santa visits leeds 2023

Yorkshire Wonders

Travel and Lifestyle Blog about Yorkshire and Beyond

Lotherton Hall, Leeds – The Christmas Experience 2023

Here are all the details of the Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience for 2023.  If you scroll down you will see our review and video from a previous year.

Get set to step into Christmas as Yorkshire family attraction, Lotherton, reveals new activities as part of its sell-out Christmas Experience and launches its sought-after tickets. 

Yorkshire is set to experience an early wave of Christmas cheer this month as popular family attraction, Lotherton, reveals that seasonal sensations Santa and Mrs Claus will return this festive season, along with a new look Elf Village and North Pole.

From 25 November 2023 to 7 January 2024, families will make memories to last a lifetime as they enjoy a magical day out at the Edwardian stately home just outside of Leeds, embarking on adventures with fairies, elves and Father Christmas himself. 

After a record-breaking start to the festivities last year, Santa’s diary is expected to fill up fast when tickets go on sale on Friday 15 September 2023.

Getting set to once again be the best festive day out in Yorkshire, Mr & Mrs Claus are dusting off their suits and boots, while the elves are busy preparing the festive fairydust and Christmas crafts to enchant and entertain tiny tots and big kids alike. 

And this year promises exceptional value and more magic than ever before, with returning favourites and new additions.

Santa and his most trusted elves will take up residence in a truly magical new look snow-filled North Pole. Little ones can adventure through the winter wonderland to find Dizzy Bells in the elf workshop and collect a very special Christmas key for Christmas Eve, they can then visit Pippin McJingles at the mysterious wishing well, before seeing the main man himself. 

Santa will be waiting to greet boys and girls, where he will hear their yuletide wishes and give them a special early Christmas present before the big day. Pre-school children will also have the opportunity to visit Santa in his cabin during the day.

Visitors can catch a glimpse of Christmas past in the Hall, being transported back in time to explore the lives of the Gascogine family from the late 1700’s and marvel at the festive finery of an Edwardian Christmas. And family favourite, Mrs Claus will return to the hallowed Hall’s kitchens for dashings of festive fun decorating freshly baked gingerbread, all liberally sprinkled with Christmas cheer. 

Venturing outside, festive revellers will quite literally step into Christmas on the mesmerising woodland walk around the Estate’s stunning grounds. Exploring the winding paths filled with twinkling lights and enchanting larger than life installations of Christmas traditions, families will celebrate pulling a giant cracker, racing reindeer, and playing hide and seek amongst towering presents! Tread carefully and they may even hear the fairies giggling and whispering in the enchanted festive Fairy Dell. 

No Christmas would be complete without some mischief with the cheeky elves, who will take up residence in the enchanting Elf Village in Lotherton’s stunning grounds. 

Little ones can take part in Christmas crafts and make their own reindeer food to take home and sprinkle on Christmas Eve, or be enthralled by a magic show in the Yuletide Yurts while grown ups enjoy a festive tipple.

The Christmas Experience will open on 25 November 2023 and is run by Lotherton and Breeze. There are a number of visit options available, including after school sessions and the chance for pre-school children to visit Santa in his cabin during the day. 

Tickets are available now from just £4.75, early booking is essential as spaces are limited and strictly on a pre-booking only, time-slotted system.

Fly to www.thechristmasexperience.co.uk faster than the reindeer do on Christmas Eve to find out more and book a magical adventure this Christmas.

Opening times:

The Christmas Experience opening times unless otherwise specified:

Monday – Thursday – 9.00am – 7pm, last entry 5.30pm

Friday – Sunday – 9.00am – 8pm, last entry 6.30pm unless otherwise specified

Santa visits & Mrs Claus visits available via pre-booked slots only, Elf Crafts booking preferred but can be purchased on the day.  

The Christmas Experience and the House will be closed on 25 & 26 December 2023 and 1st January 2024.

Santa and Mrs Claus’ last day at Lotherton is 24 December after which they leave to prepare for Santa’s very important journey around the world on Christmas Eve.

Prices: Full details can be found on the website https://thechristmasexperience.co.uk/pricing/  

Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience Review

When we visited Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience  we loved it!  It reminded us rather of Lapland UK but of course, being in Yorkshire it was a fraction of the cost!  The activities are payable separately, so you can then choose whether you would like to ice skate too or see Santa. 

The house and gardens are beautifully decorated with lots and lots of Christmas trees and thousands of lights!  

We had a quick wander around the house as we were only there for the evening and we wanted to try all the outside delights.

Lotherton Hall The Christmas Experience, Leeds

Next we headed to The Elf Village where there are market stalls around a central seating area with tables.  It’s beautifully lit with fairy lights as you can see.

There are food and drink stalls here so you can have a relax and something to eat.  I’ve taken a photo so you can see what is available and what the prices are like.

There were also crafts for the children to do here and face painting (you will need to pay extra for these).  Then there were lots of stalls selling Christmas decorations and homewares like these cushions.  The stallholders were very friendly and I promised to include their photos!

Just beyond the Elf Village you will find the brand new Ice Skating Rink.  It has lovely lights around it and you can stand watching the skaters.  There are penguins to hire for the less able skaters.

After our skating the kids were hungry and we were in need of a drink so we headed back to the cafe.  There is lots of inside seating as well as lovely outside seating complete with tealights and cosy blankets.  

It’s always nice to have a nosy at what is available and prices ahead of time, so here that is.

After our pit stop it was time to visit Santa in his North Pole workshop.  You approach through this lovely wintry wonderland (top tip, hang back if you want a photo alone here, or take advantage later on while waiting to see Santa himself, head back slightly for the best photos!).

Your first adventure in the North Pole is a lovely immersive workshop where the children make a personalised ‘Santa Stop Here’ plaque that they then get to take home.

After this they are taken to write their Christmas wishes before meeting Santa.  While we were waiting we coaxed this cheeky elf into having their photo taken with us!

Then it was time to visit Father Christmas himself! I must say I do get to see Santa a lot and he was really on very good form at Lotherton.  You can see how smiley and engaged the girls are!

He chatted to them and made them laugh before inviting us all in for a photo, and finally giving them (a very good) gift each!  The girls were thrilled!  (Here is another great photo opp – get them to stand with their present before you leave).

As we were heading away from the North Pole and outside the cafe, there is a snow blower that gave the girls some fabulous entertainment!

A perfect photo would have been completely in front of the lovely snowy scene, but they were far too excited to help me out with a perfect photo at this point!  Hopefully you will have better luck with your children!  

There are lots of other things at Lotherton that we just didn’t have time for, like the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ woodland, the Enchanted Fairy Dell, the Edwardian Selfie Studio and weekend events of family magic shows. There is plenty for a fabulous family Christmas day out.  Take your camera and have a lovely time!

We were invited to attend the press night opening of Lotherton Christmas Experience.  As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Also have a look at our big round up of Ice Skating and Christmas events in Yorkshire.   We also have a round up of Christmas events in Manchester and Cheshire if you are in West Yorkshire.

Recommended Articles

*reviewed* christmas at york museum gardens: illuminated walk.

6 Stunning Places to see Snowdrops in Yorkshire

Pumpkin Picking at The Balloon Tree near York

+44 (0)113 218 1010

Christmas at Harewood 2023

• Visitor Experience Team
• 0113 218 1010

Bring your festive celebrations to Yorkshire’s most vibrant country house. 

Harewood’s Great Time Travelling Christmas ( 8 Nov – 7 January) is an immersive, fun and slightly wild festive experience for all of the family.  

Harewood House’s Christmas event this year offers a completely different but strangely familiar experience.  A completely unique collaboration with architects and designers, Studio MUTT who create joyful projects that make everyday life better. Discover more about this unique festive experience with Graham, the Director of Studio Mutt, as he shares his insights in a recent interview.  

For little ones, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Father Christmas.  This year Father Christmas will be telling a tale about The Adventures of Peppermint (25 November – 24 December), who has tumbled into a magical icy world, far away, and we need to work together as a team to bring him back in time to help Father Christmas deliver all of the presents.  A fabulous festive experience which is best enjoyed by children aged 6 months to 8 years.

And why not add a visit to our Artisan Winter Market , curated by Little Bird Made (8 – 12 November) and find Christmas gift ideas and decorations that you won’t find anywhere else. 

Meet carefully selected artisan traders including jewellery, crafts, art, candles, skincare, homeware and food and drink. A unique outdoor shopping experience, bringing together a mix of Artisan stalls selling handmade goods and local produce.  Tickets are just £5, when you book in advance, with the option of adding admission to Harewood House to create the perfect Christmas day out. 

We’ve got a range of Festive Workshops , try your hand at everything from watercolours, wreath making, knitting, willow weaving, soap making and origami.  Each event includes tuition from a talented crafts person and you’ll be able to take what you’ve made home with you.  (tickets strictly limited and must be booked in advance) 

Food and Drink

Our Festive Afternoon Tea is full of delicious festive flavours, turkey, salmon and brie and cranberry feature in our savoury plates and the sweets with festive spices and fruits.  The Afternoon Tea gives you access to the house and wonderful winter walks around the gardens and parkland and of course includes high quality ingredients grown right here at Harewood.

Family Activities

Drawing competition.

Inspired by Harewood’s Great Time Travelling Christmas, we are asking children of all ages to draw, paint, collage and create an image of what they think their Christmas would look like in the year 3000.

They can take ideas from what they see in the House, from flying drones to monster-sized turkeys, and add in a few of their own traditions too.

Complete your picture on the space provided on your copy of Harewood’s Great Time Travelling Christmas Game or go bigger with the materials you have at home. Then, take a clear picture of your creation and tag @harewoodhouse on Instagram.

You will need to do this by 7 January to be in with a chance of winning an amazing prize!

Festive Crafts in the Bakehouse

Join us for drop-in Christmas crafts, colouring, board games and cosy stories at the Bakehouse this festive season for just £1!

Bakehouse opening times:

Every weekend from Sat 11 Nov – Sun 24 Dec (including Fri 22 Dec) – 11am-3pm (last entry 2.45pm)

Wed 27 December – Sun 31 Dec  11am -3pm (last entry 2.45pm)

Tue 2 Jan – Sun 7 Jan- 11am-3pm (last entry 2.45pm)

Harewood House also has an online shop offering gifts inspired by our history and showcasing the best Yorkshire produce.  And for someone  who has everything a membership offers free admission to our house and gardens, plus you’ll be supporting our charitable work. 

Find out more about our sponsor – Lights4Fun

To book in advance for Christmas events go to harewood.org/whats-on

To buy perfect Christmas gifts and support the work of Harewood House go to harewood.org/shop

What's On

• Current & Future
• Food + Drink
• Early Years & Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools
• Colleges & Universities
• Digital Guide
• Gardens & Grounds
• Art & Collections
• Online Shop
• Gifts for Children
• Curated Makers
• Join our Team
• Our Partners
• Reimagining our Landscape

Harewood House Trust, Harewood House Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LG

Harewood is an independent charitable educational trust set up to maintain and develop Harewood, its collections and grounds, for the public benefit. Registered Charity No. 517753

© 2024 Harewood House. Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Where to see Santa in Leeds this Christmas [2024]

Last Updated on 5 January 2024 by Colette Burgess

This post contains affiliate links

[I will update this post with suggestions of where to visit Father Christmas in Leeds in 2024 as information & reviews become available!]

I think there’s something special about picking somewhere to visit Father Christmas year in, year out and making a tradition of it – it helps to retain the magic in my opinion! We’ve gone to the same place every year and the kids would find it ever so strange if we broke ranks and went somewhere different!

It has to be said, visiting Father Christmas this year is going to be more expensive than ever – as I’ve been researching this post I’ve noticed that most places have increased their prices from last year (some more than others). I balked at paying out the best part of £130 for our Father Christmas visit last year and told the kids that we wouldn’t be visiting again despite having been going for the best part of 12 years. It’s been another tough year and I think we all deserve a bit of festive sparkle but there’s definitely value in budgeting and planning ahead for your Christmas experiences this year.

If you haven’t decided where to take the kids to see Father Christmas yet this year, now is the time to make plans. The best experiences book up early, so it pays to be prepared.

If you’re looking for places to see Santa in Leeds and the surrounding area this festive season, why not take a look at some of the suggestions below:

Contents - Click here to jump to the section you need

Santa’s North Pole at Lotherton Hall – Saturday 25th November to Sunday 24th December 2023 | Limited tickets remain

This Christmas at Lotherton Hall, “Santa’s North Pole” is a 30-35 minute Santa experience that includes meeting the Lotherton Hall elves in the snow filled winter wonderland before visiting Santa in his cosy, twinkling cabin to share your Christmas wishes and receive a special gift.

You can also add on Mrs Claus gingerbread decorating, Elf Crafts and Magic Show to your visit for an additional charge.

Tickets are available to book online now priced at £14.45 per child. Everyone attending must also book a Christmas Experience entry ticket (adult tickets are £9.50 and children are £4.75) which gives access to The Christmas Experience, Festive Woodland Walk, Fairy Dell, the Hall, café and courtyards, grounds, and play areas.

You can read more about visiting Santa at Lotherton Hall here:

The Christmas Experience at Lotherton Hall – Me, Annie Bee

Lotherton Hall – The Christmas Experience – Yorkshire Wonders

Santa’s Cabin at Lotherton Hall – Monday 27th November to Friday 22nd December 2023

For the smallest of little people, Lotherton Hall are offering an opportunity to say hello with Santa in his cabin and receive a special Christmas gift. This is a great opportunity for little ones to have their first visits to Santa, particularly if they might struggle to engage in the full “North Pole” experience.

Tickets are available to book online now priced at £9 per child – this particular Father Christmas event at Lotherton Hall is for pre-schoolers so under 4s only. Everyone attending must also book a Christmas Experience entry ticket (adult tickets are £9.50 and free for under 4s) which gives access to The Christmas Experience, Festive Woodland Walk, Fairy Dell, the Hall, café and courtyards, grounds, and play areas.

Santa’s Breakfast at Leeds Christmas Markets – No details for 2023 yet

The Leeds Christmas Markets will finally return for Christmas 2023 but there are no details available yet. The information below relates to a previous event.

Each Saturday and Sunday morning from 23rd November until 21st December, children and families will have the opportunity to join Santa for a delicious breakfast buffet in the Alp Chalet. Father Christmas visits each table to deliver gifts to the children before a festive treasure hunt around the Christkindelmarkt.

Tickets are priced at £15 for 12yrs and under including a gift from Santa, £11.50 for over 13s. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

You can read more about visiting Santa at Leeds Christmas Markets here:

Visiting Leeds Christmas Markets

Santa Claus Experience at The Mansion in Roundhay Park – Saturday 25th November to Saturday 23rd December | SOLD OUT

The Mansion in Roundhay Park is offering children of all ages the chance to experience a festive afternoon tea with an appearance from Santa, with the opportunity for children to meet the big man himself and receive a gift.

Afternoon tea with Santa at The Mansion House in Roundhay Park is available to book now priced at £24.95 for children and £19.50 for adults.

The Adventures of Peppermint: A Father Christmas Experience at Harewood House – Saturday 25th November to Sunday 24th December 2023 | Limited tickets remain

Father Christmas will be returning to Harewood House this festive season, for a brand new , very special immersive family Christmas experience.

“Peppermint the elf needs your help! A dropped bottle of fairy dust has sent him tumbling through time and space. Now, it’s up to you and your family to bring him home, joined by some extraordinary magical friends, including a beloved bearded character !

Together, we’ll venture through an icy landscape to help find your way back to Yorkshire and receive a gift as a thank you for your heroics!”

The whole experience should take around 45 minutes and each slot has capacity for up to 21 people including both adults and children.

Tickets for The Adventures of Peppermint: A Father Christmas Experience at Harewood House went on sale early September 2023 priced at £27.95 for Harewood member children and £5 for Harewood Member adults. Prices are slightly higher for those without membership at £32.95 for children and £30 for adults (including admission). This event will sell out very quickly so move fast.

Father Christmas at Harpins, Ackworth Garden Centre – Saturday 2nd December to Sunday 24th December 2023

Arrive at Harpin’s Christmas grotto at least half an hour before the time on your ticket to take part in the reindeer trail and help look for Santa’s missing reindeer around the store (there will be a chocolate lolly reward if you find them all!). When you hear your number called, make your way to the grotto entrance, where the elves will let you in to the Winter Wonderland. You will get to take a souvenir photograph, and have a private family audience with Santa Claus himself, so you can tell him what you have put on your Christmas list! At the end of your visit you will receive a wonderful, age-appropriate gift from either Harpins, Jellycat or award-winning Gifts in a Tin range. Afterwards, why not pop outside and pick your own freshly cut Christmas tree or warm up with some festive treats in the café.

Tickets to see Santa at Harpins Garden Centre are on sale now costing £20 per child (which is exactly the same price as last year!). There is no additional charge for adults and babies under 18 months go free (if no gift – otherwise a ticket must be paid for). There are also special slots available for children with additional needs.

The Christmas Party at Tong Garden Centre – Saturday 18th November to Sunday 24th December 2023

Journey though the polar picnic party, festive forest feast and reindeer barn dance as Santa’s elves share stories about how all the animal helpers celebrate Christmas. Then it’s on to Santa’s grotto to meet Father Christmas and choose a toy from his toyshop.

Tickets for the Christmas Party at Tong Garden Centre went sale on Monday 28th August 2023 if you were signed up to the newsletter and all December weekend tickets are now sold out! Grotto tickets are priced at £20.95 per child with two free adults per booking (do make sure you book tickets for attending adults).

Breakfast with Santa, Tong Garden Centre – Saturday 18th November to Sunday 24th December 2023

This Christmas, visit why not enjoy a delicious breakfast with Santa in Blooms Kitchen at Tong Garden Centre. As well as your tasty set breakfast, there will be the chance to meet Santa individually and received a gift – don’t forget your camera to make the most of this festive photo opp!

Tickets for this year’s Breakfast with Santa at Tong Garden Centre went on sale on Monday 28th August 2023 if you were signed up to the newsletter and all December weekend breakfasts are now sold out. A child’s Breakfast with Santa costs £20.95 and includes a children’s set breakfast a gift from Santa (Adult’s breakfast is £8.95 – includes adult set breakfast, max 2 adults per booking.)

E.L.F School at Tingley Garden Centre – Saturday 18th November to Sunday 24th December 2023

Back for a second year is the Christmas Grotto at the brand new Tingley Garden Centre (this is a sister site to the well established and much loved Tong Garden Centre).

Join the elves at Santa school as they play and learn how to be a brilliant elf. Journey through the polar playground, Christmas classroom and graduation forest before making your way to Santa’s grotto to meet Father Christmas and choose a toy from his toyshop.

Tickets for the Christmas Grotto at Tingley Garden Centre went on sale on Monday 28th August 2023 if you were signed up to the newsletter. Grotto tickets are priced from £20.95 per child with two free adults per booking (do make sure you book tickets for attending adults).

Breakfast with Santa, Tingley Garden Centre – Saturday 18th November to Sunday 24th December 2023

This Christmas, visit why not enjoy a delicious breakfast with Santa in Blooms Kitchen at Tingley Garden Centre. As well as your tasty set breakfast, there will be the chance to meet Santa individually and received a gift – don’t forget your camera to make the most of this festive photo opp!

Tickets for this year’s Breakfast with Santa at Tingley Garden Centre go on sale on Monday 28th August 2023 if you are signed up to the newsletter. A child’s Breakfast with Santa costs £20.95 and includes a children’s set breakfast a gift from Santa (Adult’s breakfast £8.95 – includes adult set breakfast, max 2 adults per booking.

Letters to Santa at Otley Garden Centre – Saturday 25th November to Sunday 24th December 2023

New for 2023, the team behind the incredibly popular Tong Garden Centre Christmas experience are introducing a new “Letters to Santa” experience where you are invited to journey through the festive forest as the Christmas elves share how Santa’s magical robins make sure all the letters are sorted in time to make wishes come true! Then it’s on to Santa’s grotto to meet Father Christmas and choose a toy from his toyshop.

Tickets for the Christmas at Otley Garden Centre went on sale on Monday 28th August 2023 if you were signed up the newsletter. Grotto tickets are priced at £20.95 per child with two free adults per booking (do make sure you book tickets for attending adults).

Father Christmas at Thackray – Saturday18th November to Saturday 23rd December 2023

Father Christmas needs your help as he travels the world exploring the different ways people celebrate Christmas and sampling all his favourite foods! Work your way around the museum finding clues, stopping off for some winter crafting and photographs on our very own Thackray sleigh. Then meet Father Christmas for some cosy festive stories and a special gift to take home.

This magical  90-minute experience  includes an activity trail around the museum, festive crafts, an audience with Father Christmas plus a gift for each child.  Please note that your audience with Father Christmas has been designed to take place one hour after your entry time to allow you to enjoy the museum beforehand .

You can book your tickets to see Father Christmas at Thackray online now priced from £17 for children and from £7 for adults. Your ticket includes access to the museum, an activity trail and festive crafts plus a gift for each child. The experience will take about 90 minutes.

There are BSL interpreted experiences on Sunday 10th and Saturday 16th December – this will just be part of the standard booking on those days. There will also be relaxed sessions on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th November which have been specifically designed for children with additional sensory needs and anyone else who may benefit, these morning sessions will offer a quieter environment and lower capacity.  These sessions can be booked separately here.

The Christmas Adventure at Stockeld Park  – The Christmas Adventure at Stockeld Park – Saturday 18th November to Sunday 24th December 2023

This is our personal favourite and, whilst it’s not strictly in Leeds but it’s definitely one of the best places to visit Father Christmas in Yorkshire!

Fans of a traditional Santa’s Grotto are in for a treat at Stockeld Park where a cosy, rustic wooden cabin, decked with twinkling lights, awaits Santa’s arrival from Lapland. Stockeld Park’s famous adventure season includes The Snowflake Maze and Winter Illuminations in the award-winning Enchanted Forest. There are also options to add on ice skating, a festive pantomime and a nordic ski trail.

Tickets must be booked online this year at www.stockeldpark.co.uk . Pricing at Stockeld Park has become increasingly complicated and expensive in recent years and has changed again since our visit last Christmas! When we first started going you could pay about £10 for each child to see Father Christmas and everything else was an add on – now everyone attending the park needs a ticket, which if you want to see Father Christmas, costs at least £20 per person but includes the Winter Illuminations etc. I recommend you check out their ticket guide to see exactly what each package offers before booking.

You can read more about visiting Santa at Stockeld Park here:

11 things we love about the Christmas Adventure at Stockeld Park

The Christmas Adventure at Stockeld Park

or why not watch one of our videos: Stockeld Park Christmas Adventure 2019 | Father Christmas at Stockeld Park 2018 | Father Christmas at Stockeld Park 2017 | Our Stockeld Park Christmas Adventure 2016 | The Christmas Adventure at Stockeld Park 2015

Santa’s Express, Middleton Railway – Selected dates from Saturday 2nd December to Sunday 24th December 2023 | Limited tickets remain

This Christmas sees the return of the popular Santa Special train to Middleton Railway. The Christmas magic starts from the moment you enter the festively decorated visitor centre to collect your tickets for the Santa Special train. On the journey, Santa will have a present for each of the children aboard the train (aged 10 and under, children age 11 and up are treated as adults for this experience and will not receive a gift).

Tickets must be pre-booked online and are priced at £16 for children (up to 10) and, £7.50 for young people age 11+ (with no gift) and £13 for adults (aged 16 and up). This event is really popular and will certainly sell out so do book your tickets early.

The Santa Express, Whistlestop Valley – Selected dates from Saturday 25th November to Sunday 24th December 2023

A little out of Leeds but well worth a mention is the Kirklees Light Railway. This festive season there’s a choice of two special Santa events at Whistlestop Valley – Simply Santa or The Santa Express. Both options include a trip aboard the heated carriages hauled by steam locomotive to transport you to the north Pole – whilst at the North Pole you’ll have a one-on-one meeting with Father Christmas in his cosy grotto. There will be a festive treat and a drink for everyone as well as the chance to make a bag of special reindeer food to take home. Don’t forget to have a Yuletide whizz around the duck pond on the miniature train at the front of Clayton West Station. For an extra treat, the Santa Express experience includes a 25 minute Christmas Elf show.

Tickets for Simply Santa are available to book now priced at £19.95 for adults and £24.95 for children (a jump of £5 per person on last year’s ticket prices).

Tickets for The Santa Express are available to book now priced at £24.95 for adults and £29.95 for children (a £5 per person increase on last year’s ticket prices).

Tea with Santa, Whistlestop Valley – Mondays through December 2023 | Limited tickets remain

This Christmas, why not enjoy afternoon tea with Santa in The Shed! Santa will visit each table personally for a good old chat so children can tell him exactly what you’d like for Christmas. Each child will receive a special golden coin from Santa to choose a gift from his Toy Shop.

The price for this event is per table of four – so even if there’s less of you, you must pay the full table price.

Tickets for Tea with Santa are available to book now priced at £79.95 for a table of four.

Temple Newsam – Saturday 2nd to Saturday 23rd December 2023

Father Christmas will be making an appearance at Temple Newsam on weekends throughout December and Thursday 21st December. There’s lots of lovely presents for those who have been good this year!

You can book your tickets to see Father Christmas at Temple Newsam online now at a cost of £12 in addition to normal entry charges.

Harlow Carr

Although there is no Father Christmas visiting Harlow Carr in 2023, the Glow Winter Illuminations will return and will take place from Wednesday 22nd November to Saturday 30th December 2023 (timings vary so do check the website for this) Tickets for Glow at Harlow Carr must be pre-booked . (You can find more details of festive days out in the Leeds area here)

Father Christmas at Abbey House Museum – Saturday 2nd to Saturday 23rd December 2023

Abbey House Museum have been late in announcing their Father Christmas event again this year but we’ve got there in the end!

Meet and greet Santa to tell him what you would like for Christmas, pose for pictures and receive a gift. Don’t forget to take your camera!

As well as your chance to tell Santa if you have been good you can write him a list and pop it in the post box! The Victorian streets will be seasonally decorated. There will be trails to try, sprouts to spot, silly hats to selfie and cosy corners to curl up for a story all included with your entry. There is also a craft bag for each child to take home.

Tickets for Santa at the Museum must be pre-booked onlin e and are priced at £6.50 per child (plus standard museum admission which is paid on arrival).

Santa’s Grotto at Eureka! – No details for Christmas 2023 as yet

The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated asap.

Eureka! in Halifax is probably pushing the bar a bit for being called “Leeds” but I thought it was worth a mention anyway.

You can visit Father Christmas at Eureka! throughout December for a chat about how naughty or nice you’ve been this year and to let him know what you might like for Christmas! (Eureka! have previously offered an “accessible grotto” experience but I can’t find any details about it this year.)

Tickets to visit Santa in his Grotto at Eureka! can be bought at the tills on arrival and are priced at just £6 per child (including a gift) charged in addition to the standard admission .

Santa’s Grotto at High Trees Garden Centre – Sunday 17th December to Saturday 23rd December 2023

Visit Santa’s Grotto at High Trees Garden Centre on selected afternoons in December for a very traditional, one to one family experience. Tickets are £10 per child which includes a gift. To book, call High Trees Garden Centre on 0113 2587788 or send them a message via Facebook !

Visit with Santa at The Candy Cane Club The Merrion Centre – No details for Christmas 2023 as yet

The information below relates to last year’s Father Christmas event and will be updated as soon as possible

Take a trip to The Candy Cane Club this Christmas! Follow your nose to The Candy Cane Club to find Santa and all his presents. At The Candy Cane Club you can enjoy a visit with Santa, maybe you’ll get a present (additional charge) and definitely take lots of photos in the wacky winter wonderland at The Merrion Centre this year!

You can book your tickets to see Santa at The Candy Cane Club in the Merrion Centre now priced at £4 per child (maximum of 2 adults per booking at no extra charge.) If your child would like a gift from Santa, this is an additional £2 per child. You can also purchase a printed picture with Santa at £4. These upgrades are available to pre-book or pay on the day subject to availability.

Santa’s Grotto at White Rose – Friday 10th November to Sunday 24th December 2023

Santa’s Grotto is back at White Rose this Christmas offering your children the opportunity to enjoy a Santa meet-and-greet, plus leave with an age-appropriate gift to keep the magic alive!

You can book your tickets to see Santa in his Grotto at White Rose this Christmas .

Totally Magical at Hazelwood Castle, Tadcaster | NO EVENT FOR 2024

There has been no Totally Magical event at Hazelwood Castle for a couple of years now.

Where else can I go see Father Christmas near Leeds?

I am constantly updating this post with all the places with all the best places to see Father Christmas in Leeds this year – but if you think I’ve missed anywhere off the list do leave a comment drop me an email and let me know: [email protected] so I can add them in! Where will you be going to see Father Christmas in Leeds this year?

Please note that, to the best of my knowledge, all information is correct at time of publishing but do check directly with individual venues to confirm!

For more festive days out why not read one of these posts next:

The best places to visit Father Christmas in Manchester  

Christmas days out in Manchester

Where to visit Father Christmas in York

Christmas days out in the York area

Festive days out in the Leeds area

What’s going on in Liverpool this Christmas?

Family days out in Yorkshire

If you have enjoyed this post and found it helpful, here are a few ways you can say thanks and support We’re going on an adventure:

Click here to  buy me a virtual coffee

I’d love for you to tag me in any photos of your adventures on Social Media if one of my posts has inspired you to visit

Click here to  leave We’re going on an adventure a Google Review

Share this post with your friends – you’ll be helping me and them!

Follow We’re going on an adventure on  Facebook ,  Twitter  or  Instagram

Colette Burgess is an experienced primary school teacher and has lived in Manchester for most of her adult life. She is married to Dave and they have three children aged 10, 12, and 14. Colette has been writing about days out and adventures in Manchester and beyond including day trips and short breaks in the UK and holidays abroad since 2012. Colette and her family love festivals, camping and generally being outside.

3 thoughts on “Where to see Santa in Leeds this Christmas [2024]”

Details for High Trees Garden Centre are now available…. Grotto tickets are now available to book! Santa will be here from the 17th Dec until the 23rd Dec from 12pm until 4pm. Tickets are £10 per child As many of you know who have visited Santa here before, we have a small traditional grotto. It is a one to one family experience, parents are welcome in the grotto (no charge). Ticket includes visiting Santa and asking him for what you would like for Christmas and includes an early gift. Send us a message now to book your tickets, to avoid disappointment or give us a call on 0113 2587788!

Thanks Neil,

I’ll add that in for you now.

Mother Shiptons Cave Knaresborough Brilliant experience!

Leave a comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

7 magical Santa's grottos to visit in Leeds this Christmas

Here's where the naughty and nice list discussions can be had

• 19:00, 4 DEC 2019

Join the Secret Elves to get first access to our exclusive reviews of the must-have products this year

We have more newsletters

As December 25 is coming quickly on the horizon a visit to see Father Christmas is looking essential to see which list the little ones have made it on to.

So, with that in mind we’ve taken a look at some of the very best Santa’s grottos to thrash out the terms of whether there’s going to be gifts from the nice list or the naughty list.

Some of them are part of bigger festive experiences while others are based at your favourite shopping centre.

Take a look below and see which grotto might be ideal for your festive family day out this December and help kick your family Christmas off right.

Lotherton Hall

Off Collier Lane, Aberford, Leeds, LS25 3EB

The Christmas Experience is going to be lots of wholesome fun. You can visit Santa at the site’s North Pole. Once you’ve done with the wishlist you can enjoy a magical 12 days of Christmas walk around the grounds. While you are there you are bound to find a few more surprises.

You can find out more by visiting the Lotherton Hall website .

• Merrion Centre

Merrion Way, Leeds, LS2 8NG

The Elfington Factory and grotto is a fully immersive experience where you see Santa’s elves hard at work making all the important Christmas presents. There’s a free Christmas trail running around the attraction too with prizes to be won.

You can find out more by visiting the Merrion Centre website .

Temple Newsam

Temple Newsam Rd, Leeds, LS15 0AE

Santa’s grotto and workshops will be running alongside craft sessions for all ages. Of course, you’ll be able to enjoy all the other delights of Temple Newsam.

To find out more you can visit Temple Newsam’s website .

Lakeside Cafe

Roundhay Park, Leeds, LS8 2JL

Father Christmas will be making special visits on Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21. Little ones can speak to him about want they want and also get a sweet photo with him.

You can find out more by visiting the Lakeside Cafe website .

Abbey House Museum

Abbey Road, Leeds, LS5 3EH

You can have a nostalgic feel wandering through the festive-styled Victorian streets. Santa has a winter wonderland at his attraction while there are also Christmas ornament decorating workshops and magical trails.

You can find out more by visiting the Abbey House Museum’s website .

Crag House Farm

Otley Old Rd, Leeds LS16 7NH

At the Christmas fayre you’ll be able to pick up lots of handmade gifts. And, Santa will be there to meet children and have a talk about their Christmas wishes. The events are running in support of Caring For Life.

To find out more visit Crag House Farm’s website .

Harewood House

Sandy Gate, Harewood, Leeds LS17 9LE

You’ll get to say hello to Mr and Mrs Claus during a wintry visit to Harewood House. There will be musical workshops, tasty treats on offer and you’ll be able to get a photo with the magical Christmas residents.

You can find out more by visiting Harewood House’s website .

• Christmas in Leeds

To find out more about what’s on in Leeds and Yorkshire visit our Best in Leeds Facebook page . You'll find the latest food and drink reviews, gigs, events and lifestyle news.

• Things to do in Leeds
• Days out in Leeds
• Best in Leeds
• Most Recent

A travel firm has launched package holidays dedicated to Wetherspoons

• Food & Drink

Aldi is looking for engaged couples to send FREE wedding day wine to

Temple Newsam will be lit up with a dazzling light trail this Christmas

‘Naughty’ new cocktail bar confirms Call Lane opening – and we don’t have long to wait

• zymurgorium

The Ultimate Guide to Christmas in Leeds

The most wonderful time of the year is almost upon us…

Leeds truly knows how to celebrate Christmas. This year, the Christmas Markets return after (what has felt like a very long) four years, there’s going to be more to explore this year than ever before.

And we’ve got everything you need to know!

Just like big Tescos has everything you need to do that big Christmas dinner shop, we’ve got a one-stop guide to everything you need to know about Christmas in Leeds this year. 

Want to find a heartfelt gift for a loved one and support a local Yorkshire business? We’ve got you covered. Need to find a Christmas show or panto? Try six options for size. Or how about restaurants open on December 25th for a festive dinner without any of the washing up – yep, there’s seven here, and a whole list of places with Christmas foodie specials to taste test in the meantime too…

Keep reading for the ultimate guide to Christmas in Leeds…

Leeds Christmas Markets

Various locations around Leeds | Open from Friday 24 November 2023

When: From 10am, Friday 24 November 2023 – 6pm, Friday 22 December

Where: Twelve different locations around Leeds

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Hoot Leeds (@thehootleeds)

This is the one everybody has been waiting for…

Leeds has been waiting four years for the return of the much-loved Christmas Markets, so you can bet that their first year back is going to be bigger and better than ever, drawing crowds from near and far.

So far, twelve different locations have been confirmed across the city centre to host around 100 traders – so there’s going to plenty of local indies and international stallholders to explore.

There will be artisan gifts and handcrafted goods aplenty on offer, with a standout selection of food and drink options that embody the Christmas spirit we all know and love around this time of year. Hog roast, Italian chocolates and specialty cheeses are just the beginning…

The final details are still being confirmed about who we can expect where, but we do know that the Leeds Christmas Markets will be found at the following locations for the 2023 festive period:

• City Square
• Boar Lane outside Holy Trinity Church
• Outside the Corn Exchange
• New Briggate
• Albion Place
• Cookridge Street
• Bond Street
• Dortmund Square
• Millennium Square, next to the Ice Cube (more on this below)

Opening from 10am Monday – Saturday and midday on Sundays, there’s truly going to be something for the whole family. Whether you’re watching the giant advent calendar open with the kids, or out with mates looking for a mugful of Glühwein to warm you from the cold – all twelve locations will bring the best of Leeds’ festive spirit alive.

The full opening hours for the Leeds Christmas Markets 2023 are as follows:

•  Mondays: 10am-7pm
• Tuesdays: 10am-7pm
• Wednesdays: 10am-7pm
• Thursdays 10am-9pm
• Fridays: 10am-9pm
• Saturdays: 10am-9pm
• Sundays: 10am / 10.30am – 6pm

In addition to the Christmas Markets, there will also be a Nutcracker Trail around Leeds City Centre. Make sure to make a stop at The Headrow, Corn Exchange, City Square, Dortmund Square, Bond Street, New Briggate, Albion Street and Briggate (both the top and bottom ends) to find out what the excitement’s all about.

Find out more here.

Food and Drink at the Leeds Christmas Markets

Since the markets were last in the city a lot has changed, including the cost of pretty much everything (looking at you, my energy bills).

That means that the previous prices at the Leeds Christmas Markets have changed too.

If you’re heading out to enjoy a mulled wine, a few pints, or a festive feast, you’ll be wanting to know how to budget. And where to find the cheapest pint, obviously.

We’re here to help.

Here is the list of food and drink prices at the Leeds Christmas Markets 2023.

Millennium Square and Victoria Gardens

Millennium Square | Open from Friday 24 November 2023

When : From Friday 24 November – Sunday 31 December 2023

Where: Millennium Square and Victoria Gardens, Calverley Street, Leeds, LS2 3AD

Ice Cube on Millennium Square is the perfect place to test out your ice skating skills – and whether you’re a pro on the ice or it’s just your first time skating, there’s different timings to suit every ability. There’s Penguin Club for little ones looking for some extra assistance, lessons with a National Ice Skating Association instructor and a dedicated accessible skating session for wheelchair users and those with additional needs; all in addition to the general public skates that take place each day.

In addition to the skating rink, you’ll find craft, food and drink stalls and a full family funfair with themed rides, like Rescue Rudolph, Santa’s Super Shooter, a giant Snow Globe and the North Pole Funhouse.

And for the traditionalists amongst you take a ride on the vintage carousel or The Wheel of Light which will give you spectacular views of the city. Plus, Thor’s Tipi will also be there – but more of that later!

The current opening times for Millennium Square and Victoria Garden’s festivities are as follows:

Ice Skating Rink

• Monday – Thursdays: 12.30pm – 9.15pm 
• Fridays: 12.30pm – 10.15pm
• Saturdays: 10.15am – 7.15pm
• Sundays: 10.30am – 7.15pm
• Christmas Day and Boxing Day: CLOSED
• Wednesday 27 December – Friday 29 December: 10.30am – 9.15pm (10.15pm on Friday)
• 12pm-8pm daily
• Monday – Saturday: 12pm-9.30pm 
• Sundays: 12pm – 7pm

Christmas Shopping

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without any presents, if you believe Jo March’s famous opening lines to Little Women are anything to go by, and although, of course, Christmas is about much more than giving and receiving, in our modern world we’re not going to deny that Christmas shopping is a huge part of the festive buildup. 

To make your shopping trips as easy as possible, we’ve rounded up a list of shopping centres where you’ll find the essentials. Think stocking fillers, wrapping paper and even one-off handmade gifts – there’s something for everyone here.

Click here for the ultimate guide to Christmas shopping in Leeds.

Independent shopping

As a city that thrives on independent traders, it’s no surprise that when it comes to Christmas shopping , Leeds has limitless places to find everything from an office Secret Santa gift to a heartfelt gift for a loved one to treasure forever, all which support a local shop owner or artist.

If you’re unsure on where to begin your shopping trip, we’ve located all the best hotspots for you to mooch around…

Click here for the ultimate guide to independent shopping this Christmas in Leeds.

Christmas Shows and Pantos

Pantomime season is almost here…oh no it isn’t! Oh yes it is.

Nothing screams Christmas more than heading to the theatre on a cold, crisp evening and watching a brilliant show. Whether you want to risk being pulled on stage by a lavish panto dame or prefer a more civilised evening at the ballet, there’s so many productions happening in and around Leeds this season for you to enjoy.

Click here for the ultimate guide to Christmas shows and pantos in Leeds.

Places to see Santa 

Want to see Mr or Mrs Santa Claus this Christmas? You’re sure to find one of them inside one of the many grottos. Father Christmas is extremely busy this year so there’s a few different bases dotted around the city centre and beyond to find Santa this year with his trusty elves by his side. 

Click here for the best places to find Father Christmas in Leeds.

Christmas Lights

A large part of Christmas is wandering around and seeing all the festive lights. As well as the traditional offers in our shopping centres – Victoria, Trinity, Corn Exchange etc…  and throughout the city on the Leeds Christmas Markets, LeedsBID have organised some extra special pieces perfect for those festive photographs.

Drape Lighting, Trinity Church, Boar Lane – From Friday 3 November 2023

Festive Lights Tree, St Peter’s Square – From Friday 3 November 2023

Winter Decorations, Briggate with James Glancy Design – Friday 24 November 2023 -Sunday 10 March 2024

Christmas projection, The Queens Hotel with artists onionlab – Running Friday 15 -Saturday 23 December from 4.30pm-8.30pm with 10 mins show running every 30 minutes.

Alternative Markets

Just because the Leeds Christmas Market is making its return this year it doesn’t mean we can forget about all the other alternative markets in and surrounding the city. From an adorable market lit by candlelight to one that’s been around since the 90s, we’re really spoilt for choice this year.

Leeds Winter Market

Royal Armouries | Sunday 3 December 2023, 10.30am – 5.30pm

When: Sunday 3 December 2023, 10.30am – 5.30pm

Where: New Dock Hall, Armouries Drive, Leeds Dock, LS10 1LT

Leeds’ biggest independent winter market is back for another year and the organisers are already promising over 100 stalls. Find the perfect gift from a local artist, designer, printmaker, florist or artisan food sellers and shop knowing you’re supporting small businesses across the region.

Harewood House Artisan Market

Harewood House | Sunday 12 November 2023,  10am – 4pm

When : Sunday 12 November 2023,  10am – 4pm 

Where: Harewood House, Leeds LS17 9LG

Back by popular demand, Harewood House is bringing back its Artisan Market once again for 2023 and it’ll be bigger and better than ever before. Across five days, there will be 100+ local makers and crafters taking over the beautiful Harewood estate.

Christmas Tipis

Ideally, a pub crawl around every single tipi in town will let you test out the best cocktails, cosiest blankets and warmest spot by the fire. But realistically, once you’ve sat down with your mulled wine at your first stop, we bet you won’t want to leave.

Luckily, all of these tipis will keep you warm and well-fed throughout the night so no matter how many you visit, you’ll be able to get into the Christmas spirit in style.

Thor’s Tipi

Victoria Gardens, outside Leeds Art Gallery | Open from Friday 17 November 2023

Where: Victoria Gardens, Millennium Square, Leeds City Centre, LS2 3AD

When: From Friday 17 November – Sunday 31 December 2023,  open 12pm-11pm Monday – Saturday and 12pm-8pm Sundays, with last orders called 30 minutes before

Thor’s Tipi is something that’s become a real Christmas staple in Leeds. Serving up 170,000 pints, 125,000 cups of mulled wine and 55,000 hot chocolates each season, Thor’s is seasoned in the festive drinks game, so take a seat by the fire and cosy up with your favourite festive tipple.

Wellington Street, Leeds City Centre | Open from Thursday 4 October 2023

Where: 36 Wellington Street, Leeds City Centre, LS1 2DE

During summer, Green Room is voted to have one of the best rooftops in Europe, but as the sunny days grow further apart and we spend more time staring at the stars (or let’s face it, the rain) than we do sunshine, Green Room offers us a cosy alternative to bring the outside in. This year, you’ll find drinks from local suppliers on the bar, roasts from Braizin’ Squad on the weekend, and fire pits and heat lamps dotted throughout.

City Square | Launch date TBC

Where: City Square, Leeds City Centre,  LS1 1PJ

Back for a second year, Banyan’s huge tipi at City Square will keep the festive spirit alive with smokey fires and glasses of mulled wine on even the darkest and wettest of winter days.

Christmas Music and Performances

Christmas music is undoubtedly one of the best parts of the festive season. Give us any chance to sing Mariah Carey at the top of our lungs or watch carol singers get together for heartwarming singalongs that bring the whole community together.

Christmas by Candlelight

Left Bank | Sunday 12 December 2023, 7pm – 10pm

When: Sunday 12 December 2023, 7pm – 10pm

Where: Cardigan Road, Burley, Leeds, LS6 1LJ

Left Bank is welcoming a festive celebration that brings together the local community with spoken word, music, warming food options and (most importantly) mulled wine this Christmas and it’s the ideal chance to see the beautiful Grade II* listed, former church, in all its glory. Lit head-to-toe in candlelight, the Christmas by Candlelight celebrations will be serenaded by a selection of poems, reading and music from local artists. 

Lord Mayor Christmas Carol

Leeds Minster, Leeds City Centre | Thursday 14 December 2023, from 6.30pm

When : Thursday 14 December 2023, from 6.30pm

Where: 2-6 Kirkgate, Leeds City Centre, LS2 7DJ

The annual Christmas carol concert is taking place at Leeds Minster this year for the Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal. Joined by Rothwell Temperance Brass Band, it’s set to be a memorable one.

Brudenell Social Club

Burley | Sunday 17 December 2023, from 3pm

When : Sunday 17 December 2023, from 3pm

Where: 33 Queen’s Road, Burley, Leeds, LS6 1NY 

The Brudenell Social Club welcomes hundreds of bands and artists to its two stages on a yearly basis, but this December the gig venue will be hosting a ‘full punk Christmas takeover’ for a good cause. Dirt Box disco, Geoffrey Oi!Cott, Knock Off and loads more will be heading to the Brud stage, with money raised supporting local food charity Batley Food Bank. 

Northern Guitars

Call Lane, Leeds City Centre | Every evening from 5pm

When : Open everyday from 11am, music times vary

Where: 41 Call Lane, Leeds City Centre, LS1 7BT 

With live music on every single evening at Call Lane bar Northern Guitars, December will be no exception. Head down to cure the Monday blues or  start the weekend with a Friday night out and sing along the very best of the rock and indie genres with some festive covers thrown in.

Christmas Food and Drink

Christmas is one of the tastiest times of the year, and with endless turkey burgers, unlimited glasses of mulled wine and plenty of festive puns you could stuff them inside your Christmas cracker.

It really is the season to be merry, so here’s how Leeds is saying it with food…

Christmas food shopping and hampers

We all know that a major part of Christmas is of course…the food. From the controversial sprouts to pigs in blankets and that highly anticipated cheese board which you masterfully put together to unveil at the end of the night, it’s that one time of the year where you can keep the fridge stocked with a host of deliciousness to indulge on over the festive period.

And for that family member or friend who adores food and drink, what better gift to give than a delightful hamper overflowing with treats to take them blissfully into the New Year.

So, we’ve pulled together a list of Leeds independents who can help make your Christmas food offering that little bit more special, and who also offer great gifting options to make you the most popular person in town.

Click here for the ultimate guide to Christmas food shopping and hampers in Leeds.

Christmas Specials

Nothing says Christmas like heading out for some pigs in blankets months before the big day, it’s almost like a warm up for the stomach ahead of December 25th. Leeds’ foodie scene has gone big this year on its festive specials , here’s a few that have been announced so far…

Festive bottomless brunch

For those big groups looking for somewhere with copious amounts of Prosecco, bottomless brunches are a great option and this year, there’s plenty of Christmas spirit wrapped up in these boozy lunches… 

Multiple locations across Leeds | Launch date TBC

When: Served all day, every day

Where: Multiple locations across Greek Street, Merrion Street, Headingley and Harrogate.

Enjoy the famous Manahatta bottomless brunch with a Christmas twist this festive season. Two hours of unlimited cocktails like Berry Crumble Spritz and the classic Prosecco and Coors paired with seasonal twists on the classic Manahatta menu. Available at £39.95 and an extra £5 for some of the premium ‘uptown options’, you’re in for a real treat.

Hoot recommends: We love the tasty pork and bacon burger with chestnut sage stuffing, paired with apple and cranberry chutney, Monterey Jack cheese and served with skin-on fries, an onion ring and the ultimate festive treat: a pig in a blanket. Or for a lighter alternative, try the Christmas Bagel: spicy crispy coated chicken, pancetta, brie, pig in a blanket, cranberry and apple chutney and mayo, all stuffed inside a toasted bagel and served with skin-on fries.

Pieminister

15-17 Duncan Street | From Thursday 16 November 2023

When: From Thursday 16 November 2023

Where: 15-17 Duncan Street, Leeds City Centre, LS1 6DQ

Pieminister’s bottomless festive feast will serve two courses of Christmas dinner pies, washed down with unlimited pints and Prosecco. This bottomless brunch is a far cry from pretentious cocktails and snacks: Pieminister has kept its menu simple, focusing on serving a quality two-course feast and unlimited booze for just £40 per person. 

It’s just what we need this winter. The menu has five festive pies and each sound, equally as delicious as the next. Inspired by the traditional British Christmas dinner, choose from fillings of turkey, venison, or beef with seasonal veggies and alcohol, all in one tasty pastry dish.

Hoot recommends: We think you need to try the ‘Cracker’ filled with free-range turkey, ham, cranberry, parsnips and cherry, whilst the ‘Mistle Moo’ is a boozy British beef steak pie with bacon and port. If you’re a vegetarian go for the ‘Christingle’ pie which is filled with honey roast parsnips, chestnuts, cheddar and leek, and the ‘Good Elf’ is a vegan pie with port, thyme, cranberry and vegan ‘turkey’ filling.

Multiple locations across Leeds | From Thursday 16 November 2023

Where: Multiple locations across City Square, Harrogate, Roundhay and Ilkley

Bringing the Christmas energy to City Square, Banyan is back again this year with a festive bottomless perfect for getting friends and family together. Enjoy a menu boasting brunch, burgers and festive twists on Banyan staples all washed down with 90 minutes of Prosecco, pints of Coors and a variety of cocktails. 

Hoot recommends: If you’re indulging in this bottomless we recommend you try the Brie, Bacon and Turkey Melt – it’s the perfect festive treat. Deep fried brie wedge, crispy bacon, succulent turkey and cranberry sauce on rustic ciabatta. Wash it down with as many Berry Crumble Spritz as you can fit into a ninety minute sitting, a balanced drink that tastes like your favourite season. 

Festive Afternoon Tea

Want to enjoy the best foodie offerings of the season without the hustle and bustle of a bottomless brunch bar? An afternoon tea is the perfect alternative, with fizz optional. 

Leeds Trinity  | Menu from £24 per person 

Where: 4th floor, Leeds Trinity, 70 Boar Lane, Leeds City Centre, LS1 6HW

You can enjoy a seasonal, festive afternoon tea in Leeds, curated by expert chefs with free-flowing Prosecco. 

Dakota 

Greek Street, Leeds City Centre  | Menu from £27.50 per person 

Where: 8 Russell Street, Leeds City Centre LS1 5RN

A selection of buttery scones, roast turkey and cranberry sandwiches and festive sweet treats like mince pies and mini Yule logos. You can add a glass of fizz or a festive cocktail to complete the experience. 

Harewood House

Where: Harewood House, Harewood, LS17 9LG

Taking the signature afternoon tea to a whole new level by infusing it with the warmth and wonder of Christmas. With a selection of seasonal sandwiches like brie and cranberry or roast turkey alongside rum cream cakes and a fresh selection of teas, this is the perfect treat this December. 

Where to go for food on Christmas Day

Hands up if you don’t want to do any washing up this year on Christmas Day . Us too. Luckily, there’s plenty of bars and restaurants across the city that plan to open on December 25th. Choose from fancy five courses with Champagne or find a laid back turkey dinner at your local pub – whatever your preference, it’s still available on Christmas Day.

Click here for the ultimate guide to where to go for food on Christmas Day in Leeds.

Feature Image – Unsplash / Bottlechop

AD / In partnership with Visit Leeds

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related Posts

Aldi is hiring gin taste testers and will send you bottles to try for FREE

The best places to watch the Women’s World Cup Final in Leeds

New £400k boutique workout studio is now open in Leeds

• New Openings

New indie ‘punk-inspired’ chicken wing restaurant coming to Leeds

100+ Of The Best Santa’s Grottos And Santa Experiences In 2023

Visiting a Santa’s Grotto has always been one of the most fun Christmas activities to do with our kids since they were small.

We’re big fans of Christmas events in general and even before the kids came along we loved to visit Christmas markets in Europe and Christmas isn’t Christmas without a visit to a Santas Grotto.

When the kids were 7 and 8 we thought it was the perfect time to take them to Lapland to visit Father Christmas – the ultimate Santa’s Grotto – to ensure their belief in the magic of Christmas remained for a little while longer.

Finding the perfect Santa’s Grotto in the UK in 2023 is a little harder having just had that amazing experience, but there are some great 2023 Santa visits to choose from.

Having done all this research on the best Santa experiences in the UK in 2023, we thought we would pull together our list of top Christmas days out for kids.

We hope it will save you a LOT of time and effort and avoid hours spent searching for ‘where to see Santa near me 2023’ or ‘best Santa’s grotto near me’ or even ‘what is the best Santa’s Grotto in the UK this year?’

If you’re wondering where to see Santa this year, you’re sure to find him at one of these Christmas experiences.

Whether you meet him in a garden centre, department store or on a train, these UK Santa’s Grottos and Santa experiences promise to be truly magical.

**Most Christmas events will require an online booking in advance. **

If you’d like to see more of our UK and Worldwide family adventures and travel tips, remember to follow us on Instagram .

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and book something, we may earn a small commission but this is at no extra cost to you.

  Table of Contents

Lapland UK Santa Sleepovers (Theme Parks and Holiday Villages) Gardens and Garden Centre Santa’s Grottos Farm Parks and Zoos Winter Wonderlands and Light Shows Christmas at Theme Parks Santa Train Rides Department Store and Shopping Centre Santa’s Grottos Santa’s Grottos at Castles National Trust Santa’s Grottos Other places to see Santa Seeing Santa virtually

Lapland UK is in a category all by itself because it’s arguably the best Santa’s Grotto around and the ultimate place to see Santa in the UK. The ultimate Christmas experience comes at a cost but by all accounts, it’s worth it.

For when travel becomes easier again, we have a guide to booking your own Finnish Lapland holiday at a fraction of the cost of a package holiday.

Our guide to booking a DIY Lapland trip explains how to have the ultimate Santa experience on a budget. See also what to pack for Lapland with kids .

Father Christmas 2023 tickets are sold out but you can sign up to be on the cancellation list.

Dates : 12th November 2023 to 24th December 2023. Ticket Price : From £65 to £135 per person. Location : Lapland UK, Whitmoor Forest, Swinley Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 8BD.

Santa Sleepovers (Theme Parks and Holiday Villages)

These are the main UK parks offering Santa sleepovers and short breaks. For a full list, you can read our post on Father Christmas sleepovers .

In case you don’t find anything you like here, we have more ideas on Family Christmas Breaks in the UK. We also have a guide to the Merlin attractions at Christmas .

Chessington World of Adventures

Chessington World of Adventures Father Christmas Sleepover

Dates : Weekends from 25th November to 23rd December 2023 for Father Christmas Sleepover at Chessington. Ticket Price : From £281 for a family of 4 to stay overnight with 2 days entry to Park (on selected dates) staying in a themed hotel. Location : Chessington World of Adventures, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2NE.

Check current prices and availability here.

Just visiting for the day? Check the Chessington website for more info and tickets .

Photo Credit: Chessington World of Adventures

Alton Towers Resort

Alton Towers Resort Santa Sleepover Dates : Weekends from 25th November to 23rd December 2023. Ticket Price : From £290 per family of 4 to stay overnight with one day in the park staying in a themed hotel. Location : Alton Towers Resort, Alton, Staffordshire, ST10 4DB.

The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort

The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort Santa Sleepover

Dates : Weekends from 25th November to 23rd December 2023. Ticket Price : From £469 for family of 4 to stay overnight with 1 day in the park staying in a LEGO® themed room. Make your Santa Sleepover even more special, with a special trip to see Santa in his grotto from £20 per child. Location : The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort , Winkfield Road, Windsor, SL4 4AY.

©2021 The LEGO Group.

Photo Credit: The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort

Warwick Castle

Warwick Castle Santa Sleepover

Dates : Weekends from 25th November to 23rd December 2023. Ticket Price : From £499 for family of 4  to stay overnight with 2 days in the castle staying in the Knight’s Village. Location : Warwick Castle, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 6AH.

Bluestone Christmasland breaks (see also our top cheaper alternatives to Center Parcs ).

Dates : 6th November 2022 to 1st January 2024. Ticket Price : From £579 for 4 people in a lodge for 3 nights. Location : Bluestone Resort, Canaston Wood, The Grange, Narberth, SA67 8DE.

Ribby Hall Village

Winter Wonderland

Dates : From 10th November 2023 to 15th December 2023. Ticket Price : From £489 for 4 people in a lodge for 3 nights. Location : Ribby Hall Village, Ribby Road, Wrea Green, Lancashire, PR4 2PR.

Center Parcs

Center Parcs Winter Wonderland holidays

Dates : 6th November 2023 to 2nd January 2024. Ticket Price : From £579 for 4 people in a lodge for 3 nights. Location : Center Parcs at Christmas is at all of their locations.

Winter Wonderland at Center Parcs

Gardens and Garden Centre Santa’s Grottos 2023

Here is just a short list of Santa’s Grottos at garden centres across the UK. Some of these garden centres have multiple locations in the UK.

If you don’t see one near you, just searching for ‘garden centre with Santa’s Grotto near me’ will give you more options.

The Father Christmas Experience at Marsh Farm Dates : 18th November to 24th December 2023. Ticket Price : From £39.00 – £70.00 per person. Under 1 Free. Location : Marsh Farm, Marsh Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, CM3 5WP.

See also our guide to the Christmas events happening in Essex and Christmas markets in Essex for more festive days out.

Frosts Garden Centres

Santa’s Grotto at Frosts Dates : 2023 dates TBC. Ticket Price : Only family tickets available to book – (1 Adult & 1 Child – £22.00, 2 Adult & 2 Child – £44.00). Additional Adult – £3.50 and additional child – £15.00. Location : Woburn Sands     Millets Farm     Willington

Skylark Garden Centre

Christmas at Skylark  (see also Christmas events in Cambridgeshire ) Dates : Weekends from 25th November to 24th December 2023. Ticket Price : Tickets on sale in September. Location : Skylark Garden Centre, Manea Road, Wimblington, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 0PE.

Burston Garden Centre

Santa’s Grotto at Burston Garden Centre (see also Christmas events in Hertfordshire ) Dates : TBC. Ticket Price : £10.00 per child (£1 per accompanying adult). Location : Burston Garden Centre, North Orbital Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 2DS.

Van Hage Garden Centre

Santa’s Grotto at Van Hage Dates : Select dates from 4th November to 24th December 2023. Ticket Price : £12.00 per child. Location : Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell, Nr Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9RP.

See more things to do at Christmas in Hertfordshire .

Poplar Nurseries

Breakfast with Santa Dates : TBC Ticket Price : £TBC Location : Poplar Nurseries, Coggeshall Road, Marks Tey, Colchester, Essex, CO6 1HR.

Woodland Walk Garden Centre

Woodland Walk Santa’s Grotto Dates : Every weekend from the last weekend in November Ticket Price : TBC Location : Woodland Walk Garden Centre, Heol Creigiau, Efail Isaf, Nr. Pontypridd, CF38 1BG.

Pugh’s Garden Village

Christmas Experience Dates : TBC. Ticket Price : TBC. Location : Pugh’s Garden Village, Ty-Nant Road, Morganstown, Cardiff, CF15 8LB.

North Wales Garden World

Christmas Winter Wonderland Dates : TBC. Ticket Price : £6.95 per person. Location : North Wales Garden World, St Asaph Avenue, Kinmel Bay, Conwy, LL18 5TU.

See our post on family-friendly things to do in North Wales .

Glendoick Garden Centre

Visit Santa

Dates : 2023 dates TBC. Bookings open on 1st October 2023. Ticket Price : £7.50 (all proceeds going to charity). Location : Glendoick, Glencarse, Perthshire, PH2 7NS.

Springtime Nurseries Crews Hill

The Crews Hill Santa Grotto is part of their Christmas Wonderland . Dates : TBC (tickets on sale from September). Ticket Price : £12.00 per child and £4.00 per adult. Location : Springtime Nurseries, Cattlegate Road, Crews Hill, Middlesex, EN2 9EE.

Dobbies Garden Centres

Dobbies Santas Grotto Dates : 24th November to 24th December 2023. Ticket Price : From £7.00 per child (online) or £8.00 on the day. Location : There are 44 centres across the country to choose from.

Eden Project

Meet Father Christmas at Eden Dates : TBC Ticket Price : Adult – £10.00, Child – £10.00. Location : Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall, PL24 2SG.

Dobbies Garden Centre

Farm Parks and Zoos

Zsl london zoo.

The Magic of Christmas at London Zoo (Meet Santa is on 3rd & 4th and 10th to 24th December 2022). Dates : 26th November to 1st January 2024. Ticket Price : From Adult – £28.50. Child – £18.55. Location : London Zoo, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY.

If you live locally, their annual membership is definitely worth getting. See also what is going on at Whipsnade Zoo at Christmas .

Edinburgh Zoo

Santa’s Grotto (part of the Edinburgh Zoo Christmas Nights ) Dates : Select dates TBC. Ticket Price : Daytime child from £17.00. Evening child from £18.00. Location : Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6TS

Easton Farm Park

Christmas on the Farm – see also more Christmas events in Suffolk .

Dates : 3rd & 4th, 10th & 11th and 17th to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : Adult – £10.95, Child – £18.95. Location : Easton Farm Park, Pound Corner, Easton, Suffolk, IP13 0EQ.

Africa Alive!

Christmas at Africa Alive! Dates : TBC Ticket Price : TBC Location : Africa Alive, Whites Lane, Kessingland, Suffolk, NR33 7TF.

Bocketts Farm Park

Father Christmas Experience Dates : 24th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : From £25.50 per child. Adult – from £6.50. Location : Bocketts Farm Park,Young Street, Fetcham, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 9BS.

See here for more Christmas events in Surrey .

West Midland Safari & Leisure Park

Santa Safari Dates : 25th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : Adult (16+) – £22.80, Child (3-16) – £19.60 and Under 3 – £13.00. Location : West Midland Safari & Leisure Park, Spring Grove Road, Bewdley, Kidderminster, DY12 1LF.

Marwell Zoo

Christmas at Marwell – this has become Glow Marwell. Dates : 18th November to 30th December 2022. Ticket Price : From £15.00 per adult and £12.00 per child (3-16). Location : Marwell Wildlife, Thompsons Lane, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1JH.

Colchester Zoo

The Magic of Christmas at Colchester Zoo Dates : Select dates from 26th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : £12.50 per ticket (on top of zoo entry). Location : Colchester Zoo, Maldon Road, Heckfordbridge, Colchester, Essex, CO3 0SL.

Christmas at Banham Zoo Dates : 23rd November to 23rd December 2022. Ticket Price : From £16.95 per person. Under 1 – FREE. Location : Banham Zoo, Kenninghall Road, Banham, Norfolk, NR16 2HE.

Bristol Zoo Gardens (see Wild Place Project)

Santa’s Grotto at Bristol Zoo Gardens Dates : TBC Ticket Price : TBC Location :Wild Place Project, Blackhorse Hill, Bristol, BS10 7TP.

4 Kingdoms Adventure Park

Christmas Experience Dates : 26th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : Adult – from £30.00. Child – from £40.00. Under 1 – £10.00. Location : Newbury Road, Headley, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 8JY.

Paradise Wildlife Park

Paradise Wildlife Park Dates : Every weekend from 3rd December and then 17th to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : Adult: £22.00, Child £20.00 – entry to the grotto is included in your park ticket. Location : Paradise Wildlife Park, White Stubbs Lane, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, EN10 7QA.

See also Broxbourne Woods Scultpure Trail which is right next door if you’re feeling like a family-friendly walk.

Drusillas Park

Christmas at Drusillas Park Dates : 19th November to 23rd December 2022. Ticket Price : £17.50 per person to visit Santa (doesn’t include entry to park). Location : Drusillas Park, Alfriston, East Sussex, BN26 5QS.

See here for more things to do at Christmas in Sussex .

Mead Open Farm

The Magic of Christmas Dates : 2nd to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : From £22.00 per adult and £29.00 per child (1-15 yrs) and non-participating child under 1 year – £10.00 plus £0.50 booking fee. Location : Mead Open Farm, Stanbridge Road, Billington, Bedfordshire, LU7 9JH.

Willows Farm

Santa Spectacular

Dates : 19th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : Adults (and children under 2) £23.00 – £29.00, Children 2+ £45.00 – £51.00 (non member prices). Location : Willows Activity Farm, Coursers Road, London Colney, Hertfordshire, AL4 0PF.

Wroxham Barns

The Santa Experience – see also other Christmas events in Norfolk and family-friendly activities in Norfolk .

Dates : 25th November to 24th December 2023. Ticket Price : Adults from £20.95, Children from £27.95 & Under 2 from £16.95. Location : Wroxham Barns, Tunstead Road, Hoveton, Norfolk, NR12 8QU.

Willows Farm Santa Spectacular

Meet Santa and his Reindeers Dates : Select dates from 12th November to 18th December 2022. Ticket Price : Normal entry price applies PLUS £8.50 to meet Santa. Location : Folly Farm, Begelly, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire, Wales, SA68 0XA.

Reindeer Centre Bethersden

Christmas Grotto Dates : Weekends from 12th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : Adults – from £12.000 and children £18.00. Location : Capralama Farm, Pluckley Road, Bethersden, TN26 3EQ.

Bethersden Reindeer Centre Christmas Grotto

Winter Wonderlands and Light Shows

Thursford magical journey.

Dates : Santa’s Magical Journey – weekends from 26th November to 11th December and then 17th to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : From £20.00 per child. Adult – from £14.00. Location : Thursford Collection, Thursford, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 0AS.

See also Enchanted Journey of Light dates 19th November to 28th December 2022 – one of the many Christmas light trails in the UK and Christmas Spectacular from 8th November to 23rd December 2022.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (also home to the largest outdoor ice rink in London ). If you’re in London, make sure to check out the London Christmas lights . London is one of the best cities in the UK to visit at Christmas with kids .

Dates : 18th November 2022 to 2nd January 2023. Ticket Price : From £5.00 per person (which is refunded if you book over £25.00 worth of activities). Location : Hyde Park, London.

Kew Gardens

Christmas at Kew

Dates : 16th November to 8th January 2023. Ticket Price : Adults from £21.50, Children (4-16) from £14.00, Family of 4 – £65.00 and Under 4 Free. Location : Kew Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE.

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace Illuminated Light Trail

Dates : 18th November to 2nd January 2023. Ticket Price : Adults from £35.00 (with parking), Children (3-16) from £18.00. Under 2 Free. Location : Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PP.

Light Trail at Blenheim Palace

Kielder Water & Forest Park

Kielder Winter Wonderland

Dates : Select dates from 19th November to 23rd December 2022. Ticket Price : From £29.50 per person. Under 2 – £5.00. Location : Kielder Water & Forest Park, Hexham, NE48 1BT.

Chester Zoo

The Lanterns

Dates : 11th November to 23rd December 2022. Ticket Price : Adults from £15.00, Children from £12.00 (under 2 free). Location : Chester Zoo, Upton-by-Chester, Chester, CH2 1EU.

The Lanterns Chester Zoo

The Snow Centre

Santa’s Grotto at the Snow Centre Dates : 24th, 26th December and 31st December and 1st January 2023. Ticket Price : TBC. Location : The Snow Centre, St Albans Hill, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP3 9NH.

Tamworth Snowdome

Winter Wonderland Dates : 12th November 2022 to 1st January 2023. Ticket Price : From £15.95 per person Location : SnowDome, Leisure Island, River Drive, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7ND.

The Snow Factor

Dine with Santa Dates : TBC. Ticket Price : £29.00 per child including a meal with Santa, a story, a gift and 30 minutes of sledging. Location : The Snow Factor, King’s Inch Road, Glasgow, Renfrew, G51 4BP.

Lotherton Hall

The Christmas Experience Dates : 26th November to 31st December 2022. Ticket Price : Tickets on sale from 9th September 2021. Location : Lotherton Hall, Off Collier Lane, Aberford, Leeds, LS25 3EB.

The Ice Village

Santa’s Grotto Dates : TBC. Ticket Price : NA Location : Cathedral Gardens, Corporation Street, Manchester, M4 3BG.

The Ice Village Manchester

Christmas at Theme Parks

Gulliver’s land.

Gulliver’s at Christmas Dates : Weekends from 3rd December to 18th December and then 21st, 22nd and 23rd December 2022. Ticket Price : From £27.00 per person (Under 90cm £9.00). Location : Warrington, Milton Keynes, Rotherham, Matlock Bath.

1 Day Winter’s Tail Dates : 25th November to 30th December 2023 (meet Father Christmas available until 24th December 2023). Ticket Price : From £20.00 per person. See the Chessington website for more event info and tickets. Location : Chessington World of Adventures, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2NE.

Drayton Manor

Drayton’s Magical Christmas Dates : 26th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : Adult (4+) £36.00, Child (2-3) £22.00 and Under 2 – £5.00. Location : Drayton Manor Park, Near Tamworth, Staffordshire, B78 3TW.

Paultons Park

Christmas at Paultons (Santa’s Grotto is closed but Santa will appear on stage). Dates : Select dates from 3rd to to 23rd December 2022. Ticket Price : Children 1m and over – £35.00, Family of 4 – £140.00. Location : Paultons Park, Ower, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 6AL.

Alton Towers

Alton Towers Resort at Christmas Dates : From 25th November to 2nd January 2023. Ticket Price : From £16.00 per person. Buy Alton Towers tickets here. Location : Alton Towers Resort, Farley Lane, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 4DB.

The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort at Christmas Dates : From 26th November to 3rd January 2023. Ticket Price : From £32.00 per person. Check here for tickets. Location : The LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, Winkfield Road, Windsor, SL4 4AY.

Santa Train Rides

There are so many Santa Train Rides in the UK. Here is a small selection of them. We have more information in these posts –  40+ Seriously Festive Santa Train Rides and A Handy Guide to the 11 Polar Express Train Rides in the UK.

Heading to the US? We have a guide on where to find a US Polar Express train ride .

If you’re going to take a Polar Express train ride, how about brushing up on the movie or reading the book before you go?

*These are affiliate links. If you buy something from them, we may earn a small commission, but this is at no extra cost to you. Thank You!*

Polar Express Movie – on Amazon.

Polar Express Book – on Amazon.

Wensleydale Railway

Polar Express Dates : 18th November to 23rd December 2022. Ticket Price : From £29.95 to £36.95 per person. Location : Wensleydale Railway, Leeming Bar Station, Leases Road, Leeming Bar, Northallerton, DL7 9AR.

Mid Norfolk Railway

Polar Express Dates : 13th November to 23rd December 2022. Ticket Price : From £27.50 for standard and £41.95 for premium. Location : The Railway Station, Station Road, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1DF.

South Devon Railway

Polar Express Dates : 18th November to 23rd December 2022. Ticket Price : From £29.95 to £39.95 per person. Location : South Devon Railway, The Station, Dartbridge Road, Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0DZ.

Bure Valley Railway

Festive Express Dates : Select dates from 3rd to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : £13.00 per person. Location : Bure Valley Railway, Aylsham Station, Norwich Road, Aylsham, Norfolk, NR11 6BW.

Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Santa Specials Dates : Select dates from 3rd to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : £16.75 for adults, £13.75 for children 5-17 and £10.75 for children under 5. Location : The Railway Station, Main Road, Havenstreet, Ryde, PO33 4DS.

Great Central Railway

Santa Steam Trains Dates : 26th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : £69.00 – £89.00 for a compartment for 4 people or £75.00-£95.00 for a compartment for 6 people. Location : Quorn and Woodhouse Station, Woodhouse Road, Quorn, LE12 8AG.

Churnet Valley Railway

Santa Steam Trains Dates : Churnet Valley is now running the Polar Express – see above section for details. Ticket Price : N/A Location : Churnet Valley Railway, Kingsley & Froghall Station, Froghall, Staffordshire, ST10 2HA.

Avon Valley Railway

Avon Valley Railway Santa Special

Address : Avon Valley Railway, Bitton Station, Bath Road, Bitton, Bristol, BS30 6HD Dates : 26th November to 24th December 2022. Tickets : From £13.00 – £20.00 per person. Under 1 – FREE.

See also the best Christmas events in Bath .

North York Moors Railway

Santa Reimagined Dates : Select dates from 3rd December to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : £100.00 for a compartment for 4 people (+£25.00 per additional adult up to 6 people max). Location : Pickering Station, Pickering, YO18 7AJ.

Kent & East Sussex Railway

Santa Specials Dates : Select dates from 3rd December to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : Standard table of 4 from £90.00, First class from £120.00 for up to 4. Private compartment for up to 6 – from £180. Location : Tenterden Town Station, Station Road, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6HE.

See here for more Christmas events in Kent .

Santa and Steam Specials Dates : Select dates from 3rd December to 23rd December 2022. Ticket Price : Table for 4 – £65.00, Compartment for up to 6 – £95.00. Location : Matlock Station, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3NA.

Llangollen Railway

Santa Specials Dates : Select dates from 3rd December to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : £20.00 per person or £80.00 for a compartment of 4. Location : The Station, Abbey Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8SN.

Audley End Miniature Railway

Audley End Christmas Special Dates : 19th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : From £22.00 over 92cm and £11.00 under 92cm. Under 1 – FREE. Location : Audley End Miniature Railway, Audley End Road, Audley End, Saffron Waldon, Essex CB11 4JB.

Audley End Christmas Special

Seaton Tramway

Polar Express Dates : Selec dates from 25th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : From £19.95 per person (under 2 free). Location : Seaton Tramway, Harbour Road, Seaton, Devon, EX12 2NQ.

Stuart Line Cruises (this is a boat trip, not a train ride)

Sail with Santa

Dates : Weekends in December and 21st & 22nd December 2022. Ticket Price : £12.00 per person (under 12 months – £4.00). Location : Sailings from Exmouth, Exeter, Topsham and Sidmouth.

Steam Trains Ireland

Santa Train

Dates : 3rd, 10th, 17th & 18th December 2022. Ticket Price : TBC. Location : Whitehead Excursion Station, Castleview Road, Whitehead, Carrickfergus, BT38 9NA

Bodmin and Wenford Railway

Santa by Steam Dates : Weekends in December and then 19th to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : From £19.95 per person. Location : General Station, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL31 1AQ.

Bodmin and Wenford Railway Santa by Steam

Department Store and Shopping Centre Santa’s Grottos

Harrods Christmas Grotto (only open to customers who spend over £2000 in Harrods). Dates : TBC Ticket Price : N/A Location : 87 – 135 Brompton Road, London, SW1X 7XL.

Selfridges Breakfast with Santa Dates : TBC Ticket Price : Various – see website. Location : London     Birmingham     Manchester

Hamleys Santa’s Grotto Workshop Dates : 12th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : London (£39.99) – Glasgow (£20.00) – Lakeside (£20.00). Location :  Addresses for individual stores can be found here.

Santa’s Grotto – Meet Santa in John Lewis

Dates : 22nd November to 24th December 2023 (dates will vary slightly by location). Ticket Price : Child – £20 (plus £2 booking fee). Adult – £2 (plus 20p booking fee). Location :  9 UK John Lewis locations will be offering a Santa’s Grotto. See here.

Magic Alley Stratford

Christmas at Magic Alley Dates : 27th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : £14.00 per adult. Babies – £5.00. Location : 1st Floor, Bell Court Shopping Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6EX.

The Olde Watermill

Santa’s Grotto – tickets on sale now. Dates : Select dates from 25th Novembwer to 24th December 2023. Ticket Price : Adult – £5.49, Child – £15.99. Location : The Olde Watermill Shopping Village, BartonMill Lane, Barton-le-Clay, Bedfordshire, MK45 4RF.

Christmas at Bluewater Dates : 25th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : Adult – from £5.00, Child – from £12.50 (plus booking fee). Location :  Bluewater Shopping Centre, Greenhithe, Kent, DA9 9ST.

Christmas Wonderland Dates : TBC. Ticket Price : See site for details. Location :  The Quay, Lakeside Shopping Centre, Grays, Essex, RM20 2AD.

Hamleys Santas Grotto Workshop

Santa’s Grottos at Castles and other tourist attractions

Castles are some of the most visited tourist attractions in the UK and are a fantastic setting for Christmas events. Here are some of the best castles in the UK with Christmas events.

Some of these castles are run by English Heritage. We highly recommend an English Heritage membership . Just a couple of visits to English Heritage properties during the year will cover the cost of your pass.

Hever Castle

Santa at Hever Castle – one of the most impressive castles in Kent Dates : Selected dates from 19th November to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : Adults – £20.00, Children (5-17) £26.00, Children Under 5 – £14.00. Location : Hever Castle, Hever Road, Hever, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7NG.

Belvoir Castle

Santa’s Grotto at Belvoir Castle

Dates : 18th November to 23rd December 2022. Ticket Price : £15.00 per child. This does not include entrance price to the castle. Location : Belvoir Castle, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 1PE.

Gwrych Castle

Christmas Grotto at Gwrych Castle

Dates : TBC. Ticket Price : N/A. Location : Gwrych Castle, Abergele, Conwy, LL22 8ET.

Christmas at the Castle (loads going on including ice skating, a light trail and a Christmas market)

Dates : 26th November to 2nd January 2023. Ticket Price : Tickets from £14.00. Buy tickets here . Location : Warwick Castle, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 6AH.

Leeds Castle

Father Christmas at Leeds Castle (one of the best castles in Kent ). See more here for the best things to do in Kent .

Dates : 25th November to 1st January 2022. Ticket Price : Adults – £28.00, Child (4-15) – £19.50, Under 4 – FREE. Location : Leeds Castle , Leeds, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 1PD.

Bolsover Castle

Christmas at the Castle

Dates : Weekends from 26th November to 18th December 2022. Ticket Price : Adult – £8.00, Child (5-17) – £8.00 (on top of usual entrance fee), Location : Bolsover Castle, Castle Street, Bolsover, Chesterfield, S44 6PR.

Castle Howard

An Audience with Father Christmas

Dates : Select dates from 1st to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : from £47.00 per child (accompanying adults from £20.00 before 3pm must book Gardens ticket, after 3pm must book Light Trail ticket). Location : Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA.

Oxford Castle and Prison

Santa’s Grotto

Dates : TBC. Ticket Price : £17.95 per child, £15.95 per adult, Under 2 – £6.95. Location : Oxford Castle and Prison, 44-46 Oxford Castle, Oxford, OX1 1AY.

Kenilworth Castle

Dates : Weekends from 26th November to 18th December 2022. Ticket Price : Adult – £8.00, Child (5-17) – £8.00 (on top of usual entrance fee). Location : Kenilworth Castle, castle Green, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1NG.

Bodium Castle

Father Christmas at Bodium Castle

Dates : TBC. Ticket Price : TBC. Location : Bodium Castle, Bodium, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5UA.

Santa at Hever Castle

Dover Castle

Dates : TBC. Ticket Price : Adult – £17.00, Child (5-17) – £10.20. Location : Dover Castle, Dover, Kent, CT16 1HU.

Whitstable Castle

Santa’s Magical Grotto Dates : 3rd to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : £6.50 per child. Location : Whistable Castle, 15 Tower Hill, Whistable, Kent, CT5 2BW.

National Trust Santa’s Grottos

If you like visiting National Trust properties, we highly recommend getting a National Trust membership . Just a couple of visits will cover the price of your pass and you will be able to get into a lot of these seasonal events for free.

Meet Father Christmas in the East

Meet Father Christmas in the Midlands

Meet Father Christmas in Northern Ireland

Meet Father Christmas in the South East

Meet Father Christmas in the South West

Meet Father Christmas in Wales

Places to see Santa in London

There are lots of Santa’s Grottos in London this year – including the infamous Harrods Santa Grotto (but this is almost impossible to get into!). We have already mentioned a few above such as Hamleys and London Zoo – but here are a few more London Santa’s Grottos:

Alexandra Palace

Santa’s Grotto at Alexandra Palace

Dates : TBC. Ticket Price : £14.50 per child. Location : Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY.

Shrek’s Adventures

Santa’s Grotto at Shrek’s Adventures

Dates : Weekends in December and then 17th to 24th December 2022. Ticket Price : From £24.00 per person. Location : Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB.

Broadgate Circle

The Winter Forest

Dates : TBC.. Ticket Price : TBC. Location : Exchange House, 12 Exchange Square, London, EC2A 2BQ.

Fortnum & Mason

Storytelling with Father Christmas

Dates : Tickets have now sold out. Ticket Price : N/A. Location : Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London, W1A 1ER13.

See here for more places to see Santa in London this year.

If you’re visiting London and looking for family-friendly hotels, make sure to check out our top London hotel recommendations . See also – the most magical things to do in London at Christmas with kids .

The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences – Located in Mayfair , this is a 5 star luxury aparthotel with a difference. We find it so useful when staying in hotels in with kids to have a kitchen. They also have a kids’ concierge service where they arrange your kid’s favourite DVDs and treats for the room. Guest can use all of the hotel facilities and they have a pool.

The Ritz – Located on Piccadilly near Hyde Park Corner . One of the most well-known hotels in London. The Ritz being the Ritz, they have a Very Important Kids programme providing anything a child could want in their hotel room. Children under 15 stay for free with their parents in a Junior Suite or above.

The Rubens at the Palace – Located near Buckingham Palace . This boutique hotel has their own Director of Fun and Adventure to organise activities for kids. Children under 12 stay and eat for free and there’s a 6pm check out on Sundays.

St Ermin’s – Located near St James’s Park . They offer a kids concierge to take care of the kids needs with fun and games inside of the hotel as well as outside. They even have their own bee hotel within the hotel. There are 2 new rooms that cater for families of 6. They also do a fabulous afternoon tea for kids .

Park Plaza County Hall – Located   near the London Eye , this is an excellent, centrally located mid-range family hotel in London. If booking the Family Getaway Package, they offer goody bags for kids at check-in and ‘Park Plaza money’ to spend in the Spectrum Bar and complimentary breakfast for children up to 12 years old. There are also interconnecting rooms for larger families.

Premier Inn Waterloo – Located by Westminster Bridge near the London Eye. Family hotels in London can be eye-wateringly expensive but the Premier Inn is a great, no-frills budget family hotel in London option if you are looking for a central location.

Other places to see Santa

Missed out on booking a visit to Santa’s Grotto? Here are a few more ideas for seeing the big man.

Royal Albert Hall – Storytime with Father Christmas – 2nd to 20th December 2022.

Coca Cola Truck

The Coca Cola Truck (Photo Credit www.thedrum.com)

Seeing Santa virtually

If all else fails and a visit to see Santa in person is not possible, here are a couple of ideas to help keep the magic alive..

Santa @ Home

PortableNorthPole App

CatchaCharacter

30 Classic Christmas Movies For Kids

  You might also like…

The 15 Best Christmas Markets in the UK

13 Magical Things to do in London with Kids

A Quick Guide to the London Christmas Markets

40+ Gift Ideas for Kids Who Travel

Seriously Festive Santa Train Rides to Try

A Complete Guide to the Christmas Light Trails in the UK

The Best Places to See the London Christmas Lights

What a great resource!! I love the one with the live reindeer!! So coo!!

I know! That one looks super cool. My kids would love it!

Wow, what an incredible resource! You’re making me want to head to the UK for Christmas!

Great! We’ve also got loads of Christmas markets that are getting bigger each year in some beautiful historic locations. The UK is really lovely at Christmas.

Wow – this is a really thorough post. It’s making me miss Christmas :) I never knew there were so many options for Santa in the UK – we may need to consider spending our winter holidays there sometime soon.

I don’t think I even scratched the surface! It’s become so huge in the UK. We just need the snow now… :)

Hi, is this information still accurate in view of the latest Covid restrictions? Are these still happening?

Hi, most of them are still running. I am trying to update as and when I hear of changes. Each link takes you to the website for the grotto / experience and they will also update. In terms of government guidelines and restrictions as to who can visit based on Tiers, that is something that each individual must determine themselves.

Is there anything in Scotland?

There are a few Dobbies garden centres around Scotland and it looks like they’re still running – although suject to local restrictions. A lot of places were already cancelled and didn’t make it on here.

Leave a Reply

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We participate in various affiliate marketing programs. Flashpacking Family is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Most popular posts

Guide to visiting Lake Louise, Canada

Jordan itinerary

Sri Lanka’s best beaches

Things to do in Suffolk with kids

Free things to do in London for kids

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Nightmare on 34th Street

One cold Christmas a strange Santa arrives to visit Peter and tell him 4 Christmas horror stories. One cold Christmas a strange Santa arrives to visit Peter and tell him 4 Christmas horror stories. One cold Christmas a strange Santa arrives to visit Peter and tell him 4 Christmas horror stories.

• Jon Vangdal Aamaas
• Jason Allen
• Jake Arrowsmith
• 3 User reviews
• 10 Critic reviews
• 3 wins & 4 nominations

• Oscar White
• DCI Harrington
• Henry White

• Traumatised Girl

• Street Girl
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Soundtracks All On A Winter's Day (uncredited) Written by Jeff Kristian Performed by Jeff Kristian

User reviews 3

• kannibalcorpsegrinder
• Dec 5, 2023
• December 5, 2023 (United Kingdom)
• United Kingdom
• Company Website
• Last British Dragon
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• £150,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 9 minutes
• Dolby Surround 5.1

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed.

Free & Low Cost Christmas Events around Leeds & Yorkshire | 2023

There is no shortage of Yorkshire Christmas activities , but while big days out are great, it’s also nice to have some free and low-cost days out in Decembe r. There are Santa experiences, Christmas markets and festive walks and trails to get out and enjoy with your family.

I hope to keep adding to this list! If you have any suggestions, please email [email protected].

Please do double-check that events are running before you set off as many events change on short notice this year.

FREE & Low-Cost Christmas Events

Free & Low-Cost Christmas Events December 16 & 17

York Christmas Festival

Harrogate Christmas Market

Little Bird Festive Market Harrogate

Christmas Tree Festival at St John’s

Marvellous Museum Christmas Toybox for SEND Families

Skipton Gingerbread Christmas Trail.

Scarborough’s Live Advent Calendar

Free Festive Weekends at The Broadway

Sheffield Christmas Market

Christmas Family Trail

Living Advent Calendar

Festive Workshop

Meet and Greet with Santa

Free & low-cost christmas events december 23 & 24.

Brearley Bear’s Christmas Collectibles

Free & low-cost christmas events december 26 – 29, free & low-cost christmas events december 30 & 31, free and low-cost christmas fun.

I asked the Yorkshire Tots to Teens Facebook group and blogging friends for suggestions for budget-friendly Christmas days out. They came up with some fantastic suggestions from printable Christmas scavenger hunts to outdoor fun!

Make a flask of hot chocolate and blankets and watch the sunrise on the beach on the winter solstice. Not exactly festive but magical all the same and not too much of an early morning depending how far you live from the coast,” says Samantha Rickelton of visit-newcastle.co.uk

“We drive round our nearest town centre (Leeds) and look at the lights from inside the car with Christmas music on. We also do this around where we live to look at the houses that decorate for Christmas. They had fish and chips last year while doing this but wouldn’t advise it as they stank the car out!!! If you don’t have a car, could use bus or walk,” says Wendy Brooke

“If you’re a National Trust member a great low cost day out is to visit a local property and see their Christmas displays. Have a hot chocolate by the outdoor Xmas tree. Something we like to do on Christmas Eve or a few days before Xmas,” says Angela Spicer of  exploringdorset.co.uk

“ Not a day out as such but I always used to print off a Christmas lights Scavenger Hunt and go for a walk where I knew there were loads of lights in peoples gardens etc. they loved looking for all the different lights, always quite magical,” says Joanne Gibson.

“Me and my family go for a hike up our local mountain and collect wild holly and other items that we then go home and make Christmas wreaths together. It’s a messy job, but going out together and then having fun making them with the Christmas songs on the radio is just the best feeling,” Lynne Jones of theswaneffectmum.com .

“Depending on where you are, some department stores may have Christmas window displays that kids will love. It doesn’t cost a thing to see them and it will get everyone in the Christmas spirit,” says Cahterine Jordan of  waleswithkids.co.uk .

“For free options, I’ve been touring the garden centres. Tong has their displays up already, and my little boy just loves looking at all the models and lights etc,” says Rachel Legg.

“If you have one in your area, attending a Christmas carol service is a lovely thing to do. We used to attend one at a local animal sanctuary every year. The charge is usually nominal and it’s great for getting into the Christmas spirit,” says Josie Cornhill of  methemandtheothers.com .

“Libraries often have free events on but often need to prebook. Also IKEA breakfast with Santa is free (obv buy the food but need a ticket),” says Helen Charnley.

Victoria Sully “Pop into shopping arcades as many of them will have beautiful Christmas decorations, large Christmas trees and lights. A shopping centre we have visited a few times in our old home town had a huge walk through Christmas tree, a sleigh you could sit in for photos one year and a giant Christmas bauble the next!” says Victoria Sully of  www.lyliarose.com .

“Join some local Facebook groups. People will usually discuss which streets in your area have the best light displays. If not, you can always ask!” says Pete Chatfield of householdmoneysaving.com .

“Odeon and Vue cinemas usually have old Christmas films on at their kids clubs in December. Usually £2.50 a ticket or thereabouts,” says Samantha Rickelton of northeastfamilyfun.co.uk .

More Christmas Fun in Yorkshire

Magical Yorkshire and Leeds Christmas Events 2023

Magical Yorkshire & Leeds Santa Experiences | 2023

Yorkshire & Leeds Light Switch On Events 2023

Top Tips for Visiting Ice Cube in Millennium Square Leeds

Work with Yorkshire Tots to Teens

Free and low-cost Christmas events in Leeds and Yorkshire – Pin Me

Author: Erin at Yorkshiretots

I'm an American mum of a Yorkshire lad and lass who love adventures! Owner & founder of Yorkshire Tots to Teens where we bring families all the best events, days out & family fun in Yorkshire!

I think reindeers are coming to Royal Armouries

I hope so it will be brilliant if they are

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Change Location

Find awesome listings near you.

The Covid summer wave is here

If more people around you seem to be coming down with Covid lately, that’s because infections are indeed on the rise nationally.

Cases are most likely increasing in 39 states and aren’t declining anywhere in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — evidence that an anticipated summer wave is underway. 

The CDC no longer tracks Covid cases, but it estimates transmission based on emergency department visits. Both Covid deaths and ED visits have risen in the last week. Hospitalizations also climbed 25% from May 26 to June 1, the latest data available. 

California in particular appears to be experiencing a notable rise in infections. The state’s data suggests high levels of coronavirus in wastewater, and Covid has gotten more prevalent there since May. The documented share of Covid tests in California that came back positive has risen from around 3% to 7.5% in the last month or so. 

“It looks like the summer wave is starting to begin,” said Dr. Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. 

Covid infections have historically spiked over the summer, in part because of an increase in travel and people congregating indoors, where it’s cooler. This year appears to be no exception, though disease experts expect this season’s wave to be milder in terms of severe disease.

Several variants are likely to be contributing to the nationwide trend, said Dr. Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

“We’re seeing the start of an uptick of infections that is coincident with new variants that are developing: KP.2 and KP.3 and LB.1. It does appear that those variants do have an advantage over the prior ones,” he said.

All three variants are descendants of JN.1, the version of the coronavirus that took over this winter, so experts think of them as cousins.

KP.2 became the dominant variant in the U.S. last month, and then KP.3 took over in early June. Along with a third variant that shares the same key mutations, KP.1.1, the group accounts for around 63% of Covid infections in the U.S. Some scientists collectively refer to the variants as “FLiRT” — a reference to their amino acid changes. 

LB.1 accounts for another 17.5% of Covid infections. Experts said its rapid growth indicates that it’s likely to become dominant soon, though scientists still want to study it more closely.

“It’s sort of the newest kid on the block,” Barouch said. “There’s not much known about it.”

A preprint paper released this month, which hasn’t been peer-reviewed, suggests that LB.1 is more infectious than the “FLiRT” variants and could be better at evading protection from vaccines or previous infections.

“Assuming that preliminary data is true, that it’s more immune-evasive and that it’s more infectious than KP.2 and KP.3, that’s a winning formula to infect more people,” Russo said.

The CDC doesn’t regularly track Covid symptoms over time, so it’s hard to know whether illnesses caused by any of the new variants look any different. For the most part, Covid symptoms have been consistent for the last two-plus years.

Variants aside, several other factors could help the virus spread this summer. Experts said cases will probably continue to rise as people retreat indoors to escape this month’s punishing heat wave and gather to celebrate the Fourth of July. 

Russo recommended that people who are the most vulnerable to infection — those who are older or immunocompromised or engage in riskier activities, such as attending large parties or gatherings — consider getting the latest Covid vaccine now if they haven’t already. 

He added that a monoclonal antibody drug called Pemgarda has been available since April for immunocompromised people. The antiviral medication Paxlovid should also help reduce the likelihood of hospitalization or death.

But most young, healthy people can hold out for the updated Covid vaccines expected to arrive this fall, experts said. The Food and Drug Administration advised vaccine manufacturers this month to target the KP.2 variant . The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is scheduled to meet Thursday to decide who should get those shots.

A vaccine targeting KP.2 vaccine won’t be a direct match for the dominant strain come fall — the variant declined in prevalence last week compared to two weeks before.

“The virus already appears to be evolving beyond what’s going to be the fall boosters, and it’s only June,” Barouch said. Even so, he added, the updated vaccines should still protect against the various variants circulating right now.

Aria Bendix is the breaking health reporter for NBC News Digital.

I'm a Californian who visited Jacksonville Beach for the first time. I preferred the Florida spot over Santa Monica for a laid-back vacation.

• I'm a Californian who visited Jacksonville Beach, Florida, for a spring getaway.
• Everything was generally more low-key in Jacksonville, and the beach was less crowded.
• Both cities are family-friendly and walkable, but finding parking in Florida was less stressful.

I've lived in Los Angeles for five years, so I'm about 30 minutes inland from Santa Monica. It's a beautiful, classic Southern California destination with a beach, a pier, and an abundance of classy shopping and dining spots.  

But I decided to visit Jacksonville Beach, Florida, (or "Jax Beach" as I heard it referred to by many locals) for a spring trip . I liked that it's still on the "up and coming" end of the tourism spectrum. It felt like an unpretentious surfers' paradise.

Jacksonville Beach felt similar to Santa Monica, but there were also a few distinct differences between the beach towns on either coast. 

The ocean is actually warm enough for me to swim in at Jacksonville Beach.

I signed up for a surf lesson with Thompson Surf School in Jacksonville Beach, and I didn't even need a wet suit (which is usually customary for surfers in the chilly SoCal water).

I love swimming in the Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast because, to me, it feels warmer than the Pacific Ocean in California. 

Santa Monica's public transportation is much better than Jacksonville Beach's options.

Santa Monica has a Metro line that connects right to downtown LA and throughout the city.

Jacksonville Beach was honestly pretty walkable for most of what I needed during my stay, so I didn't have to drive many places. But there weren't any easy public-transit options .

Jacksonville Beach felt easier and less overwhelming to navigate on foot.

Jacksonville Beach itself is roughly 22 square miles, but most tourist spots are within walking distance of the pier. 

Santa Monica is only about 8 square miles. But it's densely populated and feels a little chaotic in most of the touristy areas, which is more stressful to me. 

The restaurant and bar scene is more polished (and pricier) in Santa Monica.

If you're looking for the hottest new restaurant or the chicest rooftop bar, Santa Monica is your place. The culinary scene is undeniably world-class. 

But if you're just looking for a burger, burrito, and beer, you'll be perfectly happy in Jacksonville Beach. You'll also probably save more than a few dollars while eating out. 

Santa Monica's Pacific Pier offers fun games, but it can feel a bit chaotic in the busier season.

Jacksonville's pier is smaller. But it just went through an 11 million dollar, multiyear upgrade . It's also a good option if you're looking to just chill out and have a laid-back day going fishing or admiring the coastal scenery.

If you're looking for a day of games, rides, and treats along the water though, Santa Monica's Pacific Pier is probably more up your alley.

Jacksonville Beach's weather is less predictable.

In Jacksonville, you could have sunny skies in the morning and get stuck in an afternoon thunderstorm. The Florida city is also more humid. 

In Santa Monica, and Southern California in general, the weather is known for being pretty consistently sunny and warm. But many tourists aren't prepared for the "June Gloom" weather that's actually pretty cold and foggy for some or most of the day.

Either way, you should definitely bust out the sunblock in both spots. 

Jacksonville Beach still has plenty of room to develop new hotels and restaurants.

The SpringHill Suites in Jacksonville Beach just opened in April 2023. And from what I could tell, it seemed like there was plenty of room to build more accommodations along the city's coast in the future . 

Santa Monica's coastline looks pretty maxed out in terms of development. I'm not sure how many brand-new buildings or hotels will be popping up there anytime soon.

But if you're going for opulence and elegance, you'll most likely prefer the lodging options in Santa Monica because there are multiple convenient, upscale hotels like Shutters on the Beach or Viceroy Santa Monica. 

In Jacksonville Beach, my time at the Springhill Suites was lovely and clean with oceanfront views. But it wasn't overly showy in any way. 

Santa Monica is more accommodating of dietary restrictions.

The Los Angeles area is known for accommodating all kinds of diners — especially on the west side , where Santa Monica is located. 

Although there were ample options for milk alternatives at the coffee shop I frequented during my trip to Jacksonville Beach, I don't think the city offered the same dietary variety. 

It was easier to find parking in Jacksonville Beach — and it cost less, too.

I love spending a day in Santa Monica on the beach during the summer. But I know I have to be prepared to spend at least $15 on parking if I want to hang out for more than a couple of hours.

Plus it can be hard to find a spot due to the volume of people coming from seemingly everywhere to visit the iconic beach town.

In Jacksonville Beach, I didn't have a problem finding parking — even on the weekend — and the lot prices maxed out at $7 . Registered Jacksonville Beach residents even get to park for free. 

Both destinations are pretty family-friendly.

As someone who spends a fair amount of time out and about exploring Santa Monica, the Southern California city seems to have a much younger population than Jacksonville Beach.

In addition to the beach, Santa Monica offers plenty of family-friendly activities. There's Pacific Park, an amusement park on the pier, and the Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian-only shopping street, among other spots.

You can also rent bikes and explore the Marvin Braude Bike Trail (frequently referred to by locals as "The Strand"), which is a 22-mile paved beach path that travels from Santa Monica all the way down to Torrance Beach. 

Jacksonville Beach also has a safe, wide, and sandy beach. When I went, the pier was filled with groups of people fishing (including some families).

Adventure Landing Jacksonville Beach , a water park, also offers mini golf, go-karts, batting cages, and an arcade. There's even places to rent bikes and take surfing lessons nearby.

It's easier to bring your pups to the beach in the Florida city.

Jacksonville Beach is a little more pet-friendly than Santa Monica since dogs are actually allowed on the sands of the beach. There are just certain time restrictions depending on the season, and the dogs have to be leashed. 

When I went out to eat at a brewery one evening in Florida, I was also surrounded by pups on the outdoor patio.

Santa Monica is pretty dog-friendly, too, even though pets aren't allowed on the public state beach. The website has a pretty extensive guide to where you can and can't bring your pets along in town. 

The destinations are about the same distance from the nearest commercial airport.

It takes about 30 to 40 minutes to drive from Los Angeles International Airport to Santa Monica. That's about the same amount of time it took me to get to the beach from Jacksonville International Airport.

Both cities also happen to be within a couple of hours of the Disney parks. Santa Monica is about two hours northwest of Disneyland, and Jacksonville Beach is about 2 1/2 hours from Disney World .

There are some beautiful outdoor parks and green spaces on both coasts.

There are some beautiful parks in Santa Monica. My personal favorite is Palisades Park because it features gorgeous views of the ocean. 

In Jacksonville Beach, I really enjoyed spending time at Oceanfront Park , which also offers beautiful waterfront views.

I'd prefer a laid-back vacation in Jacksonville Beach over a trip to Santa Monica.

Overall, I enjoy both cities. But the vacation vibes I personally go for are more relaxed and low-key, so I'd recommend Jacksonville Beach over Santa Monica.

Jacksonville Beach felt less crowded, and it was easier to find parking, which can be a challenge in any beach city during the busy season. 

It felt overall more casual of a vacation destination to me — from how people dressed to the atmosphere at the local restaurants to the cost of food, lodging, and goodies at the low-key local boutiques. 

This story was originally published in June 2023 and most recently updated on June 27, 2024. 

• Main content

News | Colleen Shogan, first woman appointed U.S….

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Investigative Reporting
• Environment

News | Colleen Shogan, first woman appointed U.S. archivist, visits Nixon Library

Since assuming office in may 2023, shogan is making it a point to visit every national archive in her domain to meet local staff and identify ways to increase public accessibility to records, she said..

Her oversight includes 42 archival facilities across the country including 15 of America’s presidential libraries, which bring together the documents and artifacts to tell the history of each presidential administration since Herbert Hoover.

Tamara K. Martin, director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum gives Colleen Shogan, archivist of the United States, a tour of the grounds at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Colleen Shogan, archivist of the United States, views the graves of Richard and Pat Nixon on a visit to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tamara K. Martin, director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

On Wednesday, Shogan made her inaugural visit to the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda, home of hundreds of thousands of documents from Richard Nixon’s presidency and lifetime. She spent the bulk of her day discussing how her agency can work with local staff and the Nixon Foundation to increase access to historical records.

Since assuming office in May 2023, Shogan, a former graduate fellow in American politics at Yale University, instructor at Georgetown University and senior executive at the Library of Congress, has been making it a point to visit every national archive in her domain to identify ways to enhance the public accessibility of records, she said.

“My vision for the archives is to improve access to our nation’s records,” she said. “Whether they’re federal records from agencies all across the country and presidential records at all our presidential libraries, we’re trying to figure out ways that more Americans can interact with the records in a useful and productive way.”

That mission strikes a resonant chord at the Nixon Library, where staff are tasked with telling a story of a presidency simultaneously defeated by secrecy yet responsible for producing one of the largest troves of public documents, photographs and tapes in presidential history. For years, Nixon c overtly recorded nearly every conversation he had in the Oval Office , as well as other areas of the White House and Camp David, creating a never-before-matched and highly controversial bounty of presidential records.

After visiting the Nixon exhibits for the first time, Shogan said she was left with a message about the ups and downs in life and leadership .

“The main theme of the exhibits I would say is that you can’t know your success in life if you haven’t had failures, and, for sure, that’s a great message for young people to be able to learn about and to learn from Richard Nixon,” she said.

More than 50 years on, many of Nixon’s presidential endeavors are relevant today. Navigating foreign policy with China, negotiating a war in Israel, nominating four justices to the Supreme Court, contending with domestic challenges around environmental and racial injustices, addressing gender inequality and managing a drug crisis. Any one of these issues could affect the 2024 presidential election as much as they shaped the Nixon White House.

Tamara Martin, the director of the Nixon Library, said researchers still flock to the archives to study all kinds of aspects of the Nixon administration, including his legacy far beyond Watergate. For example, his administration created the Environmental Protection Agency, oversaw the Apollo space missions and strove to put more women in government positions across agencies, Martin said.

“The Nixon story is a big story and there’s a lot of information in the records that we want to share with the public,” she said.

But a half-century later, some Nixon-era documents remain classified.

Shogan works with other agencies to declassify as much information as possible to make it available to researchers and the public. Some of what remains classified, she said, has to do with human intelligence — espionage. If released, the information could threaten the living connections of spies and potentially harm diplomatic relationships with other countries, she said.

But the biggest hurdle toward declassification is a resource problem, Shogan added.

“In the United States, the amount of money we put into classifying all kinds of information versus the amount of funding we have set aside to declassify information, I mean, it’s not even comparable,” she said. “There’s hundreds and hundreds of times more resources going to classifying information than declassifying it.”

Bureaucracy is another challenge.

“So, if we have a record from Nixon’s presidency and it’s been classified, let’s say, by the Defense Intelligence Agency and also the CIA, we can’t at the National Archives just look at that information and say it’s over 50 years old, certainly we should be able to release that. We don’t have the authority to be able to do that,” she explained. “We have to work with those other classifying agencies, in this example the DIA and CIA, and they both have to agree to declassify.”

Streamlining that interagency process as much as possible is something Shogan helps Martin and other local archivists with.

Another of her goals is to digitize the national archives to improve their accessibility.

Walk into the Nixon Library and the first of the former president’s quotes any visitor sees is written in bright silver letters on the entrance wall: “Libraries can be passive, dry repositories of books and documents. I hope that the Nixon Library and birthplace will be different — a vital place of discovery and rediscovery, of investigation and contemplation, of study, debate and analysis.”

In many ways, this Nixon quote speaks to Shogan’s task to shepherd a pen-and-paper archive into a digital age.

“The notion of an archive or a library is changing,” she said. “It’s not going to be the same as it was 10 years ago. The National Archive as a whole agency is still a predominantly paper or analog archive, but I would say in 20 years it’s going to be a predominantly digital archive.”

“It doesn’t mean you don’t need to have a library or an archive,” she said. “Because of the proliferation of information in the digital age, it actually means that you need to have it more because you’re going to need archivists to help users sort through all that information to find records that are responsive to what they’re searching for.”

For now, she’s moving full steam ahead on America 250, a retrospective of the country’s 250th anniversary in 2026. At each presidential library, the program will feature letters written from ordinary citizens to presidents. Many such letters written to Nixon for or against his policy in Vietnam are currently on display in Yorba Linda.

“A national display of letters lets people look back and put history in context,” she said. “We have a tendency to be very presentist. That’s just how we are as human beings. So, we think there’s never been anything like what we’re going through right now. But if you go back and read those letters, you see, actually, Americans were very concerned all throughout our history.”

“With the emotion that they have writing to their president, either being very happy with what the president has done or very displeased with the actions the president has taken,” She said, “we’re going to bring that to life. And, I think people are really going to like that resource.”

• Newsroom Guidelines
• Report an Error

More in News

News | Kamala Harris reiterates faith in Biden’s leadership at Brentwood fundraiser

News | After 43 years marketing local news, SCNG’s Bill Van Laningham is retiring

News | SoCal’s relationship with 4th of July fireworks might be changing. Here’s why

Economy | California shoppers reverse gears, up spending 1.4% in early 2024