another key landmark in the town, which opened in 1878.

Meanwhile, The Fen Rivers Way Footpath also runs directly through the Norfolk town, which means day-trippers to Downham Market will be able to get into the countryside without a hitch.

And if you need a drink at the end, the town has a much-loved Wetherspoons which locals have raved about.

The Whalebone is a Grade II Listed building, that dates back to the 18th century.

Its name is a nod to the whaling trade that once flourished in the area, with its walls adorned with other historical memorabilia.

The pub has a 4/5 star rating on Google from more than 1,600 reviews.

One person wrote: “Easily one of, if not, the best beer garden I’ve come across at a Wetherspoon pub and restaurant.”

Another person added: “It’s friendly and I love the way they have incorporated historical elements into the decorating of the Whalebone.”

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There are several other pubs in Downham Market, including The Live and Let Live.

The Norfolk Cheese Co & Delicatessen is a highly-rated restaurant in the area too, with a 5/5 star rating on Google.

For holidaymakers who want to stay overnight, rooms at the Crown Hotel start from £83 per night.

The unassuming hotel was where the “Bread Riots” took place in 1816.

King Charles I was also said to have hidden in an Inn in Downham Market in the 17th century.

The former king disguised as a clergyman in an attempt to evade capture by Parliamentary forces after the battle of Naseby.

Downham Market can be reached on a direct train from London King’s Cross, with services taking 100 minutes.

Another tiny village in the UK has been compared to a retro 1940s film set.

And an abandoned village in England only opens to tourists once a year.

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A WOMAN was left devastated after her bag was stolen while on holiday – and was forced to walk nearly two miles in the heat.

TikToker Jess, from the UK, was on holiday in Salou when she realised she was missing her passport and bank cards.

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The contents of her bag were stolen while she was at a restaurant, despite being attached to her pram.

She posted a video on her social media which has since been watched thousands of times.

She said: “My passport, my two cards – everything is gone.”

Jess said she didn’t know how she was going to get home after her passport was stolen.

She said she was forced to walk 1.4miles to the police station, after freezing her bank cards.

She warned her followers: “I’m just putting it out there. Just keep your stuff on you and not around you.

“Anything can happen anywhere. You just never know when it’s going to happen to yourself so always be alert and on it so it doesn’t happen to you.”

She was eventually able to get a replacement passport after making an appointment with the embassy in Barcelona.

However, she issued another warning to her followers to make sure to “make an appointment” and not just turn up at the embassy.

It is advised to avoid taking your passport out with you, and is better to leave in the hotel safe.

And there are two ways to protect yourself when on holiday.

One of those is to always leave an emergency bank card in your hotel room.

If you don’t want to just carry cash, then this means you still have a means of paying for emergency food and transport if your cards are stolen.

You should also always have a printed version of your passport page in case you lose the real thing.

This makes it much easier to get a replacement passport at the embassy.

However, it is still a pricey mistake – replacement passports cost £100, and can take up to two days to get one.

You will also only be able to use this to travel home, travelling through up to five countries to get back.

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This will then be kept by border staff, and you will then need to apply for a new passport when back in the UK.

We’ve also explained why you should never throw away your expired passport.