experiences

A grotto visit can offer so much more than just meeting the man in red. Many Santa’s grottos now include a range of activities and experiences in the ticket price, giving you a full day of festive family fun

Meeting Father Christmas is essential in the lead-up to the festive period. However, many families want a grotto visit that offers far more than simply handing over their Christmas list.

Many Santa experiences now feature a variety of activities included in the admission cost, providing families with an entire day of seasonal entertainment.

Countless grottos and Christmas attractions have emerged in recent years, offering distinctive and unforgettable experiences. Here’s a summary of some of the most exciting ways to meet Santa, whether aboard a festive train or within a grotto in a historic castle.

The Polar Express Train Ride

Millennial mums and dads who remember watching the 2004 film The Polar Express will undoubtedly love this immersive seasonal experience as much as their kids. Don your Christmas pyjamas and climb aboard the themed train where you’ll be welcomed by staff dressed as characters from the film, such as the Conductor.

As the train, adorned with Christmas decorations, departs the platform, there will be interactive performances, festive treats, and more to savour onboard. And just like in the picture, Santa will stop by each youngster on the train to present them with a silver bell, showing that they still believe.

The Polar Express proved enormously successful in 2024, with one reviewer who experienced the London Euston service commenting: “We had the best experience from start to finish last year, the show was so interactive and there was never a dull moment”.

Locations: London Euston, South Devon Railway, Spa Valley Railway, Kent and Wensleydale Railway, Yorkshire

Prices: From £59.95 per person

Lapland UK

Lapland UK is a ‘fully-immersive’ Christmas experience that takes families on a magical four-hour journey through an enchanted forest. Along the way, you’ll encounter numerous elves and partake in activities ranging from a visit to the Lapland Toy Factory to Little Rudi’s Stables, where you can meet the reindeer.

A white Christmas is always guaranteed at Lapland UK, courtesy of its snow machines, offering an experience as close as possible to a trip to the North Pole without boarding a flight. There’s ice skating, festive shows, and much more to explore, and naturally, your adventure concludes with a visit to Father Christmas and a cherished keepsake photo.

Since 2007, Lapland UK has been based in Ascot, and this year it’s also launching in Manchester, spreading the festive cheer to even more people.

Locations: Whitmoor Forest, Ascot, and Capesthorne Hall, Manchester

Prices: From £75 per person

Hamleys

Hamleys, self-described as the world’s largest and oldest toy shop, is the ideal place to meet Santa and gather some inspiration for your Christmas shopping. The Regent Street store is adorned with Christmas lights for the festive season, going all out with glittering decorations, and features six floors of toys to peruse.

Once your children have compiled their Christmas list, they can visit Santa in his Hamleys grotto and will receive a special gift bag to take home.

Location: Hamleys, Regent Street, London

Prices: Starting from £65 for a group of three (one adult and two children, or two adults and one child)

Christmas at Warwick Castle

The historic Warwick Castle is set to host Christmas at the Castle. Here, youngsters will not only get to meet Santa but also enjoy a cosy storytime session with him.

The castle will be adorned with festive decorations and lights. Besides meeting Santa, families can enjoy an ice rink, a festive food and drink village, and a brand-new Christmas light trail within the grounds.

There are also Santa Sleepover packages on offer where you can stay at the castle and enjoy an elf wake-up call, evening entertainment, and more.

Location: Warwick Castle, Warwickshire

Prices: Daytime entry plus stories with Santa starting from £29 per person, ice skating from £8pp, light trail from £17pp

Eden Project

The Eden Project’s Biomes will be illuminated for the festive season, with Father Christmas making a visit to the Cornwall-based attraction. Visitors to the unique botanical gardens will be treated to an immersive experience, culminating in a visit to Santa and a special keepsake to take home.

On selected dates, the park will extend its opening hours, allowing visitors to witness its transformation into a twinkling winter wonderland. Each Biome will offer its own festive experience; for instance, the Mediterranean Biome will feature a light show and festive music.

Additionally, there will be a Christmassy undercover ice rink, and festive food available for purchase in the cafes.

Location: Par, Cornwall

Prices: Visits to Father Christmas start from £16 per person, light trail from £5.50pp, ice skating from £11 per adult. Entry to the Eden Project for adults starts from £38, children from £12, under-fives go free

Father Christmas at London Zoo

Why not mix a trip to Santa’s grotto with a day at the zoo for the ultimate Christmas-themed family day out?

London Zoo offers a variety of packages for those wanting to meet Santa. Little ones can simply enjoy some Christmas crafts before their meet, or you can upgrade to a deluxe package which includes an immersive quest in the attraction’s new ZooTown play area.

You can also opt for the Meet Santa VIP Breakfast, which allows you to enter the zoo at 8am before normal opening, with a special tour before the crowds arrive.

Location: London Zoo, Regent’s Park, London

Prices: Starting from £18.50 per child

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CHRISTMAS is just six weeks away, and with that, many festive events and experiences are opening.

But sometimes meeting Santa or heading to a light trail can set you back quite a bit of money – especially when you add on the inevitable hot chocolate your child screams for when they get cold.

With Christmas already stretching our pockets, finding something to do with the family that doesn’t require you to get out your debit card is hard.

So we’ve rounded up some of the free events across the UK you can head to this Christmas, from pop-up performances to lantern parades.

Santa’s Grottoes and Meet & Greets

In Leeds, at Kirkgate Market, families get the chance to meet Santa for free on December 6, 13, 20, 22 and 23 between 12pm and 3pm.

At the Cadbury House Christmas Fayre on December 3, families can meet Santa in his grotto between 5pm and 7pm.

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The Fayre will also have an array of stalls.

At Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke, near Bristol, families can head to a Christmas Jamboree for free on November 28.

The event will have a Santa meet and greet, as well as a free bouncy castle, Rodeo Rudolf, obstacle course, slide and bungee run.

Visitors will also be able to meet the Grinch, and Glinda and Elphaba from Wicked.

For a slightly different Santa meet and greet, head to Hamleys toy store.

Over the Christmas period, visitors can share hugs and high fives every day at either 1pm or 2:30pm, with Santa Hamley Bear outside the Regent Street store in London.

Light trails

South Bank Winter Light Trail in London features numerous artworks by different artists that glow in the dark night.

The event takes place from November 6 to January 18, 2026.

In Liverpool, you could head to the Royal Albert Dock which features giant light-up figurines and a fairytale carousel.

Over in Sheffield, Light Up Sheffield features three of the city’s most iconic landmarks lit up – Sheffield Cathedral, Sheffield Central Library and Pounds Park.

The event will take place across 10 nights from December 5 to 14.

Light Up Wakefield will take place in Wakefield city centre from November 21 to 23.

On November 21, visitors can head to the Cathedral Precinct to enjoy live music and entertainment before the switch on event at 5:30pm.

Just after Christmas is Christmas Dubs in Clifton Village, near Bristol.

Taking place on December 26, visitors can see a number of Volkswagens light up Clifton Village, as they are decked out in lights.

In Torquay in Devon, visitors can head out on the Bay of Lights illuminated trail from November 28 to January 2, 2026.

Across the event, Torquay waterfront will become illuminated with a light trail stretching 1.5 miles.

In Devon, Lanterns, Lights and Luminations in Brixham will take place from November 21 to 22.

The popular event features a lantern parade, firework display, live music, street entertainment and a market.

Markets

A lot of markets across the UK are free to enter, but once inside you usually do spend money – whether that be on food and drink or attractions.

However, if you take some snacks with you and skip the attractions you can get into the festive spirit without spending a penny.

For example, you could head to one of Liverpool’s most loved buildings, the Bombed Out Church, for their weekend Makers Market.

From 10am to 4pm on various dates throughout November and December, you can wander around stalls selling fresh bakes and pretty creations.

In London, you could head to the Chelsea Winter Village where there is street food, artisan markets, firepits, traditional fairground rides, and an aprés ski bar.

The event is set within the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, so even if you don’t want to spend any money, it is a pretty market to see and take in the free choir performances.

Festive treasure hunts and other trails

In London, visitors can head off on the Snowman Trail, which is a free outdoor sculpture trail inspired by Raymond Brigg’s The Snowman.

Each sculpture has been decorated by artists and then place close to the city’s landmarks.

There will also be a Snoopy Trail around Fleet Street.

Light switch ons

Up and down the country there are thousands of Christmas light switch-ons taking place in November and December – and most of which are free to attend.

This includes the Christmas Light Switch On in Oldham, just outside Manchester.

Taking place on November 15, the event will feature the turning on of the Christmas lights, a visit from Santa, as well as Bluey and Bingo from the hit TV show and fireworks.

For a slightly different ‘switch on’ event, head to Tavistock in Devon on December 5, for a Victorian Christmas lights switch on, with people in Dickensian costumes and vintage entertainment.

In Richmond, the Christmas lights will be switched on, on November 27 and visitors can expect entertainment with the Wickedly Witches, Candy Cane Stilt Walkers and Giant Nutcracker.

Store events

Ikea stores across the country also offer a number of free events so it is worth checking out the events page for your local store.

For example, at Ikea Greenwich children can write a letter to Santa and post it in a special post box between November 10 and December 23.

At Ikea Southampton, families can even have breakfast with Santa if they are an Ikea family member – which is free to sign up to.

The same goes for Hamleys with events at the Regent Street store including Box of Christmas Mischief, a festive game show (November 6 to December 24) and Twinkle Jingle Town Parade where Hamleys elves dance their way through the store (November 6 to December 5).

If your kids love to read or you want them to explore more stories, Waterstones offers loads of events up and down the country, including regular free storytelling sessions.

Over the festive period, there are even more events such as Epsom Christmas Evening with local authors and illustrators and late night Christmas shopping nights, with free mince pies and mulled wine.

Other events

Inside Sheffield Cathedral, visitors can explore 40 Christmas trees decorated by different local charities.

A similar event will also take place at Selby Abbey – the Christmas Tree Festival, which will take place from November 28 to January 5, 2026, will feature 30 trees decorated by locals.

On November 21, when Wakefield’s Christmas lights are switched on, there will be a lantern parade through the city at 6pm.

At Windmill Hill City Farm, near Bristol – a free family farm attraction with a play area and animals – the cafe will be hosting free screenings of much-loved children’s films every weekday from 3:45pm.

In Devon, Candlelit Dartmouth is from November 28 to 30.

Visitors can see a procession of hundreds of handmade paper lanterns through the town as well as Father Christmas’ boat gliding across the River Dart.

For fans of Charles Dickens, the UK is home to some Victorian and Dickensian-themed events including a Victorian evening in Newton Abbot, Devon on December 3.

The high street will be transformed into a Dickensian Christmas Shopping scene with performers and a chance to meet Santa.

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For more ideas of things to do around the festive season, the UK’s biggest Christmas event is returning with 150 rides and attractions… and new FREE Santa’s grotto.

Plus, the prettiest Christmas markets in Britain – with hotel stays from £37.