Child meeting Santa at the Epsom Clock Tower
Searching for Santa? We bring you a selection of the best local Christmas Grottos
Camberley Mall
Christmas shopping whilst dragging grumbling children behind is hardly going to put you in the festive spirit. Luckily, The Mall Camberley has a wonderful Christmas Grotto to give your little ones magical memories – and give your shopping schedule a little breathing room as you take a break from your kiddies.
Dec 10-24, visit and gift £4, open 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday, 11am-4pm Sunday
Chessington Winter’s Tail
New for 2014, the one and only Gruffalo joins the Chessington cast for a festive family show, followed by a themed quiz trail around the Zoo. With reindeer, a giant Christmas tree and of course, Santa’s Grotto, you and the kids can really get into the Chritsmas spirit.
Dec 6-8, 13-15, 18-24 and 26-4 Jan 2015, standard entry + £5, pre-booking online advisable
Ham House and Garden
Follow a magical trail through Ham House’s 17th century gardens to find Santa’s Grotto and receive a gift.
Dec 6-7, 13-14, and 20-23, £3.50, no need to book. 10am-3pm
nationaltrust.org.uk/ham-house
Birdworld, Farnham
See lots of real animals (including reindeer!) and of course, Santa himself, who will be giving out presents from his Grotto in Birdworld.
Nov 29-30, Dec 6-7, 13-14 and 19-24, pricing varies depending on choice of pass, must be pre-booked
Painshill Park
For a truly breathtaking visit to Father Christmas, head to the newly restored crystal Grotto at Painshill. You will take a seasonal walk through the 18th century gardens to Grotto Island, where hundreds of thousands of crystals have been used to create the folly.
Children will receive an activity pack in the Christmas Wishing Tent before meeting Father Christmas in the Grotto to make their special wish and receive their gift.
Dec 6-24, child tickets £9, adult tickets £7.70, must be pre-booked
Christmas at Kew Gardens
New for 2014, this glittering night-time trail includes a garden of fire, Tunnel of Lights, sparkling giant snowflakes and a memorable visit to Santa’s Snowflake Grotto.
Nov 26-30, Dec 3-7, 10-14, and 17-23, (Grotto closed on Dec 4, 13 & 20) 5pm-10pm, Grotto open 5pm-9pm
Squires Garden Centres
Santa’s Magical Grotto at Badshot Lea, Milford and Shepperton centres includes an interactive magic show, grotto and gift.
Hosted by Santa’s Nephew – Santoe, the magic show is much more than a grotto experience, bringing to life the wonder of Christmas through magical tricks to get all the family into the festive spirit. The experience also includes a visit to Santa’s Candy Cane grotto where children will meet Santa and receive a free gift from him too.
Nov 22-Dec 24, £7 per child, £3 per adult, (£8 Child 13 -24 Dec £3 Adult)
There are also FREE grottos at all other Squire’s Garden Centres (except Washington, Chertsey, Badshot Lea, Milford, Shepperton). Santa will be in his grotto between 10.30am-4pm on Saturdays and 10.30am-3.30pm. Children may visit the grotto completely free of charge and will receive a free present, with all grotto donations going to each garden centre’s chosen charity.
Chessington Garden Centre
Chessington Garden Centre’s Christmas Grotto has a literary theme this year; little one’s will meet characters from Narnia, The Wind in the Willows and Alice and Wonderland before finding Santa himself to receive their gift in his magical ice palace.
Nov 24-30, Dec 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, and 22-23, child tickets £11, adult tickets £3.50, advanced booking highly advisable
Bocketts Farm, Leatherhead
Hop onboard the Santa Express to meet Santa in his magical hay barn workshop and receive a gift.
Nov 27-30, Dec 1-23, standard entry + £6.95, non-farm visitors £10.95 (accompanied by a maximum of 2 adults free of charge), times vary