25 Unmissable Places To Take Toddlers To See Santa

The best places to take a toddler to see Santa

Christmas is coming – and, the excitement levels in most households are rising! If this is the first year that your toddler knows properly about Christmas, you will probably want to take them to see Santa – but with so many places offering Santa visits, it can be hard to find the right place to go. These are some ideas about the best places to take a toddler to see Santa. Let me know if you have any more recommendations to add!

Places For Toddlers To Meet Santa

#1. Christmasland and Kingdom of The Elves At Bluestone In Wales

places to take toddlers to see santa 2019
Bluestone is a 5* holiday park in Pembrokeshire, south west Wales set in a forest with luxurious lodges, a spa and an indoor swimming pool.

Don’t miss the special Christmas themed toddler breaks to Kingdom Of The Elves and Christmasland Visit between Jan and March 2020 and experience the magical, interactive Winter Lights in the Village and on the Nature Trail! Enjoy a holly, jolly holiday as Bluestone transforms into a winter wonderland and with seasons greetings for all and much merry-making. Meet Santa in his workshop, help Mrs Claus with the baking or get busy with Christmas crafts – it’s the ideal place to get into the Christmas spirit!

places to take toddlers to see santa 2019

Families also get complimentary entry to the Blue Lagoon Waterpark, the indoor Adventure Centre and the circus themed soft play. There is also evening entertainment as part of the dinnertime shows.

Learn More- Christmas Breaks At Bluestone

#2. Thomas Land (Drayton Manor) – Tamworth

Thomas Land at Christmas
Thomas Fans will love this Christmas experience at Drayton Manor. There are live shows, carols, presents, light shows, festive food, Father Christmas and a firework display every day. Enjoy over 25 Thomas & Friends themed rides & attractions; including the festive film in the 4D Cinema – Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas. There is also snow fall in Thomas Land every day!

Where To Stay – The Belfry hotel is in a great location for visiting Thomas Land. There are large family rooms with baby equipment like changing mats, nappy bins, baby baths and bottle warmers available to borrow. Babies and toddlers will love the indoor swimming pool, interactive woodland walk where they can see the bug hotel and go den building and wildlife spotting. There is a Spa for parents and an ofsted registered Creche.

#3. Sundown Adventureland – Retford, Nottinghamshire

places to take toddlers to see santa 2019
Sundown Adventureland is a theme park for under 10s in Nottinghamshire. Their popular Christmas Spectacular gives you entry into the whole park, and as the sun goes down the pretty little market square comes alive with hundreds of twinkling lights and decorations. You can even get in a spot of Christmas shopping as the shops are full of plenty of goodies, including stocking fillers, small toys and Christmas decorations. Entry to the Christmas Spectacular includes a pre booked Santa visit on the magical Night Before Christmas ride.

Where To Stay Tattershall Lakes is a holiday park in Lincolnshire (an hour away from Sundown Adventureland) with amazing facilities for babies and toddlers. There is a small lakeside beach, aeroplane themed playground and load of amazing activities for babies and toddlers such as Pirate Play, Superhero Academy, pottery painting and nature rangers.

#4. Gulliver’s – Warrington / Milton Keynes

places to take babies and toddlers to see santa

The midweek Santa packages at Gulliver’s in Warrington and Milton Keynes are designed specifically for toddlers. They include 1 hour of rides, Christmas shows, a visit to the Winter Wonderland and Santa’s Grotto. There are 3 types of tickets available so you can decide which attractions and features you want to do.

Where To Stay Near Gulliver’s Milton Keynes – The Adventurers Village is a great place to stay with babies and toddlers near Gullivers. Choose to stay in a dino themed room and enjoy the playground, family friendly dining and entertainment – plus Gullivers is right on your doorstep.

#5. The Winter Festival At The Eden Project – Cornwall

Winter Festival at Eden Project
Every year Father Christmas and his elves set up camp at the world famous Eden Project in Cornwall. Toddlers will love going ‘behind the scenes’ and seeing the elves’ bunkbeds, the pigeonholes full of children’s letters and all the stockings laid out for the big day. Santa himself lives inside a cozy tent where toddlers can settle down for a story beside an open fire before meeting him.

Ice Skating is also available with special parent and toddler ice play sessions for kids aged 18 months to 5 years.

Where To Stay – The fantastically toddler friendly Fowey Hall Hotel is just 15 minutes from the Eden Project and is baby, toddler and parent heaven! There are family friendly rooms, an indoor swimming pool, outdoor playground, family friendly dining – and the beach is nearby!

#6. Winter Wonderland At Hyde Park, London

Winter Wonderland Hyde Park
For six weeks, Hyde Park in London transforms itself into a magical wonderland buzzing with Christmas festivities. There is so much to do at the Winter Wonderland, but toddler highlights include seeing Cinderella On Ice, Zippo’s Christmas Circus (takes place in daytime), and the Sooty Show! There are also fairground rides, Santa Land and Christmas markets.

Where To Stay – Park Plaza have a number of hotels in central London, which offer a special Family Getaway package. This includes extras such as free breakfast, lunch and dinner for children under 12, goodie bags on arrival, free in room movies and free WIFI for the whole family.

#7. Peppa Pig World – Paulton’s Park, The New Forest, Hampshire

Places for toddlers to see Santa
Christmas is a special time of the year at Paultons. You can meet Santa, experience Peppa Pig World and enjoy selected rides and attractions, including Lost Kingdom and Critter Creek. Join Rudolph on his journey to find Santa, and see his animal friends before meeting Santa in his magical Grotto!

Where To Stay – Surrounded by the New Forest, ponies and woodland walks, Sandy Balls Holiday Park has loads of things for toddlers including an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, cycling, alpaca walks, bush craft school, an adventure playground and a soft play. There is also an onsite restaurant, shop and evening entertainment.

#8. Santa Sail Poole & York

Santa Sail Poole
Santa has swapped his sleigh for a boat so you can take your toddler to cruise with Santa Claus. Departing from Poole Quay and York, the cruises take approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Adults can enjoy a glass of mulled wine and mince pie whilst Christmas carols play in the background, and toddlers enjoy a 30 minute magic show and balloon modelling. Santa will walk around the boat meeting all the children, and giving out presents! York has a fantastic Christmas market as well, so it is a great opportunity to combine a visit.

Where To Stay – The Novotel York Centre has family rooms, indoor and outdoor play areas and a swimming pool. It is also close to the city centre and the river if you want pop down and feed the ducks.

#9. Willows Activity Farm Santa Spectacular – St Albans, Hertfordshire

Santa Spectacular at Willow Adventure Farm - place to take a toddler to see Father Christmas

The Santa Spectacular at Willow’s Activity Farm is a great place to take a toddler to see Santa. The fun starts as soon as you arrive. Receive the key to Santa’s Toy Shop and Grotto and see scenes inspired by fairy tales and Christmas characters. Toddlers get to meet Santa where he hands each child a golden key to his Toy Shop where they can choose ANY gift from the hundreds stacked from floor to ceiling.

There is also a Nativity Story with animals, festive shows, Festive Wood Ride, Reindeer Hunt and festive funfair.

#10. Lapland to see the ‘Real Santa!’

Santas Lapland - the best place to take a toddler to see Santa
Fancy taking your toddler to see the ‘real’ Santa in the North Pole? TUI offer 1, 2 and 3 night breaks to Lapland to meet Santa! Fly up to the Arctic Circle, go on a sleigh ride to find Santa, visit the Reindeer Centre, and go on a husky sled ride – you will make so many magical memories on these trips!

Learn More – Lapland Holidays

#11. Tamworth SnowDome

Tamworth Snowdome
Santa will be returning to the Snow Dome this Christmas with his magical Winter Wonderland in the snow! As well as his reindeer he’ll be bringing all of his friends for some serious festive fun the weather cannot spoil. With all the real snow, real animals and all new Winter Wonderland show, it’s the ultimate Christmas adventure. Includes Christmas Snow Trail, Santa Show and meeting Santa’s Real Reindeer.

#12. Waterfront Wonderland Swansea

Swansea Waterfront Wonderland
Museum Park (in the grounds of the National Waterfront Museum) will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland this Christmas. Families can enjoy ice skating on the Admiral ice rink and children’s rink and go on the funfair rides. Santa will be there too in a wooden chalet, where he and his elves will greet the children before giving them a present.

Learn More –Winter Wonderland at Swansea

#13. Santa’s Woodland Experience Scotland – Near Glasgow, Scotland

Santa’s Woodland Experience Scotland
Toddlers will love this Santa experience, as they get to set off through the woodland in search of Santa’s woodland home on a tractor! When they arrive at Santa’s cabin, they will meet Santa himself and tell him what presents they want him to bring. Then it’s back to the shed (on the tractor!), for festival nibbles.

#14. Piglets Adventure Farm – York

Piglets Adventure Park York

One of the best places for toddlers to see Santa in Yorkshire! Check in at Elf Airlines and look out for your name on the live departures board. Write your letter to Santa and then jump on Santa’s sleigh where you be whisked to the Woodland village to meet Mrs Claus and Santa. After meeting Santa, children will be given a key which will unlock the Toy Shop where children can choose a present. Then it’s time for mince pies, whilst seeing the animals at the nativity scene.

#15. Kielder Winter Wonderland – Northumberland

Kielder Winter Wonderland
Follow the Winter Wonderland Star which will lead you to the magical enchanted forest where you will find Father Christmas, Mrs Christmas and their friends. You can also join the Elves in their workshop and make a wooden keepsake to take home, help Mrs Christmas get her jobs done and watch a magical Christmas theatre show. Additional activities such as snow tubing, and skating are available as well as feeding Santa’s reindeers.

#16. Llangollen Railway – Wales

Llangollen Railway at Christmas
Santa makes a special visit each Christmas to the Llangollen Railway. A decorated steam train will transport you in style from Llangollen Station to Carrog (renamed Lapland for Santa’s visit). Santa will give each child a special gift on the journey & the adults on-board receive a Mince Pie & a tipple from Santa’s Little Helpers.

#17. The Lanterns At Chester Zoo

The Lanterns at Chester Zoo
It’s worth noting that Santa isn’t actually at Chester Zoo this Christmas (apparently he is too busy!), but toddlers will still love seeing Chester Zoo being transformed into an enchanting world of illuminations, theatre and magic at The Lantern Festival. Come at twilight and walk along the lantern route and see the sacks of lantern toys and presents before posting your letter to Father Christmas.

#18. North York Moors Railway – Pickering, Yorkshire

Another one for train lovers! Join Santa and his special helpers on a magical adventure aboard the Santa Express, which will take you on a festive journey you won’t forget.

Departing from Pickering Station, the Santa Special brings Christmas to life and gives children the chance to meet the legendary man himself in his grotto on board the train. They will be able to tell him what they would like to open on Christmas morning – providing they’ve managed to keep themselves off the naughty list this year!

#19. Meet Father Christmas At Hamleys – London, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Lakeside

Santa's Grotto at Hamleys

Join Father Christmas and his loveable elves at The Finest Toy Shop in the World for fun, magic and theatre. Toddlers will hear magical stories of Christmas, write their own Christmas wish list and meet Father Christmas himself, all surrounded by the finest toys in the world.

#20. National Coal Mining Museum – Wakefield, Yorkshire

National Coal Mining Museum - great place to take a toddler at Christmas
A mine may seem like a strange place to take a toddler to see Santa, but the National Coal Mining Museum has created a great underground grotto 140m underground. Take a lift underground and walk along the decorated tunnels before entering Santa’s underground grotto. An unforgettable experience!

#21. Chill Factore – Manchester

Chill Factore at Christmas

Visit Santa in his Grotto at the Chill Factore, followed by 30 minutes play in Mini Moose Land (max age of 4 years). The dedicated Mini Moose Land snow playground is the perfect place for toddlers to experience real snow fun and explore all year round. Toddlers will love sledging, the snow cottage, getting lost in the ice maze and even a bit of skiing using Tiddly skis!

#22. Santa’s Magical Journey – Thurlsford, Norfolk

Santa’s Magical Journey Thurlsford

Go on a magical journey past penguins, polar bears and busy elves hard at work in the toy factory on your way to meet Santa. On the way you will meet lots of fantasy characters, including the snowman family, as you make your way through the magical forest to reach Santa’s House where you meet the man himself.

#23. Mead Open Farm – Bedfordshire

Mead Open Farm - place to take a toddler to meet Father Christmas

Make magical memories this Christmas in the enchanting Christmas Kingdom, which is all under cover and heated! Using your Magical Boarding Pass, you will watch the enchanting festive 3D film, walk through the Elves Christmas Village, meet real reindeer and make reindeer food to take home. Plus, you will attend Elf Academy and learn how to be a Christmas Elf, before finally meeting Santa in his grotto!

 

Comments

  • Lisa Merry

    You haven’t got lapland uk on there and that’s the best by far.

    19th December 2019

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