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Where to Find Father Christmas Around Stortford! 

I've teamed up with This is BS (check out their insta @thisisbs.cm23!) to bring you the ultimate round-up of where to find Father Christmas this year from cosy grottos and brunches to woodland trains and festive farms.  All within easy reach of Bishop’s Stortford.

🌲In Town

South Mill Arts - Crafts, cookies, hot chocolate and story time with Santa
📅 6th - 24th Dec | Various Times 
💷 £17
Santa is back again at South Mill Arts for some festive fun!
🔗https://southmillarts.co.uk/shows/santas-grotto-2025/

South Street Pantry – A lovely cosy café grotto with afternoon tea.
📅1st - 23rd December |  3:30pm – 4:30pm 
💷 £15 per child 
Visit to Santa, Gingerbread man, Half a sandwich, Kids’ hot chocolate, Christmas gift
🔗https://discoverstortford.co.uk/events/santas-grotto-at-south-street-pantry-2025/

Home & Eat – Meet Santa & his elves 
📅 29 Nov–24 Dec 
💷 £18
Step into the enchanting world of our Santa's Grotto at H@me & Eat in Bishops Stortford! You will be met by Santa's little helper who will then take you into our amazing grotto to meet the man in red himself.
🔗https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/santas-grotto-2025-hme-eat-bishops-stortford-4686323?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=creatorshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=odclsxcollection&utm-source=cp&aff=escb

🎄 Nearby Favourites:

Bury Lane Farm – Tea with Santa in the Fun Barn.
📅 11th - 18th Dec
💷 From £8.75
🔗https://burylane.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Copy-of-Tea-Breakfast-with-Santa-2025-1.pdf

Van Hage, Great Amwell – Classic grotto 
📅 16 Nov–24 Dec 
💷 1 adult and child £30
🔗https://www.bluediamond.gg/activities/328/santa-s-grotto-experience-at-van-hage-great-amwell?srsltid=AfmBOorwLN3oFsrGeGvsV5XJe56rlW0fuHsCzT_GFn0gMD4COBu00P7j

The Harvey Centre, Harlow – Walk-in grotto 
📅 13 Nov–24 Dec 
💷 £8
🔗https://theharveycentre.com/whats_on/step-into-christmas-magic-at-santas-grotto-at-the-harvey-centre/

The Magic of Christmas Barn, Stevenage – A festive barn grotto.
📅 29th Nov - 21st Dec 
💷 £9.50 (+£1 booking fee) | Duration 5 minutes, Ages 0-16
🔗https://www.themagicofchristmas.net/

Down Hall Hotel – Brunch with Santa 
📅 29 Nov–23 Dec 
💷 Adults £52 | Child (2-12) £26 | Child )under 2) £5
🔗https://www.downhall.co.uk/christmas/brunch-with-santa

Mulberry House, Stevenage – Lunch with Santa
📅 7th, 14th, 21st Dec 
💷Adults £47.50 | Children £27.00 
🔗https://www.facebook.com/mulberryhousehotel

Langley Park Rally School – Festive drive experience & Santa’s log cabin.
📅18th – 23rd Dec 
💷 Drive only – £25 | Father Christmas visit – £10 | Drive + Santa + Marshmallow – £30
🔗https://langleyparkrallyschool.co.uk/junior-drivers/

🌲 Festive Adventures & Days Out:

Audley End Miniature Railway, Saffron Walden
Woodland train to meet Father & Mother Christmas, elves and lights!
📅 22 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
💷 From £22.95 pp
🔗 audley-end-railway.co.uk

Epping & Ongar Railway, Ongar
Santa Specials aboard vintage trains & buses.
📅 29–30 Nov, 6–7, 13–14 & 19–24 Dec 2025
💷 From £65(family of 2)
🔗 eorailway.co.uk/events/santa-specials

The Tall Twinkling Tree, Hatfield Heath
Elf trail, letters to Santa & grotto.
📅 Dates 1st - 23rd Dec, from 4pm
💷 TBA
🔗 instagram.com/thetalltwinklingtree

Barleylands Farm Park, Billericay
Elf check-in, toy workshop & Santa grotto.
📅 29 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
💷 Tickets from £15.00pp
🔗 barleylands.co.uk/christmas-experience-2025

Christmas Fest Essex, Billericay
Immersive festive woodland walk, skating & Santa.
📅 Open now!
💷 From £40 pp
🔗 christmasfestessex.co.uk

Willows Activity Farm, London Colney
Santa Spectacular – grotto, toy workshop & ice skating.
📅 22 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
💷 Adults £24.95–£37.95 / Children £49.95–£64.95
🔗 willowsactivityfarm.digitickets.co.uk

Marsh Farm Animal Adventure Park, South Woodham Ferrers
Grotto, shows & toy workshop in the Father Christmas Experience.
📅 15 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
💷 From ~£32pp
🔗 marshfarm.co.uk/events/father-christmas-experience

Harlow Pets Corner
Reindeer Magic Christmas Party - Disco, Crafts and Santas Grotto.
📅 6th December
💴 From £18 per child, sibling discount.

Lee Valley Farm, Waltham Abbey
Santa Claus Experience – farm animals, grotto & festive fun.
📅 29 Nov – 24 Dec 2025
💷 From £15.99 pp
🔗 leevalleyfarm.co.uk/events/santa-claus-experience

Rye-Assic Adventure Park, Hoddesdon
Breakfast & lunch dates with Santa
📅20/21/22 Dec
💴 From £10 per child
🔗 rye-assic.co.uk

Dine with Santa – Knebworth House
Enjoy a meal in the barns, with a visit from Santa.
📅 14 & 21 December
💷 From £34 pp
🔗 knebworthhouse.com

Hertfordshire Zoo, Broxbourne
Christmas Wonderland – lights, trail & meet Santa.
📅 29–30 Nov; 6–7; 13–14; 20–24 Dec 2025
💷 Adults £32.99 / Children £33.99
🔗 hertfordshirezoo.com/christmas-wonderland-faqs

Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge
📅 6 Dec – 23 Dec (selected dates)  
💷 Price £24.95pp
🔗 nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cambridgeshire/anglesey‑abbey‑gardens‑and‑lode‑mill/events/dd21c6b2‑c93c‑47f0‑9afd‑d51719ac1ca8

Church Farm, Ardeley
Winter woodland farm trail & Santa grotto.
📅 From 29 Nov 2025 (weekends)
💷 Price: From £17.90
🔗 churchfarmardeley.co.uk

Scotsdales Garden Centre, Cambridge
“Enchanted Elevator” to meet Santa & reindeer.
📅 16, 22–23, 29–30 Nov; 1–24 Dec 2025
💷 Tickets from £12
🔗 scotsdales.com

Harlow Garden Centre (Santa’s Grotto)
Meet Santa in aid of St Clare Hospice.
📅 Weekends from 29 Nov
💷 From £15 per child
🔗 stclarehospice.org.uk/event/santas-grotto

NWD Miniature Railway (located at Harlow Garden Centre)
Santa Special ride
📅 6/7/20/21/24 December
💷 Price: £9pp
🔗 nwdmrail.co.uk

We've done our best to make sure all information is accurate, but please check with each individual provider before booking.

From woodland trains to cosy cafés — there’s Christmas magic everywhere this year.  Which one will you pick?