20 Unique Places to See Santa in the UK in 2025
Wondering where the best place to see Santa in England is? From steam trains to grottos, these standout Santa experiences make for brilliant festive days out.
Going to see the big man is a right of passage for little kiddies, but where oh where are the best places to see Santa in 2025?
Think steam-train ‘rides to the North Pole’ (ish), twinkly grottos in stately homes, breakfasts with Father Christmas, story time in cosy cabins, farm-park meet-and-greets and light trails that will give you all the festive feels. I’ve sifted through the cheesy and the crowded to find the ones worth your pennies – and your precious December weekends.
A few quick wins: book early (the best slots vanish fast), check what’s included (gifts, photos, rides), and look for quieter or sensory-friendly sessions if you need them. Bring letters for Santa, a spare layer for chilly queues, and a little festive patience – magic takes time.
Ready to make some memories? Here are the best Santa days out in the UK for you to work your way through.
Meet Santa at farm parks and zoos
1. London Zoo
2025 dates: Weekends and school holiday dates between 22 November – 24 December 2025
It’s hard to beat seeing Santa at London Zoo. As well as having all those animals around you can also join in with festive crafts, meet Santa in his magical grotto, and receive a special early Christmas gift to take home. You can also visit the amazing sensory sweet shop too!
Pay a little extra and you can have early access to the zoo, and get to have breakfast with Mrs Claus before anyone else can enter.
2. West Midlands Safari Park’s ‘Santa Safari’
2025 dates: 22 Nov–24 Dec 2025
Visit Santa at West Midlands Safari Park and you get a full winter safari drive plus a proper grotto visit (and this year you can bolt on a panto). It runs and feels like the best-value, most ‘all-in’ Christmas zoo day.
More great picks to see Santa at a zoo:
- Colchester Zoo (Essex) – “The Santa Experience” on multiple November/December dates within their Magic of Christmas days.
- Marwell Zoo (Hants) – A 45-minute grotto experience inside historic Marwell Hall with zoo entry included – good value for a full day out. 28 Nov–24 Dec 2025.
- Hertfordshire Zoo (Paradise Wildlife Park) – Santa grotto included with day tickets on weekends from 30 Nov plus 23–24 Dec.
- Drusillas Park (East Sussex) – Small, super toddler-friendly zoo; cosy cottage grotto with pre-bookable queue slots. 22 Nov–23 Dec 2025.
3. Rand Farm Park
2025 dates: Selected dates between 25th November – 24th December 2025
Visit your local farm this Christmas for a great Santa experience for the family, check out the local listings to see if they’re doing anything special.
One farm that’s going all out for its Santa day out this year is Rand Farm Park in Lincoln. From the 25th November to the 24th December they’ve got loads going on including the opportunity to decorate biscuits with Mrs Claus, the chance to meet real reindeer, a forest experience to walk through, a secret toy shop, the chance to meet Santa, and even more that I won’t spoil. It’s all going on!
Ultimate Santa experiences
4. Lapland UK
Lapland UK isn’t just another Christmas day out – it’s a full-blown festive adventure and one of the best places to see Santa in the UK. This is the closest you’ll get to the North Pole magic without leaving the country. A whole forest is transformed into a snowy wonderland, where you’ll wander through frosted pathways and storybook sets, meeting enchanting characters along the way.
Over three and a half hours, families step into a Narnia-style world of sparkling trees, snow-dusted cabins and incredible performances. Kids can make toys in Santa’s workshop, decorate gingerbread, glide across the ice, meet huskies, and, of course, have that unforgettable moment with Father Christmas himself. With a special gift for each child and a family photo to treasure, Lapland UK is one of the best ways to see Santa in England this year.
See Santa in London
5. Fujifilm House of Photography, Covent Garden
Head to Covent Garden and the Fujifilm House of Photography, where 3,000 square feet of space has been turned into a magical Christmas wonderland. It’s the perfect spot to soak up the festive spirit, with plenty to keep both kids and grown-ups entertained.
As you wander through, you’ll spot Santa’s cheeky helpers busily making toys, wrapping gifts and causing a little mischief along the way. Towering ladders, whirring conveyor belts and shelves stacked high with presents make it feel like you’ve stepped straight into Santa’s workshop. Children can even dive into craft stations to create their own postcards and Christmas cards too, for the perfect festive keepsake.
Shopping centre Santa grottos
The easiest place to find a Santa’s grotto is your local shopping centre. Keep an eye on their website and posters – dates and tickets drop early. Below are some of the most popular shopping-centre and department-store Santa experiences in England’s big cities.
6. Selfridges – London, Birmingham, and Manchester
Having been voted the best department store in the world, Selfridges is always a solid choice for a trip to a Christmas Santa Grotto, though dates vary by the year and exact place. It’s also a great place to shop for toys and gifts, during that magical time of the year!
Find out more about the available dates and times on the Selfridges website.
7. Hamleys – London, Glasgow and Lakeside
If any shop feels built for Christmas, it’s Hamleys. Piles of toys, buzzy demos – and, come December, a sparkling Santa’s Grotto to top it off. See the latest dates and times on the Hamleys website.
8. Lakeside – The Quay, in Essex
The Lakeside Shopping Centre offers the ideal Santa’s Grotto experience for any children excited to meet Father Christmas. For anyone living in Essex, this is probably the best one around, so it’s definitely worth giving a look into. With over 300 shops and attractions, you’ll be busy picking up those gifts for all the family.
See available dates and times on the Lakeside website.
9. Harrods – one of the best Santa Grottos in London
Visiting Santa at Harrods is a bit like stepping straight into a Christmas movie. Yes, it’s only in London, but this iconic store has been sprinkling festive sparkle since the 1800s, so it’s got the magic nailed.
Think twinkling lights, luxurious decorations, and an atmosphere that feels like Christmas dialled up to the max. If you want your kids to experience the kind of Christmas magic that makes grown-ups feel giddy too, Harrods is the place to find it.
Santa experiences at castles in England
Ever met Santa in a castle? Forget the usual shopping centre setup – meeting the big man inside centuries-old stone walls makes the whole experience feel extra magical. It’s the perfect day out if you’re a fan of England’s castles, or just want to give the kids a festive memory they’ll never forget.
Here are some of the most enchanting castles where Santa sets up his grotto for the season.
10. Warwick Castle
Warwick, Warwickshire
Tickets for Santa’s Grotto in Warwick Castle come with access to the castle included, and there’s nothing cooler than meeting Santa Clause in a castle. Warwick is ideal for this as it also provides other yearly family-fun activities, such as ice skating, and even a Christmas market.
11. Oxford Castle and Prison
Oxford, Oxfordshire
Just about the only thing more interesting than a castle, is a castle with a thousand years of history that primarily served as a local prison! This year the grotto at Oxford Castle and Prison serves as a wonderful opportunity to do a bit of historical sightseeing alongside your magical family Christmas experience.
12. Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh, Northumberland
This Christmas, the breathtaking Bamburgh Castle is getting a magical makeover, transforming into a glittering world inspired by Treasured Tales.
Tipped to be the biggest indoor festive event in the North East, the castle will whisk visitors into a tropical Christmas paradise ‘overflowing with glistening gold, vivid jewelled décor and magical adventures – and maybe a special visitor from much colder lands.’
And of course, no Christmas kingdom would be complete without Father Christmas himself – he and his trusty elves will be setting up shop in the castle to spread plenty of cheer.
Santa’s grottos on the water!
When you think about a Santa Grotto, the mind tends to take you right to the usual picture – a gleaming, decorated wonderland full of lights and helper elves all around, in what’s just about known as ‘the usual experience’. What isn’t usual by any means is the divine opportunity to meet Santa where you’d least expect him – on a boat!
13. In the New Forest
New Forest National Park, Hampshire
The New Forest provides an extremely unique opportunity when it comes to meeting Santa, in a way you’re not likely to experience anywhere else – on a canoe, along the Beaulieu River in the infinitely beautiful English National Park. This 90-minute adventure is complete with toasty cups of hot chocolate, and a present from Santa to each child on the trip!
Check out the Christmas canoe paddle for more details, and check out these family days out in Hampshire for more inspiration for festive activities nearby.
14. Basingstoke Canal
Basingstoke, Surrey and Hampshire County
If you feel like a canoe may be cutting it a little too uncomfortable for a 90-minute trip, then this is the option for you. More of a cruise than an adventure, on a comfy little boat called the Rosebud, you’ll find yourself and your family steaming down the Basingstoke Canal while interacting with Santa Claus.
Not that it ends there, of course – the boat’s destination is Santa’s workshop, where plenty of fun activities can be held, from colouring, to gift giving. Mince pies and hot drinks are available all round.
15. York’s Santa Cruise
York, Yorkshire
Of all the river cruise options for a Santa day out, this one has what’s by far the biggest boat, and is the easiest to access. Well, if you live near York that is.
The size of the boat – the Captain James Cook – makes for greater ease when social distancing, and allows for each visiting group to be seated at their own table on the Santa Cruise, which can accommodate up to six guests. On top of this, alongside the wonderful opportunity to meet Santa over the waters, each child is also supplied with an activity pack and colouring book. The cruise lasts an hour, and includes food and drink.
Seeing Santa at a theme park
16. Alton Towers for Christmas
Alton Towers sets up a whole seasonal wonderland for guests, featuring a Towers Street Christmas Market with 60+ market stalls.
If you want to see Santa at Alton Towers you can join the Santa’s Sleepover in the most magical, wonderful Christmassy Escape. Can you imagine going to see him and then going to CBeebies Land the next day? Core memories made!
17. Chessington World of Adventures
For a great Santa experience this year, how about visiting Chessington World of Adventures for a big Santa day out? Here you can meet Father Christmas in his grotto, encounter the Elves in the Toy Workshop, and enjoy the usual top quality Chessington rides and attractions too. You can also meet some of the incredible animals in the Chessington Zoo and Sea Life Centre too.
You’ll also be able to step foot into Santa’s grotto where you’ll meet the big man himself, and get a gift too. And check out the opportunity to stay over with Santa if you want to extend your trip even longer.
Get your tickets to Chessington here!
18. LEGOLAND at Christmas
LEGOLAND makes for the perfect Santa day out.
If you want to meet Santa at LEGOLAND you can get a special golden ticket to see him in his log cabin and receive a special LEGO gift. You might also spot him around the park in the day, in his magical sleigh.
Visit LEGOLAND for your Santa experience this year and you can also watch the fun DUPLO Puppet pantomime and the amazing Holiday Harbour lights show that will leave you full of the Christmas spirit.
BUY YOUR TICKETS TO LEGOLAND HERE!
Have a Santa experience on a train
I have such fond memories of our Santa’s Special experiences as a child. There was a group of us who’d all go with their dads for this great day out. One of my overriding memories is unfortunately one of my friends eating so many donuts they were sick all the way home, but I do also remember getting presents from Santa and seeing our dad’s joy at the trains. I’d definitely recommend making something like this a tradition.
19. North Norfolk Railway Santa Experience
The North Norfolk Railway is putting on some magical seasonal trips this year, especially to see Santa. You can pick up some snacks from The Old Luggage Office before you set off on the steam train, to Santa’s Grotto.
Alight at the charming Edwardian Station at Weybourne, enjoy seasonal refreshments for adults and children and stroll through the marvelously decorated and themed Christmas Tree Kingdom en route to see Santa and his elves. There’s a wrapped present for every child and time for photographs before you rejoin the train for the run back to Sheringham.
20. Bluebell Railway Santa Experience
The Bluebell Railway in Sussex is offering private compartments for your yearly Santa Experience. You’ll get mince pies, chocolate coins, and plenty of Christmas music on your festive ride.
Once you arrive at Santa’s grotto you can pick up your special toy from the workshop, enjoy some Christmas punch, and head back home via the Christmas gift shop.
The whole Santa experience will take around 2 hours from Sheffield Park and 2 hours 15 minutes from East Grinstead
Places to see Santa in the UK
There are loads of opportunities to meet Santa in the UK. Pick one or two and make a day of it with family and friends to make Christmas even more exciting!