Here’s your guide to where you can visit Father Christmas in 2019!
This year most of the children in Warwickshire don’t break up until Friday 20th December! A week or so later than in previous years. This means that a lot of school age children will be restricted to weekends to visit the big man! It’s a good idea to book sooner rather than later as this year we will see weekends getting booked up sooner than usual. We have put together a listing of places to see Father Christmas this year with comments from Mums in our Facebook Group on their recommendations.
We will be adding to this listing on the run up to December as some smaller places add their dates later on in the season. If you have a favourite place we haven’t listed, please do let us know here and we will update.
Click the image below for our FAMILY EVENTS GUIDE FOR 2019 Including Panto’s, Light Switch Ons and Events guide!
Magic Alley, Stratford Upon Avon
Recommended year after year in our Facebook group is Magic Alley, so many Mums commenting how real the experience is. Sadly their Father Christmas passed away this year, we are sure the next Father Christmas will be just as wonderful.
Our Mummy Lyndsey Says: “Magic Alley, Stratford
The experience in 2019 will last approximately 45 minutes and features a special interactive performance, some quality time with Father Christmas, a unique gift, a puzzle trail and of course the sparkling Victorian Frost Fair complete with snowballs
COST:
£13 per person, (under one’s free).
To book your tickets for your visit to see Father Christmas in 2019, call 01789 290969
Visit the Magic Alley website here for more information
Coventry Transport Museum – Visit Santa! Vintage Sleigh Ride
Where to see Father Christmas in Warwickshire
Monday 2nd December – Monday 23rd December
Monday – Friday: 11.00am – 5.00pm (last ride 4.30pm) Weekends: 9.00am – 5.00pm (last ride 4.30pm) Saturday 21 – Sunday 22 December: 8.30am – 6.30pm, Monday 23 December: 8.30am – 6.00pm. This event is drop-in only.
“Wander through a magical winter wonderland of festive activities and snowy scenes before taking a ride on an enchanting vintage sleigh, pulled by two trusty reindeer. Your next stop? Lapland. Meet Santa, tell him your Christmas wishes, receive a magic key and collect your gift from our elf’s toy shop.”
COST:
Children: £8 with gift (two accompanying adults admitted free per child) Additional accompanying adults can be added for £1.50 per adult. E.g. 1 child riding with 4 accompanying adults would cost £11.00
Adult (without child): £5
WE LOVE THIS: SEND Sessions
For people with a learning disability such as autism. During these sessions the space will be adapted with a low sensory offer. Please call 024 7623 7523 to book or for further enquiries (weekdays only).
Available on the following dates and times:
Saturday 30 November: 11am – 2pm, Friday 6 December: 9am – 11am, Tuesday 10 December: 6pm – 7pm, Monday 16 December: 9am – 11am
Visitors in a wheelchair can be assisted to the sleigh and with the help of a carer transfer into the sleigh. Please note sen sessions must be pre-booked.
Christmas on a steam train! Severn Valley Railway, Santa Steam Specials
Saturday 30th November – Tuesday 24th December
Severn Valley Railway Santa Specials have changed this year! All passengers can now take a magical steam train ride through the Severn Valley with Santa on board! Santa will visit every family on board their decorated carriage, handing out gifts to children and posing for photos as their train steams through the Severn Valley to Highley.
COST:
Premium costs start at £110.00 to £120.00 for a table of four
Visit the Severn Valley Railway Website here for more information and to book
Warwick Castle
Once again Warwick Castle has gone extra for Christmas 2019, activities include Skating, Stories with Santa, Santa’s Stately Breakfast & Santa Sleepovers
COST:
Skating: From £13 pp (skate only)
Stories: Can be added on to castle entry for + £4
Stately breakfast: £65pp includes castle entry
Sleepovers: from £299
To book, please call 01926 406 660.
Book tickets and find more info here
Lapland UK
6th & 13th December 2019 now only available – All remaining dates sold out
(updated 19.9.19- Nikki)
Our Mum Claire says: “We went about 3 years ago and loved every minute of it. I also wanted to go to the real Lapland but that was beyond our budget but this is definitely the next best thing. I took mine out of school for the day as it was cheaper on a school day! It makes me smile just thinking about it now xx”
“LaplandUK is an original adaptation of the Father Christmas story and the secret world of the elves brought to life through a 4-hour immersive experience of unprecedented scale and quality.
COST:
For more popular days such as 9th and 10th December you’re looking at £109 pp so do book soon to get the cheaper slots.
Address: Whitmoor Forest, Swinley Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 8BD ( approx 1 hour 30 mins from Leamington Spa).
Visit the Lapland UK Website for more information here
Christmas at Kenilworth Castle
Sat 7 & Sun 8th Dec 2019
Christmas is coming to Kenilworth Castle! Step back in time to a nostalgic family noel complete with carol singing, storytelling, and toy making. Enjoy some festive cheer with the castle jester, indulge in a yuletide treat in the tearoom, and hand deliver your Christmas list to Father Christmas in his grotto.
Tickets to An Audience with Father Christmas are £5 per child (in addition to admission) and booking is essential, pre-book your slot at the following times on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December by calling our ticket line on 0370 333 1183.
COST:
Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult and it is strictly one adult per child allowed in the room.
Adult £11.80, Child 5 – 7 £7.10, Family £30.70
Booking recommended – See website here for more details
Compton Verney
Storytime with Mother Christmas -Sun 1 & 8 Dec, 11.30am – 12.15pm & 2.30pm – 3.15pm
Meet Santa and his Reindeer -Sun 1 & 8 Dec, 1pm – 3pm
Father Christmas and his reindeer will be taking time out of his busy schedule to enjoy a couple of days at Compton Verney. Come and say hello!
COST:
Drayton Manor’s Magical Christmas
Our Mum Rebecca Says: “We went to Thomas land last year and my then nearly two year old loved it. He was more interested in the rides and the trains than Santa but still a lovely Christmassy experience which I would really recommend although maybe not for parents with young babies as it is nearly all outside and pretty cold in December!”
Meet Father Christmas, experience shows & selected rides plus fireworks display. Availability is already running low. So book soon.
COST:
Costs below include Park & Father Christmas
Adults from £21
Children from £23
Visit Drayton Manor’s Website here for more information.
Winter Wonderland at The Snow Dome
“We went to Winter Wonderland with the children last year, they don’t get to ‘meet’ Father Christmas but he’s in the show and it’s a brilliant day out, especially if you’re looking for something different this year”
It’s also worth noting that this is one of the only places that HAVEN’T raised their prices for the last two years! Well done Snow Dome, Nikki
Santa’s Winter Wonderland lasts approximately 90 minutes. This includes 30 minutes playing in the real snow, 20 minutes watching Santa in the brand new stage show and 30 minutes in Santa’s animal village.
COST:
£13.95 per person on saver days
£19.95 per person on standard days such as the weekends
Children under 2 years go FREE
Available on all sessions, when accompanied by a paying adult.
Click Here to visit The Snow Dome website and to book
Hatton Adventure World
Our Mum Sonia Says: “We go to Hatton every year too. Children visit Santa and receive a golden key which unlocks the toy shop and you can choose your own gift. They have reindeers too which my daughter loved! xx”
Enchanted Christmas Kingdom
Every weekend from 30th November – 24th December 2019
Visit Father Christmas in his Grotto and receive a magic key to unlock his workshop where children can chose from a huge variety of toys.
COST:
Prices start at £17.95 per child non-members and from £8.95 per child for members. Adult members are free. Prices rise throughout December.
Under 1’s accompanying a paying child are free, providing they are observers only and do not receive a gift.
For more information please see Hatton’s Website here
West Midlands Safari Park – Santa Safari
A festive day out combining 4 mile safari & visit to Santa. Tickets already very limited (19.9.19)
Santa’s Grotto is a wonderfully decorated log cabin with its own Christmas tree, festive fireplace and of course a seat just for you next to Santa himself! You can tell him what’s on the top of your Christmas wish list and a helpful Elf will take a picture of you together! After meeting Santa, you will make your way to the Elves’ Workshop where children can pick their own present. With a wide selection of gifts to choose from, the children will be spoiled for choice!
COST:
Adults (16+yrs) – £25.00
Children (3-15yrs) – 20.00
Under 3’s – £9.00
Plus, entrance includes a Free Return Ticket.(valid until February 2019)
Visit West Midlands Safari Park Website for more details here
Charlecote Park
Breakfast with Father Christmas – Sold Out
See everything else happening at Charlcote here
Santa Sleepovers at Alton Towers
Our Mummy Natalie Says: “Highly recommend the Santa Sleep Over at Alton Towers, totally magical Christmas Experience. We stayed in the Explorer Hotel which was nice and quiet as it was away from the hustle and bustle of the restaurants and water park. They put loads of treats in the room for my son and we wrote a letter to Santa on the day we arrived and the following morning Santa replied and put his letter under the door, my sons face was a picture. The actual Santa visit was fab, very realistic and good presents. Also the food was fantastic, was very surprised.”
With an amazing combination of selected rides and attractions in the Theme Park, including CBeebies Land, Christmas activities to keep all the family entertained, and a full schedule of festive entertainment, a Santa’s Sleepover is the perfect way to treat the family to a special getaway at the most magical time of year!
COST:
Weekday only availability, weekends sold out.
Prices from £360 per room based on a family of four
Click here to see more information on the Alton Towers Website as prices vary dependent on dates.
Twin Lakes Winter Wonderland
November 23rd – December 23rd
See Santa in his magical Grotto and experience rides (please note in winter some outdoor rides may close in cold weather or rain). All children’s grotto tickets receive a special token from Santa which can be taken to the gift shop to choose their own gift. We take a very special photograph of you and your family when you meet Santa, which is then available to purchase when you leave the Grotto. All Santa tickets must be pre-booked.
Breakfast with Santa On selected dates only we have Breakfast with Santa where you will join join Santa, Mrs Claus and their Elves for a breakfast feast at Twinlakes Winter Wonderland to add that extra special magic to your child’s Christmas
Christmas Eve is a very special day at Twinlakes as we help celebrate the joy of Christmas. Everyone’s super excited for the big day including Santa, Mrs Claus, the elves and the Twinlakes festive team. Christmas Eve is a pre-book only day. We wave Santa on his way with a elf sized firework display at 4pm.
COST:
Adults £16.20
Children from £10.80 + £9 to see Santa
See More information on Twin Lakes Website here
Kenilworth Fire Station, Sunday 15th December 3 – 6pm
Father Christmas at The Playbox Theatre Warwick, Saturday 21st December 2019
FATHER CHRISTMAS is coming to Playbox Theatre on SATURDAY 21ST DECEMBER between 12-2pm. Everyone is welcome to visit our beautiful grotto at The Dream Factory in Warwick – there is no cost and no need to book in advance.
Visit the Playbox Website here
Click below for our festive events guide including Pantomimes, Light Switch On’s & days out too….
