Best places to see Santa in Bristol this Christmas
Ho Ho Holy moly, it’s that time of year again! Time to knock up some Christmas lists and get them off to the North Pole, or tell a Bristol Father Christmas face-to-face. So where is the best place to meet Santa in Bristol? Well there are a few places in the city, and even more very nearby – including Santa helicopter grottos, cave-dwelling Father Christmases, sailing Santas and Santa trains! To make your job slightly easier, here’s a round-up of places you can find the best Santa grotto in Bristol this Christmas.
Where to find Santa’s grotto Bristol Christmas 2024
Sail with Santa, Bristol Ferry Boats
Search for Father Christmas with the Ferry Elves on their cosy festively-decorated boat (7-8, 14-15, 21-23 December 2024). Once found, Bristol Ferry Boats’ charming Father Christmas will entertain, dole out individual gifts for the kiddywinks – with mince pies and sherry for the adults – while you cruise around the harbour. Pickup location is The Cascade Steps – arrive a little early. Book to visit Santa Bristol Ferry Boats 2024 here.
Christmas at Wapping Wharf
Wapping Wharf will be throwing their Christmas EXTRAVAGANZA on 28 November 2024, complete with Father Christmas, music, festive food, drinks and late night shopping from our retailers. Pop down from 5.30pm.
Father Christmas experience 2024, Ashton Court Mansion
2024 dates: 28 November-1 December, 4-8, 11-15, 16-22, 23 December
A fun, 20-minute interactive experience which starts in the Great Hall. Visitors will meet Father Christmas in his grotto, enjoy festive activities and receive a gift in the Victorian manor house. Click here to check availability for Santa grotto Bristol Ashton Court.
Santa’s grotto at The Wave Bristol
Inland surfing lake, The Wave will be having a visit from the big man himself. Book your visit – £7 per child, including a gift and a photograph. Click here to check dates and book a visit to see Santa at The Wave
Pictures with Santa, Abbots Leigh
If you’re after some REALLY GOOD photos with Santa, this is where you’ll want to go to see Father Christmas near Bristol. This special themed 15-minute meet-and-greet storytelling experience for the whole family includes a free gift for each child and a professional photograph of meeting Father Christmas.
Photographs will be ready a week later and can be purchased from a secure online gallery where you can order prints, gifts and download the digital files. Book your Father Christmas Bristol photo shoot here.
Santa’s grotto Cribbs Causeway 2024
Join Santa and his festive forest elves in his grotto every day in December for festive fun and elvish entertainment! See Santa at The Mall Cribbs Causeway. Don’t miss Stick Man’s Magical Trail.
John Lewis Santa Grotto – visit Santa Cribbs Causeway 2024
Work your way through the interactive grotto with the help of Santa’s mischievous little helpers. Complete your mission and you’ll meet Santa, have your photo taken and receive a very special gift. Open from mid-November to 24 December. Book John Lewis Father Christmas Cribbs Causeway here
Story time with Santa, Lyde Green Community Centre
2024 dates: 23 November, 3-3.45pm or 4-4.45pm
Join Father Christmas in Bristol for a delightful festive story filled with seasonal magic and engaging characters. Children will receive a small gift from Santa himself. Dressing up is encouraged! More info and booking for Lyde Green Santa experience Bristol.
Almondsbury Christmas Grotto, Park Garden Centre, Bristol BS32 4BP
Almondsbury Christmas Grotto (Nov 30–Dec 24 every weekend in December and 23 & 24 December 2024) offers a festive experience for families, featuring a visit to Santa’s workshop, a “naughty or nice” scanner, fun with lively elves, and a special moment with Santa. The Grotto also offers dedicated sessions for children with sensory needs.
Breakfast with Santa Bristol
Santa’s brunch at Clifton Observatory
2024 dates: 8, 15, 21, 23 December, 9am, 11.30am, 2pm
Join Santa and his elves for brunch at Clifton Observatory on select December dates. Enjoy a festive spread with bacon, eggs, fruit, waffles, and pancakes. Drinks include hot chocolates, teas, coffee, and mimosas (for the grownups!) Each child receives a gift. Tickets are available to purchase here. £22 for adults, £18 for kids, and £5 for under 3s.
Breakfast with Santa Harvester, Bristol
Head over to the Bristol Harvester breakfast with Santa (every Saturday and Sunday from 7-24 December), where your little elves will receive a delicious breakfast, Fruit Shoot, chocolate treat, colouring-in activities and a Santa goody bag. They’ll get to share their present list with the Father Christmas too. Pre-booking is essential. Book Harvester Santa breakfast here
Breakfast with Santa at The Granary
Join Santa and his elves at The Granary for a festive breakfast filled with Christmas treats, entertainment, and picture-perfect moments on 9.30-11.30am, 8 December 2024. Each child will receive a special gift from Santa, and tickets are £24.95 per person (£19.95 for under 12s). The event is perfect for families with children aged 2–10 years. Be sure to state allergies and provide your child’s details when booking for a personalised gift.
The Ashton Breakfast With Santa
2024 dates – 7, 14 & 21 Dec, 9-11am
Breakfast with Santa at The Ashton Country Pub. For £14.95 per child, little ones can enjoy a delicious breakfast, a soft drink, an activity pack with a book, and a special visit with Santa. Grown-ups can indulge in a memorable breakfast, with festive options on the menu. Info and booking for breakfast at The Ashton with Father Christmas Bristol.
Best places to see Santa near Bristol
Santa train at Avon Valley Railway
The Avon Valley Father Christmas will be swapping his sleigh for a vintage steam-hauled train to meet visitors in their own compartments this Christmas (selected dates 23 November-24 December). Tell him what’s on your special list as you choo-choo through gorgeous countryside, he might even have an early gift! You’ll also be able to get your photo taken with him on return to Bitton. Don’t forget to keep your peepers peeled for festive Christmas donkeys on the lawn! Book your Santa Steam Specials here
Breakfast with Santa, Avon Valley Railway
Join Avon Valley Railway’s ‘Breakfast with Santa‘ for a festive morning aboard a heritage train (selected dates 23 November-24 December). Enjoy a cooked breakfast, visit Santa in his grotto, and receive a special gift. Ideal for families, this magical event runs on select dates in December, offering a charming holiday experience.
Meeting Santa at Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park
Have your Christmas wishes at the ready and join Avon Valley for a theatrical family Santa show packed with festive cheer, song and dance (selected dates 30 November, 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 December 2024) before having your photo taken with Santa in his wooden cabin and picking a gift from his toy room.
Alongside this, there are other seasonal activities like gingerbread decorating with Mrs. Claus, a Grinch show, a magical forest walk, and plenty of festive food and photo opportunities.
The Post Room will be open for you to send a letter (or use the Avon Valley SMS – Santa Messaging Service) to send any last minute requests to Santa. Click here to check availability for meeting Santa at Avon Valley
Cadbury Garden Centre Santa Grotto
Santa’s coming to Cadbury Garden Centre, The Elves are eagerly awaiting your arrival and busy making a gift for you to collect on the way out. Meet Santa in his grotto, go for Christmas afternoon tea or try the breakfast with Santa experience! Book tickets to the Santa experience here
Breakfast with Father Christmas, Dobbies Thornbury
This festive event includes breakfast for the whole family followed by games and a visit from Santa, with a gift for every child. Book Dobbies Santa Grotto
Santa will also be bringing the festive joy to all, right to the heart of Dobbies Thornbury! Your experience will include time with Santa Claus where children are encouraged to share their excitement, wishes and stories before receiving a gift. From 28 Nov – 24 Dec 2024 | £8.99 per child
Farrington’s Miracle on Main Street
*Postponed*
Weston Pier Santa Grotto 2024, Weston-super-Mare
Meet the jolly man himself (selected days from 23 November-24 December), a quarter of a mile out to sea and receive a special Christmas gift. New for 2024, step inside the Enchanted Elevator for a trip to meet Santa.
For a Santa visit with a different festive flavour for your little mischief maker, head over on the weekend of 17-18 December when Mr Grinch is doing a takeover! This green grump will be posing as the magical man himself in an attempt to steal your Christmas spirit. Book Weston Pier Santa here.
Father Christmas Weston-super-Mare Helicopter Museum
Come and see elves in his special Helicopter Grotto and sit in his famous sleigh 8 December 2024!
There will also be a Winter Wonderland display, Winter Weather Flight Simulator, open cockpit, charity stalls, a seasonal fayre and free entry for all children. Click here to find out more information about seeing Father Christmas here
Christmas Wonderland, Little Town Adventures
This year, Little Town will be transformed into a Christmas Wonderland, featuring a beautifully decorated festive town and an enchanting grotto. Visitors can expect:
- A Personalised Letter from Santa: The magic starts before your visit with a custom letter from the North Pole.
- An immersive storytime adventure with Santa and his elves, filled with snow, songs and dancing.
- Magical Christmas town with fun festive role-play, games, and surprises.
- A visit to Santa’s magical grotto and a special gift to treasure.
- Snowy Finale
Ocean Adventurers Christmas Grotto, Cheddar
Selected dates throughout December 2024 at 9.15am, 11.45am and 2.15pm.
Enjoy a magical 2.5 hour experience hosted by one of Santa’s elves. Create your own reindeer food, decorate gingerbread snacks and make a Christmas decoration to take home.
Santa Claus will give each child a personalised meet and greet (thanks to a special form), there’ll be snow ball fights with the elves, a special Christmas Lapland Post-Office Pop up, plus a human-size elf on the shelf. Kids will also be able to have a go on the soft play when not visiting the grotto. Book here to see Santa this year
Space Adventurers, Taunton
Sister soft play Space Adventurers will also be hosting a similar Magical Mystical Christmas experience in Taunton. For both venues, S.E.N.D. tickets are available with reduced capacity, no music and lowered lighting.
Book Santa at Space Adventurers
Supper with Santa at Puxton Park 2024
2024 dates: 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 22-23 December 2024, 6-8pm
Enjoy a magical feast and dance the night away at a disco with Santa with a gift for all children, plus access to the soft play barn. £20 per child (includes buffet, ice-cream, soft-play, disco, and a present from Santa). £15 per adult (includes buffet). Book tickets.
Magical Christmas Experience, Puxton Park
The Magical Christmas Experience at Puxton Park offers festive activities on select dates (30 Nov, 1 Dec, 7 & 8 Dec, 14 & 15 Dec, and 21-24 Dec), including a Santa visit with a gift, a walk through the Snowy Christmas Tree Village with a Wish Granting Tree, and crafts with Mrs. Claus.
Families can decorate gingerbread and make festive baubles in the Elves’ Workshop. Tickets are £10 (plus entry for non-members), and pre-booking is required. Arrive early to enjoy all activities, which begin at 10 a.m. Book tickets now.
Perrygrove Twilight Trains, Forest of Dean
Hop aboard the Christmas Story Train at Perrygrove Railway (8-23 December), a new 2024 event featuring an enchanting twilight journey. Passengers can hear a narrated Christmas story, meet Father Christmas, and quaff hot chocolate, explore the twilight village and receive a Christmas decoration from Santa.
Down the Chimney Shows, Perrygrove Railway
Enjoy a festive steam train ride at Perrygrove (14-24 Dec), followed by a stop at the carriage shed theatre, where Mrs. Claus will be serving warm cinnamon apple juice and inviting guests to help bring Father Christmas down the chimney. The 25-minute show includes stories, laughs, a gift for children, and a drink, with the entire experience lasting about two hours. Book Perrygrove Christmas shows here.
Clearwell Caves Father Christmas, Forest of Dean
Enter an underground world where caverns are filled with twinkling lights and Santa is waiting to greet you (*selected dates 30 November-31 December)! Meet Father Christmas, then follow the magical tale of Bernard, a young boy who finds a baby polar bear floating on an iceberg and decides to take it home…as you walk through the caverns. Children 2-12 years old receive a gift from Father Christmas.
Halfway through, you’ll find Christmas stalls and an underground café with delicious cakes and warming winter drinks! Book Clearwell Caves Christmas tickets
Longleat Father Christmas
All aboard the Santa Train for the North Pole! Journey past Longleat’s stunning Half Mile Lake before disembarking at an enchanting snow-covered winter wonderland where you’ll find Father Christmas waiting for you in his grotto! Grown-ups can enjoy a delicious hot chocolate and festive mince pie while children will receive a special Christmas gift. Book Longleat Santa Train
Read more about Longleat Festival of Light
Father Christmas at Wookey Hole Winter Wonderland
Wookey Hole decorate their famous caves with thousands of fairy lights for their festive season, turning it into a magical twinkling grotto (with a few Santas and reindeer thrown in for good measure).
Guided tours take you through the spectacular caverns and then you’re free to explore above ground, where you’ll find a giant gorilla, fairy garden, animatronic dinosaurs, festive 4D cinema, circus shows, soft play, Victorian-style arcade and as part of the Christmas festivities, a chance to meet Santa and his elves (*selected dates from 23 November-24 December). Book to see Santa at Wookey Hole Winter Wonderland
Cattle Country Christmas Event
2024 dates: 7,8, 14, 15, 19-21 December
Before Father Christmas sets off on his magical voyage, he’s parking his sleigh at Cattle Country. Meet Santa in his North Pole Grotto, make your own magical reindeer food, write your Christmas List, decorate gingerbread, have your face painted, listen to Christmas Storytime and enjoy a full day of family fun including new indoor play barn, The Cowshed! Click here to check ticket availability
Fairfield Animal Centre
Dates: 7, 8, 14, 15, 18, 20-23 December 2024
Father Christmas will be visiting Fairfield Animal Centre on selected days throughout December. Tickets are £6 and include Santa meet-and-greet, present, free day entry to the animal park. More info and booking
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