Unique places to see Santa in the UK this year – from reindeer lodges to castles & secret log cabins
MEETING Father Christmas is an important December activity for families across the country.
From a castle to a shopping centre - here are the best places to meet Santa this festive season.
Chessington World of Adventures, Greater London
Earlier this week, Chessington World of Adventures launched its Christmas-themed attraction.
The Winter's Tail opened on November 25, 2023, and it will run for five weeks until December 31, 2023.
Set in Greater London, parkgoers can expect to find some of their festive favourites at the theme park, including a visit to Santa's Grotto.
Entry tickets to the Winters Tail cost £35 per person, and tickets also include access to selected rides and attractions.
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Wishmas, London
Created by the team behind Secret Cinema, Wishmas is an immersive family experience that lasts between 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
At the attraction, which is set inside the Old Bauble Factory in Waterloo, a portal will transport guests to Wishmas, where they'll be asked to help look after Christmas wishes.
Inside the attraction, visitors will meet festive characters like Wishkeepers, Robins, and Father Christmas as they explore several magical rooms and installations.
Entry tickets to Wishmas start from £29 per person, but festive visitors will need to pay extra for the meet-and-greet experience.
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Families who want to experience some of the Wishmas magic will need to act fast because tickets have nearly sold out.
Sun Online Travel recently visited Wishmas and revealed the best and worst bits about London's latest winter attraction.
Reindeer Lodge, Wales
The Reindeer Lodge is a 1.5km Drive-Thru attraction, where holidaymakers will be able to spot real reindeer herds in their paddocks and stables.
There will also be a hidden elf village with a toy workshop, and younger visitors will also be able to meet Father Christmas himself.
Children will be able to receive a gift and a card from Santa Claus, all from the comfort of their own car.
This year, Reindeer Lodge opened on November 24, 2023, and it will run right up until Christmas Eve.
Entry tickets must be booked in advance online, with a ticket for a family of four costing £62.
The Grotto, Milton Keynes
The Grotto, which is set inside centre:mk in Milton Keynes, is the largest indoor Christmas Gotto of its kind in the country.
Families will spend 30 minutes inside the Grotto, which includes a craft experience and a chance to meet Santa in his sleigh.
Each child will receive a gift during the Christmas experience, and there will be an opportunity to purchase photos too.
Other highlights include a Virtual Reality Sleigh Ride, seven free selfie points, and a live interpretation of The Snowman.
The Grotto opened on November 17, 2023, and runs until December 24, 2023.
Entry tickets must be booked in advance online, with children's tickets costing £16.50 and adult tickets costing £5.50.
Roarr!, Norfolk
Set inside the village of Lenwade, Roarr! is often described as the best dinosaur attraction in the UK - and even prehistoric creatures need some festive cheer.
At Dippy's Christmas Celebrations, there will be a winter wonderland with Christmas trees and festive decorations.
Other attractions include a candy cane trail, a Christmas show, and an ice skating rink.
Young parkgoers will also get the opportunity to meet Father Christmas, with additional tickets costing £9.95 per child.
Tickets to Roarr! cost £19.95pp at peak times and can be pre-booked until midnight the day before for the best prices.
Earlier this year, Sun Online Travel visited Roarr! and was impressed with its rides.
Santa Breaks in Aviemore, Scotland
Set in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, the Macdonald Aviemore Resort is known for its breathtaking scenery and outdoor activities.
In the woodland lodges, guests will be greeted by Father Christmas on arrival, as well as an opportunity to visit Santa's grotto.
The resort is home to the only free-range reindeer herd in the UK, and there's even a festive pantomime too.
Other attractions at the resort include a heated indoor pool with a flume and a wave machine.
Three-night Christmas breaks in December start from £209 per family, per night.
Santa’s Woodland Experience, Scotland
Hailed as the number one outdoor woodland venue in Scotland, Santa’s Woodland Experience becomes a festive wonderland in November and December.
Visitors to the woodland experience will be asked to board a tractor in search of Santa's woodland home.
Once Santa's cabin has been found, visitors will be welcomed inside by the big man himself.
While tickets have sold out for the remainder of this year, there is a waiting list for cancelled tickets.
Santa's Magical Grotto, Northern Ireland
Set in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, Santa's Magical Grotto features a train station inspired by the North Pole and a train simulator.
There's also a live-action theatre performance, as well as the opportunity to take photos throughout the Christmas attraction.
Visitors will also be able to meet Father Christmas before exploring the festive lights and Christmas decorations.
Unfortunately, tickets to the attraction have sold out online but would-be visitors have been encouraged to keep an eye out for tickets online.
Santa at Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland
Bamburgh Castle is one of the oldest castles in the country, with its history dating back to the 11th century.
Located in the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland, the castle lies 50 miles away from Newcastle and 50 miles away from the Scottish border.
In addition to the castle's historical attractions, there's also Santa at Bamburgh Castle too.
The festive experience opened on November 18, 2023, and it will run until December 23, 2023.
Entry tickets to the grotto must be booked in advance online, and each ticket costs £19.95 per child.
Regular castle tickets must also be purchased, with only a limited number of tickets currently available online.
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