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If Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without the magic of visiting Santa and his friends, here's our ultimate guide to all the Santa's Grottos and Father Christmas Experiences taking place in St Albans and surrounding areas this year 2024! Some of the more popular experiences get booked up very quickly so you may want to book ahead sooner.
We will continue to add to this page as more details of where to visit Santa emerge. 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.
Budget Friendly
Lots of the grotto visits include other enhanced experiences and other festive activities included in the ticket price. If you are looking for something that is more focused on the Santa visit itself and a lower ticket price, see some venue examples below. It's also worth looking out for less advertised local events, for example a Santa's grotto at a PTA run school fair or local community group events which generally have lower ticket prices. The examples below are all £16 or below per child (excluding booking fees).
Santa’s Grotto at the Galleria, Hatfield
30th November - 24th December 2024 (various slots)
Santa will be there in his Grotto.
£7 per child (+ booking fee). Booking strongly advised. More details
Santa’s Grotto at Burston Garden Centre, St Albans
9th November - 24th December 2024 (various slots)
Santa will be there in his Grotto.
£15 per child, £1 per adult (+ booking fee). Booking required. More details
Santa’s Grotto at Burston Garden Centre Additional Needs Sessions
Santa will be there in his Grotto and there will be a more relaxed and quieter environment. These sessions are the first of the day, which is when the centre tends to be quieter. SEN sessions are also every Sunday 10am to 10:30am. Booking required.
Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell
Opening 2nd November - 24th December 2024 (various slots)
‘Children will have the chance to meet Santa, share their excitement for the big day, and personally deliver their Christmas wishes.Each child will also receive a special gift from Santa himself’ £13 per child (+ booking fee). Booking required. More details
Father Christmas at Wardown House, Luton
07 December - 21 December 2024 (various slots)
‘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!' £16 Child (+ booking fee), £6 Adult (includes tea & coffee). Booking required. More Details
Christmas Wonderland at Springtime Nurseries, Crews Hill, Enfield
14th November - 24th December 2024
‘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.’ £15.95 per Child, £4.95 Adult (+ booking fee). Booking required. More details
Visit Santa and Meet his Newest Reindeer, Norbert! The Centre:MK, Milton Keynes
15th November - 24th December 2024
‘The magic of Christmas is returning to centre:mk this November, and this year’s Grotto experience is more enchanting than ever!
We’re thrilled to introduce Norbert, Santa’s newest reindeer.’ £15.50 per Child, £6 Adult, £5 Baby (+ booking fee). Booking required. More Details
Christmas Markets and Lights Switch On Events with Santa's Grottos
St Albans Christmas Cracker
Sunday 17th November 2024 (details TBC)
Wheathampstead Lights-Up and Christmas Market
Thursday 28th November 2024
Santa will be in his grotto in the market in the Crinkle Crankle Gardens. More details
Harpenden Christmas Carnival Santa's Grotto
Sunday 24th November 2024
Santa will be there in his Grotto. More details
Santa's Grottos and Festive Experiences
Willows Farm Santa Spectacular, St Albans
23rd November - 24th December 2024 (various slots)
‘There’s no better place to bring your children to meet Santa and enjoy a fabulous festive family day out.' (some activities include gingerbread decorating, festive shows, festive fun fair rides, 'create a cuddle' workshop, Santa's toy workshop) Booking required. More Details
Winter- Fest featuring Santa’s Magical Grotto at Aldenham Country Park, Radlett
30th Nov - 24th December 2024 (various slots)
'Discover the secrets that unfold as you journey through Santa's Magical Grotto! Help the Elf prepare for Santa's busy Christmas schedule, meet the big man himself, pick a present from Santa’s toy shop and write a letter for a video response on Christmas Eve'. Farm pass entry ticket also required with grotto visit. Booking required. More Details
Knebworth House Dine with Santa, Stevenage
15th & 22nd December 2024
‘Give your family an early Christmas treat with a fantastic meal at Knebworth Barns complete with a visit from Santa'. Dine with Santa includes a grazing platter on arrival, two-course meal, tea & coffee. Booking required. More details
Santa's Grotto at Church Farm, Ardeley, Stevenage
30th November - 23rd December 2024 (various slots)
‘Our cheeky Elves will greet you on arrival, make a wish and place it on our Christmas Wish Tree. Next choose a carrot, bag-up some reindeer food to take home, and then write a letter to Santa. Wander the trail to meet Father Christmas himself in his magical grotto deep within our Winter Woodland! Each visit with Father Christmas includes a gift which children can choose from our Christmas Elf Toyshop!’ Dog lovers can also book to see 'Santa Paws'. Farm pass entry ticket also required with grotto visit. Booking required. More details
Christmas Cracker at Odds Farm Park, High Wycombe
29th November - 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 required. More details
Christmas Spectacular at Odds Farm Park, Dedicated SEN Only Session
29th November & 1st, 6th and 8th December 2024.
'Please note, guests with additional needs are welcome to attend on any date and time, however our dedicated SEN sessions are set aside for families with children with additional needs, where extra provisions will be in place.' Booking required. More Details
Leighton Buzzard Railway - Santa's Steam Specials
1st- 24th December 2024 (various slots)
‘Take a 25-minute steam-train ride over a historic narrow-gauge railway that’s more than 100 years old, and run by enthusiastic volunteers. Meet Santa at Page's Park grotto, where children up to 12 will receive an early present.’ Booking required. More details
The Olde Watermill Santa’s Grotto and Christmas Workshop 2024, Barton-Le-Clay, Bedfordshire
23rd November - 24th December 2024 (various slots)
‘The Santa Express is heading for the North Pole Station, destination…..Santa’s Grotto and Christmas Wonderland at the Olde Watermill Shopping Village. A fabulous, festive 50 minutes experience including a trip on Santa’s Special Funfair ride for every child.' Booking required. More details
The Olde Watermill SEN Christmas Grotto, Barton-Le-Clay, Bedfordshire
27th November and 28th November 2024
‘All monies from the SEN grotto are donated to Beds Autistic Society. All of the staff involved donate their time for free. All of the presents given are donated by the Olde Watermill Shopping Village. We hope you all have a fabulous time. Sessions will be 10-12 minutes in duration. Bookings are limited to one family per time slot with a maximum of 8 family members in the grotto at any one time.’ Booking required. More Details
Santa's Grotto Experience, Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands
16th November- 24th December 2024 (various slots)
‘Frosts Santa’s Grotto experience is back, and this year is filled with enchanting new activities for the whole family to enjoy.' Booking required. More Details
SEN sessions Grotto, Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands
17th November, 24th November and 1st December (9.30am & 9.45am)
'To help make our Grotto experience as accessible as possible to any families who may require any additional support, we are offering exclusive SEN sessions.' Booking required. More Details
The Santa Claus Experience at Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park, Waltham Abbey
24th November - 24th December 2024 (various slots)
‘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. Your tour will typically take 90 minutes. As a group you’ll get to meet Santa Claus in his grotto where he’ll make sure everyone is on the nice list. His elves will be on the look-out for those on the naughty list.’ Booking required. More Details
Panto Express with Father Christmas, Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
30th November to 22nd December (various slots)
‘See Father Christmas whilst enjoying a steam train ride AND watch a pantomime – all in one amazing Christmas experience! This year's mini pantomime is Beauty & The Beast.’ Booking required. More Details
Vintage Christmas Grotto, Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes
1st - 23rd December 2024 (various slots)
‘Come visit Father Christmas and his elves in Bletchley Park Mansion’s Ballroom, a beautiful, spacious wood-panelled room used by Codebreakers in World War Two.’ Booking required. More Details
Relaxed Christmas Grotto, Bletchley Park
30th November 2024
'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.' Booking required. More Details
Audley End Railway Christmas Special, Saffron Walden
21st November until 24th December 2024
'Our Nutcracker Station Master invites you to climb aboard the Christmas Express and journey deep into the enchanted woods of Audley End to visit Father Christmas’ winter workshop! You’ll see Mother Christmas and her elves hard at work making sure all the toys are ready for Christmas Eve. Meet Father Christmas as he greets everyone along the train and gives each child a special gift.' Booking required. More Details
Audley End Railway Autism and SEND friendly session Christmas Special 2024
Various dates from 24th November 2024
'The session will be at the beginning of the day so visitors will be the first customers on site and the site will therefore be quieter. Reduced or eliminated queuing time. Reduced volume of sound/music during Christmas show. No flashing lights, UV lights or unexpected events/sounds during the Christmas show'. Booking required. More Details
Don't forget to also visit our 'What's On' page to view all other festive events taking place this year, including illumination events, Christmas markets, Pantomimes and lots more!!
