Whether you’re looking to meet Santa in a Christmas Grotto, at brunch or on a train this guide is for you. I’ve tried to include as many options as I could find and something to suit every budget, including several free options! I’ve included a from price for all of them so you can get a rough idea of price, but please bear in mind that a lot of them increase in price the closer you get to Christmas so click through to their website for exact prices.
There are so many amazing events on this Christmas, so take a look…
Christmas Days Out (Including Grottos)
Once Upon A Christmas at Odds Farm Park
1st to 24th December (selected dates)
Father Christmas invites you to join him and his Elves for an interactive story-time in their festive setting. After meeting Father Christmas and stopping for a festive photo keepsake, you will take a stroll deep into the Enchanted Woodland to arrive at the Elves Toyshop.
Location: High Wycombe, Bucks
Price from £31.90 for children (aged 2-16) including farm admission, £17.95 for under 2’s (or free if they are not participating in the Christmas experience) and £13.95 for adults. Click here for more information and to buy tickets.
Farmer Christmas Land at Green Dragon Eco Farm
20th November to 24th December (selected dates)
Children can search for gold tokens in Santa’s Snowpits, walk through the Enchanted Forest, meet Christmas animals, decorate gingerbread biscuits, make special reindeer food to take home for Christmas Eve, make a star for the Wishing Tree, and even feed real Reindeer. And of course, meet Farmer Christmas too – sit up on his tractor and receive a Christmas gift.
Location: Buckingham, Bucks
Price from £16.95 per child (aged 2+), £9.95 for under 1 year and £5.95 per adult
For more information and tickets click here.
Magical Christmas Experience at Chobham Open Farm
4th to 24th December (selected dates)
Your visit to Chobham Adventure Farm’s Magical Christmas is a 1.5 – 2 hr interactive immersive experience where you will be led through 8 magical fully themed rooms by our enthusiastic team of actors and elves, and take part in every activity. There’s gingerbread to decorate, letters to post, real Reindeer to check on, all before your individual family time with Father Christmas where you will be given a special key to his toy shop where you can choose any present you would like.
Location: Chobham, Surrey
Price from £27.50 for children, under 1’s free with siblings (or £10 if only child), adults from £25. Click here for more information and to book. If you book before 30th September you will save £5pp.
Jake’s Magical Christmas Grotto Experience
1st to 24th December (selected dates)
We absolutely love Jake’s and even on a normal day there is so much to do there. For Christmas they’ve put on a magical day for the whole family which includes a play in the soft play, a sleigh ride in search of Santa, a visit to Santa in his magical grotto and a trip to his “Gingerbread” factory to decorate your own gingerbread man. Then enjoy some time on the farm (daylight and weather permitting).
Location: Sandhurst, Berkshire
Price from £25.50 for children and £10 for adults. For more information and details on how to book click here.
The Most Magical Christmas Adventure in 2021 at 4 Kingdoms Farm Park
13th November to 24th December (selected dates) + post Christmas dates at a slightly cheaper price 27th December to 3rd January
We went here last year and absolutely loved it! The attention to detail throughout the whole experience is incredible. The actors were all fantastic at engaging with the little ones and making the whole experience completely magical. 4 Kingdom’s Farm Park is home to the largest indoor Christmas immersive experience in the UK. Your 2 hour journey begins with checking-in to Santa’s Airways where you’ll then board a sleigh for an interactive journey to the North Pole. As part of your visit to the North Pole children will build their own special Christmas Bear, visit Santa and choose their own gift from the toy store. For more information on the day it’s really worth looking at the full itinerary on their website.
You can read my full review here.
Price from £35 for children and £25 for adults. Under 1’s not participating are free. Click here for more information and to book.
Santa Spectacular at Willows Activity Farm
20th November to 24th December (selected dates)
Willows usual Christmas event was cancelled but they have replaced it with this new event (minus Santa) which still sounds great! As well as being able to do all of the usual activities on the farm including seeing the animals and adventure play they’ll get to wander through their winter wonderland and meet Santa in his grotto, choose a toy from the Toy Shop, make-a-bear with cuddle filling, hop on their new reindeer funfair ride, watch festive shows, decorate gingerbread men, write and post a letter to Santa and receive a free reply, watch a festive 3D film, festive arts and crafts, meet real reindeer and travel on Tristian into the festive wood.
Location: St Albans, Hertfordshire
Price from £45 for children and £23 for adults and under 2’s with a gift are £22 Click here for more information and to book. Tickets
The Magic of Christmas at Mead Open Farm
12th to 24th December (selected dates)
Join Santa at his Rooftop Ramble Show! You’ll meet Santa and join him for a story and choose a special gift from his toy store. Children will also learn to be an Elf at Elf Academy, make a bear to take home, decorate gingerbread, explore the Magical Christmas Walkthrough, make reindeer foor and enjoy all the usual fun of the farm.
Location: Billington, Bedfordshire
Prices from £25 for children (1-15 years), £10 for under 1’s and from £18 for adults. For more information and to book your tickets click here.
Vintage 1940s Christmas Grotto at Bletchley Park
27th November to 23rd December
Meet Father Christmas in their beautifully decorated Mansion, where children can spend time telling him their Christmas wishes and take photos surrounded by vintage toys, Christmas trees, 1940’s greeting cards and decorations. All children will receive a lovely Christmas gift to take home. Children can also collect a free toy trail from admissions to help Father Christmas find his lost toys scattered around Bletchley Park and break a secret code.
General admission prices: Adults £21.00, children (12-17) £12.50 and children under 12 free. If you are a Friend or existing Annual Season Pass holder, you will just need to book tickets and a timed entry slot for the Grotto.
Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks
Prices are £9.50 per child for the Grotto. Accompanying adults will need to purchase standard admission tickets (£21 for adults, £12.50 for children aged 12-17 and free under 12). All admission tickets are annual season tickets. Anyone with a valid season ticket does not need to re-purchase them.
For more information and details on how to book click here.
Santa’s Grotto at Denham Country Park
5th, 11th and 19th December
Bring your little one to visit Santa’s Grotto at the Denham Country Park! They will get 5 Magical minutes with Santa, a Nature Trail and a Present to take home!
Location: Denham, Buckinghamshire
Price: £5 per child. Click here to book.
Santa’s Grotto and Christmas Market at Thomley
27th November
Thomley’s Christmas Market is always an incredibly popular event locally. There will be a fantastic selection of local businesses selling their Christmas goodies and gifts; the cafe will have a Christmas selection of hot food and drinks available all day – and don’t forget the famous Thomley Christmas raffle!
There will be plenty for the children to do too, including face painting and access to all of our outdoor play equipment, soft play, music room and sensory rooms (bookable). Plus there we a Santa’s Grotto which is bookable on the day.
Location: Worminghall, Buckinghamshire
Price: Free entry, no need to book. Click here for more info.
Lillingstone Pick Your Own Christmas Trees and Grotto
26th November – 19th December
Enjoy a truly festive trip to pick your perfect Christmas Tree! Meet Father Christmas, take a trip on his sleigh and browse the shop full of delightful decorations and gifts.
Price: Free entry, booking required. Just pay for your tree. Click here for more info an to book.
WycombeSanta presents… Enchanted Wonderland
4th – 24th December
Visit Enchanted Wonderland and travel to Santa’s famous arctic home in the North Pole. Guided by Mrs. Claus, children will go undercover as an elf. Their mission: to break into Santa’s workshop and return the Christmas Fairy to the top of the tree. Afterwards they will be invited to meet Father Christmas and receive their gifts. This experience is suitable for children aged 4 to 8 years old and lasts 20 minutes. Proceeds from the event will be going to Wycombe Food Hub.
Price: £13.01 per child. Click here for more info and to book.
Role City Christmas Special with Father Christmas
19th December
Role City is a pop up role play town with everything from cafes to builders yards for your little ones to play in. They will be running Christmas themed sessions on every Tuesday in December in the run up to Christmas, but on 19th the big man himself will also make an appearance. The 2 hour session will include making reindeer food, Christmas crafts, decorating homemade biscuits, dancing to Christmas music and the chance to meet Father Christmas and receive a gift.
Price: £12 per child. Click here for more info and to book.
Christmas at Dinton Pastures
11th & 12th December
Enjoy a weekend of live music, mulled wine, mince pies and some soon to be revealed, show-stopper attractions at Dinton Pastures this winter – you might also get to meet Father Christmas!
Meet The Reindeer – Meet a pair of beautiful reindeer from Riverways Farm and give them a little treat. Café Garden | 4+ under 4’s go Free | £3
Christmas Climb and Zip – Climb up and zip line off our tower. Whoosh through the air like Santa in his sleigh! DAC | 8+ | £3
Climb up and zip line off our tower. Whoosh through the air like Santa in his sleigh!
Christmas Craft – Decorate a pinecone and wood slice to make a festive ornament for your tree. DAC | ALL Ages | £3
Pedalo Hire – A family boat can take five people, with two pedaling and will cost £24 per half hour.
Lynx Gym Christmas Special Santa’s Grotto
14th December
Lynx Gym is a gymnastics centre in Aylesbury and they run brilliant toddler sessions. In these sessions the kids get to free play on all the fun equipment, jump on the bouncy castle and trampolines and swing from the ceiling. As well as 2 hours of free play they’ll also get a kids lunchbox, Christmas cookie decorating and a visit to see Santa with a gift.
Price is £15 per child.
Book via the Play With Me section on the website.
Santa’s Grotto at Gerrards Cross Lawn Tennis Club
27th November 2-4pm
Pop down to their Christmas market with the kids and visit Santa.
Price £3 per child of £5 for two
FREE Santa’s Grotto in Amersham
13th – 13th December (closed on 19th December)
Come along and meet Santa in his Grotto at 23 Woodside Road, Amersham. Entry is free and no booking is required.
Visit the Amersham Kids Together Facebook page for more information and opening times.
Bucks Live Presents Winterland
14th December 12pm – 5pm
Head down to Buckinghamshire New University to meet Santa and enjoy fairground rides, face painting, an inflatable zone, street food and live music.
Click here for more information.
Christmas Railway Days Out
Santa Steam Special at Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway
27th November to 23rd December (selected dates)
Santa’s Steam Trains travel to the North Pole where children (and grown-ups!) will have the thrill of travelling with Santa to his workshop where they’ll get to choose their first Christmas present. On the return journey Santa will pass through the carriages to ensure his Elves have pleased all the young folks with their presents.
Location: Princes Risborough, Oxfordshire
Price is £16 per seat in Open Carriage (babes in arms free), or £95 for a compartment which sits 6 people.
Click here for more information.
Santa Steam Special at Leighton Buzzard Railway
4th to 24th December (selected dates)
Take a 25-minute steam-train ride over a historic narrow-gauge railway that’s more than 100 years old to Santa’s Grotto. Meet Santa at Page’s Park grotto, where children up to 12 will receive an early present.
They have a special day for pre-schoolers on Wednesday 16th December.
Location: Leighton Buzzard, Hertfordshire
Prices are £10 for adults, £11 for children (2 to 12) and £6 for under 2’s. Click here to book your tickets.
Visit Santa at the Station at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
Details of the 2021 event are still to be released, but below are the details from 2020 to give you an idea of what to expect.
Garden Centres
Frosts Garden Centre in Woburn Sands
Their Santa’s Grotto has already sold out for 2021 but they have fantastic Christmas displays that are worth visiting for alone. They also do a Christmas afternoon tea (with a kids version) which looks great! They even run special Grotto sessions for dogs to meet Santa!
Location: Woburn Sands, Buckinghamshire
Click here for more info.
Santa’s Grotto at Dobbies
27th November to 24th December
Firstly for anyone that hasn’t already heard the sad news, Dobbies in Aylesbury have announced they won’t be running the Christmas Walkthrough this year *SOB*.
You are still able to meet Santa in his Christmas Grotto though.
Location: Various around the country. In Buckinghamshire they have Grottos in Aylesbury and Milton Keynes.
Tickets for Santa’s grotto cost £11.99 for children and £7 to purchase your photo with Santa. Click here to book your tickets.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be no Christmas Walkthrough at Dobbies Aylesbury this year *SOB*.
Visit Santa at Smith’s Garden Centre in New Denham
27th November to 24th December (selected dates)
Visit Santa in his Grotto after walking through several Christmas themed rooms.
Location: New Denham, Bucks
Price £10 per child and bookings can be made on the phone or in store. Click here to book.
Santa’s Christmas Wonderland at Chessington Garden Centre
Lots of people have recommended this one as a great alternative to Dobbies in Aylesbury now that they’ve cancelled their Christmas Walkthrough. Unlike Dobbies you can’t just do the walkthrough on its own, only when booking the Grotto, but it looks amazing!
Before entering the Grotto you will be transported to a magical world full of Christmas scenes and magic before meeting Santa himself.
Price £18.50 for children (12 and under), £7.25 for under 1’s and £4.50 for adults.
Location: Chessington, Surrey
Christmas at Toad Hall Garden Centre in Henley
There’s no grotto here but the Christmas decorations are lovely and there are a few photo spots dotted around, including a sleigh with reindeers and a short Christmas walkthrough.
It’s completely free to visit.
Location: Henley, Berkshire
Magical Sleigh Ride VR at Longacres Garden Centre in Bagshot
13th November to 24th December
This garden centre always has brilliant Christmas displays that are well worth a visit. This year they they also have a festive VR ride!
The ride promises to be a magical way to get your family ready for Christmas in a safe and exciting environment. You will enter a magical walk waiting area before riding on the sleigh. You’ll be given a VR head set, or if younger children prefer not to wear it they can watch it on the screen in the front of the ride instead. As the sleigh moves, the wind blows and you experience the magic of 4D virtual reality!
Price is £5 per person and you can book from two to five people per ride. You can also treat your little one to an extra special early Christmas present from Santa for just £5 per child. To book click here.
Location: Bagshot, Surrey
Santa’s Grotto at Van Hage Garden Centre in Great Amwell
5th November to 24th December (selected dates)
You can book to visit Santa’s Grotto where your little one will meet he big man and receive a gift. The garden centre is also beautifully decorated at Christmas and there’s also a miniature railway there.
Price £12 per child for the Grotto plus £1.50 per additional family member. Click here to book.
Location: Great Amwell, Hertfordshire
Shopping Centre Grottos
Santa’s Grotto with Peter RabbitTM at the Centre:MK
12th November to 24th December (selected dates)
Experience an incredibly exciting, immersive theatrical Christmas adventure, brought to life by actors playing the part of Peter Rabbit and his woodland friends.
Each family will spend 25 to 30 minutes enjoying the experience, which includes a decorated Christmas Elf biscuit and a lovely quality gift from Santa in the ticket price for each child.
Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Prices are from £12.50 for children and £4.99 for both adults and baby’s under 1. Click here for more information and to book tickets.
Brunch or Lunch with Santa
Brunch with Santa at Missenden Abbey
11th to 12th December
Treat your little ones to a magical brunch with Santa at Missenden Abbey.
Location: Great Missenden, Bucks
Tickets not released yet.
Brunch with Santa at Premium Country Pubs
Join Santa for a very festive brunch at your local Premium Country Pub. Your little ones will be spoilt for choice with a great selection of children’s breakfasts, a breakfast juice and a special gift from Santa. There’s a delicious menu for adults which includes a brunch dish, hot drink and breakfast juice.
Brunch with Santa is available at the following pubs in Buckinghamshire:
The Royal Saracens Head – Beaconsfield
The Ferry – Cookham
The Kings Arms – Cookham
The Spare Oak – Bourne End
The Swan – Amersham
The Apple Tree – Gerrards Cross
Brunch costs £15 for adults and £8 for children (including gift). Dates will be released and booking open in November.
Lunch with Santa at Denham Country Park
4th, 12th and 18th December
Head down to Denham Country Park for an hour of fun! They will be doing Christmas themed activities, presents and then sitting down to have Lunch with Santa!!
Location: Denham, Buckinghamshire
Price: £13. Click here to book.
Breakfast with Santa at The Jelly Lounge
21st – 24th December
Head down to The Jelly Lounge and spend a magical morning with Santa, have a play in their brilliant soft play, enjoy a continental breakfast plus coffee or tea and take home a special Christmas activity book and gift.
Price: £20pp. Click here to book.
I will keep adding to this guide as more events get released so keep checking back.