2027 - Christmas Train Of Lights

Itinerary

Festive Weekend Highlights

• Hotel for 3 nights with breakfast & two dinners
• Lunch on Sunday (replaces dinner)
• 5-course Christmas (set) Dinner on Saturday
• Porterage & welcome drink
• Evening entertainment in the hotel
• 2-hour Happy Hour 2-4-1 offer on selected house drinks
• Present from Santa
• Excursion to Festive Plymouth
• Christmas Train of Lights Experience on Dartmouth Steam Railway
• Morning Drive to Torquay

Christmas Train of Lights

Day 1 - After joining your holiday coach head to the West Country with suitable stop/s en-route for refreshments. Check into the 4* Mercure Hotel Paignton for the next 3 nights with porterage assistance. Dinner is included for 2 evenings with a delicious 5-course Christmas (set) Dinner on Saturday evening. A late lunch on Sunday replaces dinner due to the timings of the Christmas Train of Lights.

Day 2 - 3 - At leisure in Paignton with two included excursions
There is entertainment each evening (vocalist, quiz, bingo etc) plus a 2-hour Happy Hour Bar offer (times TBA) with 2-4-1 on draft beer, house wine and soft drinks

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS
Festive Plymouth - Saturday 
Head into the centre of Plymouth, home of Sir Walter Raleigh & Sir Francis Drake. From its vibrant centre to the historic Barbican with narrow, cobbled streets and centuries' old seafaring heritage, Plymouth is a unique mix of open spaces and striking coastal scenery. Catch up on your Christmas shopping and head to Drake Circus for popular brands and high-street favourites, venture to the West End for quirky independent shops or the Barbican's boutiques and galleries are ideal for charming, one-of-a-kind finds. Plymouth Christmas Market on the Piazza in the city centre promises over 50 stalls offering local crafts, festive gifts, and delicious treats that capture the spirit of the season and a world of flavours. Dinner in the hotel this evening is a special 5-course Christmas Dinner (set menu). There will also be a visit from Santa during your stay

Paignton / Torquay, Lunch & The Christmas Train of Lights - Sunday
Enjoy a relaxed morning in Paignton - maybe stretch the legs, grab some refreshing sea air and take in unrivalled views of Torquay to the north and Brixham to the south. Alternatively join the coach this morning for a drive around the bay to Torquay. It may be a sleepy Sunday morning but there is nothing like a stroll along the seafront or a meander through Princess Gardens to blow the cobwebs away or maybe just relaxing with a cuppa at a local café. Return to Paignton late morning as a late lunch is included today in the hotel which replaces dinner.

Later in the afternoon head to Paignton Station (7 mins walk from the hotel or the coach will be available to take you) where the Dartmouth Steam Railway awaits you complete with vintage carriages decorated with thousands of lights, both inside and out. There is a café and toilets at Paignton Station, which is transformed into a magical Christmas scene. Settle into your seat and as the anticipation builds, you will be transported through the 450-metre Greenway tunnel that leads to the 'enchanted forest' transformed by a multitude of sparkling lights. Enjoy the light show and impressive festive installations on the way to Kingswear where you can disembark and take photos before the return to Paignton experiencing the spectacle from the other direction. This multi award-winning Christmas experience lasts approx. 80 minutes before returning to the hotel

                                                                                                                           Credit: Dartmouth Steam Railway

Day 4 - Your homeward journey begins this morning pausing for a refreshment opportunity, en-route. Onwards to interchange and your home towns mid evening.

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Accommodation

Well located hotel in Paignton

Mercure Hotel Paignton

Overlooking Paignton seafront, the 4* Mercure Paignton enjoys a great location with Paignton beach and pier easy strolls away.

The modern facade of the hotel opens to sophisticated interiors which echo Paignton's 19th century seafront houses and the geology of the surrounding UNESCO Global Geopark, with natural materials and inviting furnishings in natural tones dominating each space.

The stylish restaurant serves contemporary all-day cuisine, and the lounge bar is a smart spot for a drink.

The comfortable rooms continue the natural colour palette, and feature a smart TV, iron, safe, Wi-Fi and tea / coffee making facilities. All rooms have a walk-in shower.

There is a lift

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