If you’re wondering where the best Santa’s grottos are in the North West, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our round up of the best places offering families Father Christmas magic and the chance to meet the big man himself! Get booking quickly though, because places are going fast!
4. Christmas at Otterspool Adventure
Celebrate Christmas and enjoy watching their little faces light up with joy as they get the chance to see Santa at Otterspool Promenade – one of Liverpool’s most iconic landmarks. Purchase a Christmas experience ticket for up to three hours of activities and rides, plus unlimited access to an ice rink and festive attractions.
Kids will get the chance to see Santa in person and receive a special gift from him, and they can also visit his elves’ toyshop and make a bear. There’s also a festive show, and the opportunity to see Mrs Claus, who is busy decorating delicious gingerbread.
Pricing:
Tickets for under 1’s are £15.60 regardless of date or time/session. Over 1’s and adult tickets range between £30 and £52 per ticket, depending on the date and time chosen.
Dates:
Weekends from 23rd November – 21st December, plus 24rd and 24th December.
Location:
37 Otterspool Dr, Liverpool, L17 5AL
3. BeWILDerwood Presents Christmas
Get ready for a wild adventure and the chance to see Santa at BeWILDerwood this December. Plenty of fun festive activities are in store for the whole family, including a pantomime, Santa Claus himself, a twinkly light trail that leads into the woods, Christmas crackers and pudding, silly snowmen and even a reindeer with rabbit ears! Bundle up and enjoy some Christmas cheer in the great outdoors.
Pricing:
Tickets have to be booked online and are £17.50 per person, or £14.85 for BeWILDerwood Membership Holders. Children under 92cm go free. Tickets are limited and allocated on a first-come first-served basis, so book now to guarantee your half-hour slot! Events last 90 minutes, and arrival time slots are each half-hour from 4pm-6.30pm.
Dates:
Selected dates from 30th November – 23rd December
Location:
Malpas, Bickley Moss, Cheshire, Whitchurch, SY13 4JF
2. Lanterns at Chester Zoo
Enjoy a Christmas grotto with a Scandinavian twist this year at Chester Zoo. You’ll enter a multi-coloured fairy-land with a glowing castle and a large white snowy bear. Admire dragonflies and giant lotus flowers as you tour the beautiful Japanese-inspired garden, and then get up close to life-size orangutan puppets, in an amazing UV Bornean jungle.
A giant snow leopard guards a snowy mountain, which is where Father Christmas lives with his reindeer. The whole family can also tuck into delicious festive treats at the Christmas market, like Yorkshire pudding wraps, bratwurst, pizza and burgers with a Yuletide twist!
Pricing:
Tickets for children start from £12. Adults tickets start from £18. You can book tickets here now.
Dates:
15th November – 1st January
Location:
Moston Rd, Upton, Chester, CH2 1EU
1. Meet Santa at Knowsley Safari
Let the excitement build this December as you take the kids on a safari and Santa’s grotto experience – all at the same time! This event at Knowsley Safari Park is sure to put smiles on little faces. Enjoy a warming and indulgent cup of hot cocoa made by Santa’s elves as you make your way through the twinkling lights that adorn the woodland trees.
At the end of the path lies Santa’s grotto. Kids can have some time of their own speaking to Santa, and you can take photos of them together yourself, or purchase a professional souvenir photo of the special moment. Plus, with this Santa’s grotto, you can book a day or night-time experience, depending on your preferences. You can also combine your Santa experience with an ‘enchanted’ ticket to see the safari light trail, or a safari ticket to see the animals.
Pricing:
Daytime visits to Santa can be added to your daytime Safari visit for £20 per child. To book, check out the Knowsley Safari Park admissions pages.
Dates:
Every weekend in December, plus the 23rd and 24th
Location:
Knowsley Safari Park, Prescot, L34 4AN
Check out our list of the best Santa’s grotto experiences in the UK for more options.
