Ho Ho Ho!  Here's our ultimate guide to all the Santa's Grottos and Father Christmas Experiences taking place in the local area this year.  From train rides to winter wonderlands you can find them all here.  So don't delay and get booking, as some of the most popular ones get booked up very quickly!

We will continue to add to this page as more details of where Santa will be appearing become available.  We do our best to ensure all these details are correct but from time to time things do change so please do check the websites and book where necessary to avoid disappointment.

Look out for the entries highlighted below in green, these indicate sessions catering for children with additional needs.

Last updated 4th September 2024

Harpenden Round Table Santa Float
TBC December 2024
Keep an eye (or an ear) out for this charity float and its special passenger passing through the streets of Harpenden and collecting for charity in the lead up to Christmas.
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Harpenden Christmas Carnival Santa's Grotto
Sunday 24th November 2024
Santa will be there in his Grotto.  More details when we have them! Drop in on the day.
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Southdown Lights and Lanterns Extravaganza
Friday 29th November 2024, 5.30 - 7.30pm
Santa will be there in his grotto. Drop in on the day.
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Redbourn Christmas Market
Sunday 1st December 2024, 11 - 5pm
Santa will be in his magical grotto on the High Street. Drop in on the day.
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Wheathampstead Lights-Up and Christmas Market
Thursday 28th November 2024
Santa will be in his grotto in the market in the Crinkle Crankle Gardens. Drop in on the day.
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Father Christmas at Luton Hoo Walled Garden
Sunday 8th December 2024
Father Christmas is taking some time out from his busy schedule to have a chat and a mince pie at Luton Hoo Estate. Places are limited - book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets will be available from 1st October.
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Willows Farm Santa Spectacular
Dates TBC
There’s no better place to bring your children to meet Santa and enjoy a fabulous festive family day out. Take a trip through our magical winter wonderland where you’ll find Santa in his amazing Grotto. Santa will give children a key to his Toy Shop where they can choose any gift from the hundreds stacked from floor to ceiling. Visit our Create-a-Cuddle Workshop where children can choose from a range of soft toys to make, name and take home along with a certificate. Get crafty and decorate tasty gingerbread. Write a letter to Santa (don’t forget to add your address so he can reply!) Pop on 3D glasses to watch our short festive 3D film. Sing along with our new festive shows and more!
Tickets on sale from 9th September, 9am.
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Father Christmas Visits Wardown House
7th, 14th, 20th & 21st December 2024
A magical Christmas experience awaits the whole family at Wardown House, Museum and Gallery.Children are invited to listen to a festive story from Miss Christmas, meet the whimsical elves, and receive a special gift from under the tree when they meet Father Christmas. Plus, they can enjoy milk and cookies in our cosy café afterwards, while you enjoy a complimentary tea or coffee! There will be an opportunity to take photos of your children with Father Christmas, and enjoy the festive backdrop of the beautifully decorated house, decked out in traditional Victorian style decor. Booking now open.
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Meet Santa at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
23rd November - 24th December 2023
Meet Santa returns to Whipsnade Zoo! Sign up on the website for more information when booking opens.  Booking links will only be sent to those who register their interest via the website!
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Knebworth House Dine with Santa
15th and 22nd December 2023
Give your family an early Christmas treat with a fantastic meal at Knebworth Barns complete with a visit from Santa. Pre-booking essential. Booking now open. 
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Christmas at Mead Open Farm, Leighton Buzzard
Weekends from 30th November then 20th - 24th December 2024
Experience a magical festive adventure  as the yuletide cheer of the North Pole takes over the farm. Meet Father Christmas in his grotto, decorate gingerbread men with Mother Christmas, journey through Christmas HQ and help find the magic. Wander through The Magical Forest and make some Reindeer food to take home ready for Christmas Eve. Don’t forget to visit the Make a Bear Workshop to create your own cuddly toy. Booking now open.
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The Olde Watermill Christmas Grotto, Barton-Le-Clay, Bedfordshire
From 23rd November 2024
A fabulous festive fifty-minute experience with delights for all the family. Design your own Santa Express decoration to take home with you. Receive a Christmassy letter from Rudolph and your magical reindeer food ready for Christmas Eve. Make your own special wish upon a star. Enjoy a ride on Santa’s Express. Meet Santa and Mrs Claus in their cosy sitting room, where Santa will have a story for you and a present for each child, enjoy your own special time with him and there will be the opportunity for you to take that memorable photograph. Booking now open.
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Panto Express with Father Christmas, Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
Weekends from 30th November 2024
See Father Christmas whilst enjoying a steam train ride AND watch a pantomime – Jack and the Beanstalk -  all in one amazing Christmas experience! This year, it’s bigger and better than ever! Booking now open.
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Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands
16th & 17th November, then 23rd November - 24th December 2024
Gather 'round the fire with Mrs. Christmas as she brings the magic of Christmas to life with her heart-warming stories. Let your imagination run wild in our Toy Factory, where children can choose a Christmas-themed cuddly toy to build, adding a personal touch to their festive keepsake. Experience the joy of meeting Father Christmas himself! Step into a winter wonderland and join in the fun of making special reindeer food to sprinkle on Christmas Eve. Finally take a piece of the magic home with you by working with your family to plant a mini-Christmas tree, in a beautiful bamboo plant pot. Popular dates already selling out!
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Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands - Exclusive SEN Sessions
17th & 24th November and 1st December 2024
To help make our Grotto experience as accessible as possible to any families who may require any additional support, we are offering an exclusive SEN session. 
This session will be the same unique Grotto experience you would expect from Frosts, with some small adaptations in the way of smaller groups of people, reduced lighting and sound and less display furniture making it easily accessible for all. 
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Christmas Wonderland at Springtime Nurseries, Crews Hill, Enfield
11th November - 24th December 2023
All aboard at our station platform, where you begin your magical ride through the reindeer forest! You may even be lucky enough to see Santa’s reindeer resting before they take flight on Christmas Eve. You’ll continue your magical ride through the Wonderland where you will see some familiar Christmas favourites, en route to Santa’s magical Ice Kingdom where Santa will greet you alongside your carriage. Remaining in your carriage you finally visit the Elves toy shop where you finish your ride and choose your Christmas gift with love from Santa.  This is now a fully pre-booked event.  You can no longer just turn up.  Booking opens Friday 6th September.
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The Santa Claus Experience at Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park, Waltham Abbey
Weekends from 24th November then 20th - 24th December
Our fabulously festive Santa Claus Experience is a great way to start your festive celebrations this year. Santa’s cheeky elves can not wait to welcome you on our magical group experience of festive fun.  Includes Sparkle Snow Show, Mother Christmas' Magical Kitchen, decorate a gingerbread man, and meet Santa with photo opportunities and goodies for the children. Only pre-bookings will be able to see Santa Claus. Booking now open.
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Odds Farm Park Christmas Cracker, High Wycombe
Fridays - Sundays from 29th Novermber, then 18th - 24th December 2024
Take a magical stroll to the North Pole and enjoy a personal visit to meet Father Christmas! Soak up the seasonal splendor with the return of our sell-out Christmas Spectacular Experience, where the Farm Park has been sprinkled with yuletide wonder and festive frivolities, and families will be joined by a very special guest! Booking now open.
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Odds Farm Park SEN Christmas Cracker, High Wycombe
29th November & 1st, 6th and 8th December 2024
Dedicated SEN sessions are set aside for families with children with additional needs, where there will be a slower pace
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Bletchley Park Vintage Christmas Grotto
Weekends from 1st December 2024, then 19th - 23rd December 2024
To celebrate the festive season here at Bletchley Park, we welcome children and their families to visit our unique Vintage Christmas Grotto to meet Father Christmas! Families will have time in the Grotto, where children will meet with Father Christmas, have a chat and receive a special Christmas gift. Booking now open.
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Bletchley Park Relaxed Christmas Grotto
Saturday 30th November 2024
To make sure every child has the chance to celebrate the festive season here at Bletchley Park, we welcome children and their families to visit our unique relaxed Vintage Christmas Grotto experience to meet Father Christmas! Our fully trained team will make sure children have a magical meeting with Father Christmas in our beautifully decorated Mansion, where they’ll receive a lovely Christmas gift to take home. This experience is appropriate for children on the autistic spectrum, as well as children with sensory conditions, who are neurodiverse or have other additional needs.
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