Read on for more on Santa's grottos, Santa by Steam and Santa's workshops in Devon in 2024
Most events are still to be announced for 2024, so keep checking back for updates
Updated 06/09/2024
At this time of year Father Christmas becomes an incredibly busy man, but as he’s so friendly and thoughtful he will always find time to listen to your wish lists.
There’s nothing that Santa loves more than talking to children, so he uses his super magical powers to whizz all over the county and can be in many places often at the same time!
You’ll find Father Christmas in cosy cabins, in sparkly grottos, on festive trains and on horse-drawn sleighs in town centres, shopping centres, garden centres and family attractions. As Santa gets exceedingly hungry on his travels he even turns up for breakfast and lunch at some places!
So, along with his many helpers, do look out for Santa at the following locations in Devon this festive season…
PS. Don’t forget to leave out a treat or two for Santa and his reindeer on Christmas Eve. The cheeky elves have told us he likes smelly socks, but we think he would rather tuck into a tasty mince pie!
**Don't forget to mention Primary Times Devon when making an enquiry or booking***
Upon arrival, you will receive your very own Christmas buzzer, a special device that Father Christmas will activate when he’s ready to welcome you into his magnificent grotto! This means more time to enjoy our festive town and no queues.
Once the buzzer twinkles to life, you will embark on an immersive journey through our winter woodland. With the help of a cheerful elf, each child will create their own bag of enchanting reindeer food.
Then it’s time to join Father Christmas in his splendid grotto, where all children will receive a beautifully wrapped present!
Bear Town will be completely transformed into a magical Christmas wonderland, with festive touches around every corner!
Come and enjoy the enchantment of Christmas at Bear Town!
Dates for 2024 to be announced - see below for details of a previous event
Christmas experience with opportunity to meet Santa, gift craft activity, Treasure Trail, photo opportunities and more. Pre-booking essential.
NOT ONLY WILL THE CHILDREN GET TO MEET SANTA AND GIVE HIM THEIR CHRISTMAS LISTS, BUT THIS MAGICAL CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE WILL ALSO INCLUDE:
Meet Santa, and have a chance to give him your Christmas lists.
A craft activity for each child to take part in.
A festive snow machine.
Santa's Treasure Trail.
A quality, age appropriate gift from Santa.
Your own photo opportunities in Santa's Winter Wonderland*.
Image me Studios will be here to take a professional photo of your child/children with Santa which will be available to purchase, alongside a range of festive souvenirs. You will be given a £1 off voucher to be used for the purchase of any Image Me photo souvenir.
You will be allocated a personal Elf who will guide you around the Grotto
Dates for 2024 to be announced - see below for details of a previous event
Get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy a special 'Breakfast with Santa' in The Box Kitchen & Bar on Saturdays and Sundays from 2-17 December, plus Thursday 21 and Friday 22 December. This event has been hugely popular in previous years, so don't leave it too late to book!'Breakfast with Santa' tickets include a sausage/vegan sausage bap, bacon bap or pancakes with tea, Americano or hot chocolate. All children’s tickets include a gift.
Dates for 2024 to be announced - see below for details of a previous event
From 12-4pm on December 9th-12th, and again on the 17th-19th, children can pay a special visit to Santa in his grotto, and receive a gift to take home. They'll be able to let Father Christmas know all about what they'd like for Christmas this year, and take special photos to remember the visit by.
Please book to confirm your 5-minute slot; tickets are £15.00 for each child.
They recommend visiting 15 minutes early to enjoy our Christmassy activities (colouring, singalong and glitter wishes) and to help make sure that everyone is ready to take their turn.
Enter the festive wonder of Santa’s Enchanted Grotto, presented by House of Marbles. This year’s grotto delivers an unparalleled experience, making it the ultimate festive destination. Follow a trail lit by enchanting lights to a cosy retreat where Santa awaits. An exclusive encounter with Father Christmas promises a treasure trove of joyful and awe-inspiring memories.
Sneak Peek: The Grotto’s Enchanted Theme
This year’s brand new theme is enveloped in a mystical aura, inspired by legendary tales. While the full story remains a secret, expect an adventure filled with otherworldly creatures that will enchant and inspire you. Stay tuned to the event pages and social media for clues as the season unfolds. This is an experience you won’t want to miss!
Reserve Your Unforgettable Moment
Choose a time between 09:30 and 15:30, provide your details, and let the journey begin. For groups larger than 5 children or those needing extra time (SEND sessions/disability-friendly spaces), special slots are available to ensure a comfortable visit for all. Call 01626 931 313 to reserve.
Santa Paws is back at House of Marbles, and this time, it’s bigger and better. Calling all animal lovers, your four-legged and pawed companions are invited to join Santa and his merry Elves on a whimsical journey through our enchanting winter wonderland. As the festive spirit fills the air, your furry friends will have the chance to meet Santa himself, tails wagging in excitement! Capture the moment with a paw-some photo with Santa and let your furry family’s joy shine brighter than Rudolph’s nose.
What’s Included:
The Grotto experience, culminating in a meeting with Santa
An opportunity for a photo with Father Christmas during your visit
A Goody Bag with a gift from Santa
Dates for 2024 to be announced - see below for details of a previous event
Stepping through the doors into the grotto, enter a world of selfie opportunities for all the family. Bring your cameras or phones, pose on the throne, take a selfie in front of the tree, sit your dog in the sleigh the choice is yours. Walk on through the grotto and next you will jump into the North Pole with the eskimo and polar bears, and the magical dreams area with twinkling lights and fluffy snow.
The light tunnel will lead you to the enchanted castle where the fairies and unicorns live. Life size characters to wonder and amaze the little ones. Turn around and look through the windows into Andy’s bedroom. See Woody and Buzz getting up to mischief as the train Choo Choo’s around the track. Turn around and the mirrors will make you laugh at your reflection.
Turn the corner into the gingerbread house and you’re nearly there, Santa is waiting to meet you and make your Christmas wishes come true.
Dates for 2024 to be announced - see below for details of a previous event
Visit Santa and his elves in his festive grotto. Participants can receive a present and a keepsake book to remember your visit including games, colouring and a place for your Polaroid photo. There will also be a photo opportunity (Elfie selfie) as well as the opportunity to make your own reindeer food.
Dates for 2024 to be announced - see below for details of a previous event
Share a home cooked breakfast with Santa in the Lilypond Restaurant and visit Santa and his elves in his festive grotto at Bernaville Nurseries with adult options as well as regular children and mini breakfasts for different appetites. The visit includes a present, keepsake book to remember your visit including games, colouring and a place for your Polaroid photo, a photo opportunity (Elfie selfie) and the chance to make your own reindeer food
Selected dates between 30th November and 24th December 2024
Christmas at Crealy 2024
Crealy Great Adventure Park, Clyst St Mary, Near Exeter, Devon, EX5 1DR
It's the most wonderful time of the year with Christmas at Crealy. See the Park transform into a Winter Wonderland - from sparkling lights to magical entertainment - there's something for the whole family to enjoy.
Don't miss out on the chance to meet & greet with Santa himself in the popular grotto experience, including a FREE toy for every child from Santa's Magical Toy Shop.
What's on this Christmas at Crealy?
Live Christmas on Ice Show
Winter light displays around the Park
Rides and thrills in the dark
Christmas Sooty Show
Santa's Post Office
Further details will be coming soon
Dates for 2024 to be announced - see below for details of a previous event
A magical after-hours festive experience for children. Meet Occombe Farmer Christmas in his farm workshop, hear stories with Mrs Christmas, get crafty with our elves!
You’ll be greeted by Mrs Christmas for festive storytelling. Get crafty decorating gingerbread cookies with our cheerful Occombe elves. But perhaps best of all, you’ll meet Occombe Farmer Christmas himself in his charming farm workshop, for your own special meet and greet. The workshop is indoors and warm, perfect for capturing cherished photo memories. As a delightful surprise, every child will receive a special gift from Occombe Farmer Christmas. And of course, there’ll be plenty of time for festive play and visiting our animal encounters barn, to round off this enchanting experience.
· Meet & greet with Occombe Farmer Christmas
· A special gift from Occombe Farmer Christmas for each paying child
· Gingerbread cookie decorating
· Storytelling with Mrs Christmas
· Indoor play (and outdoor play weather permitting)
· Animal Encounters in the Animal Barn
Dates for 2024 to be announced - see below for details of a previous event
Go and visit Santa in his magical grotto. Receive a special gift and capture the moment with a professional photo!
Open from 24th November until 1st January.
TERM TIME (24th Nov to 19th Dec)
Monday – Friday 3:30pm – 6.30pm
Saturday & Sunday 1pm – 6.30pm
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS (20th Dec to 24th Dec)
1pm – 6.30pm everyday
Open 7 days a week (closed on Christmas Day)
£10.50 per child, £1 per adult
Additional options for Professional Photos
Your photos can also be turned into a special keepsake or gift for loved ones. Including: Snow Globes | Baubles | Keyrings | Jumbo Fridge Magnet | 6x4 Prints
HE POLAR EXPRESS™ is coming to Seaton Tramway in Devon on selected dates through November & December! Families will enjoy the magical tram ride to Santa's home at the North Pole in one of the specially decorated single-deck tramcars, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, a delicious treat, speak to Santa and admire the awesome lights whilst you walk around the North Pole.
All guests will receive their first gift of Christmas - A Silver Sleigh Bell - from Santa himself. Upon the return journey, you will be able to enjoy singing along to Christmas carols. For the grown-up kids too, this is a trip down memory lane to a traditional Christmas of old.
A round trip lasts approximately 1.5 hours. There are only a limited number of seats on our snug single-deck tramcars for THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Tram Ride.
Rowcroft Hospice has teamed up with Marldon Christmas Tree Farm to offer a magical Santa’s Grotto experience for local children. In the enchanted snow-covered grotto in the North Pole, Totnes Road, Marldon, children will have the chance to meet Santa and his elves, encounter a real reindeer, and receive a special Christmas gift. The cost for the fairy-tale adventure is £16 per child, with all profits going to support the hospice. Staffed by hospice volunteers, the grotto will be open Friday afternoons, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 – 16 December, and all day every day between 18 to 23 December. You can book your slot at www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk/santasgrotto or by calling 01803 210821.
Storytime sessions with Father Christmas with an opportunity to say hi to Santa and take a selfie at the end and every child gets a very special keepsake to take home.
Dates to be announced for 2024 - details below refer to a previous event
Relaxed, BSL signed Songs and Stories with Father Christmas at Saltram
Relaxed Father Christmas sessions that are slightly smaller and with songs and stories at a slower pace and British Sign Language interpretation. 45 minute storytime session recommended for children over 3 with an opportunity to say hi to Father Christmas, grab a selfie and every child gets a very special keepsake to take home.
Dates to be announced for 2024 - details below refer to a previous event
Step back into yuletide and experience Earth Santa, a unique medieval twist on Father Christmas.
Nestled in the scenic beauty of Wildwood Devon and featuring authentic Saxon homes, Wildwood Devon’s Saxon Village sets the stage for an unforgettable holiday adventure. Embark on a magical journey into the enchanting Saxon era and experience the holiday magic as if you've been transported back in time.
Craft, stalls, music, Christmas gifts, Morris Dancing, Christmas gifts, Christmas carols around the Christmas tree, light switch on and Santa’s Grotto at Baskervilles.
Father and Mother Christmas will be joining Torre Abbey for a selection of dates. Each family will also be able to explore the Abbey and Gardens, visit the Christmas around the World exhibition and take in the festive atmospehre of Winterfest. This will include a Christmas market in the Spanish Barn and free Christmas crafts for children.
To be confirmed for 2024 - details below refer to earlier event
During this Christmas experience, families are invited to arrive at the North Pole to be greeted by friendly elves and check in where they will receive their Christmas passport as get stamps as they journey through the Christmas experience. This is then followed by a walking Nativity journey through scenes and animals representing the story of the first Christmas and refreshments. The Elves Sweetshop will have a bag of sweets for every child. Attendees will then have a tractor and trailer ride to see if they can spot gingerbread men hiding along the way before experiencing close encounters with some of the amazing animals at Pennywell including their miniature piglets, pygmy goat kids and other furry friends. Finally the experience comes to an end in the enchanted forest with a visit to Father Christmas who will have a special gift for every child.
Dates from 1st December 2024
Santa's Grotto at Boringdon Hall 2024
Boringdon Hall Hotel, Boringdon Hill, Colebrook, Plymouth, PL7 4DP.
Nestled in the historic charm of the magnificent hall, the grotto becomes a winter wonderland, bringing the festive spirit to life. Arrive and be dazzled by a dance performance, enjoy a divine Festive Afternoon Tea, get creative with Christmas activities including gingerbread decorating and meet Santa Claus himself to receive a Christmas present.
Festive Afternoon Tea with a visit from Santa is the perfect way to spend the afternoon together as a family getting into the festive spirit. Meet Santa Claus himself to receive a Christmas present as he visits the tables to add a sprinkle of festive magic in the run up to Christmas Day.
Details for 2024 still to be announced - details below refer to previous event
On selected dates this December, all visitors to The Milky Way this Christmas can look forward to visiting the garland festooned train station made jolly with festive music and giant Christmas tree for a hot chocolate to enjoy on the Festive Train. They'll also get to enjoy a special themed show created by Merlin just for the season!
Magic of Christmas Buzzlewick Ticket holders can also journey through the magical snowy forest to Buzzlewicks Elf Emporium in The Old Barn, where children will get to meet Buzzlewick the Elf and friends, have a go a gingerbread decorating, write a letter to Santa and make reindeer food.
Magic of Christmas Golden Ticket holders will be invited into Santa’s cosy Christmas Cottage to chat to the jolly fella himself and then collect your special festive gift, aswell as taking part in the Buzzlewick experience.
Keep an eye out for Santa’s naughty elves as you make your way around the whole park – their mischievous antics are bound to give you a chuckle!
Of course, there’s also lots of other all-weather rides, shows and attractions which will ensure you have a wonderfully festive family day out this December!
Join in on Saturday 16 November for the wonderful Christmas lights switch-on with an afternoon of festive family fun with free activities and entertainment from 12pm to 6pm on the Barbican and Sutton Harbour.
Join your elf tour guides for an adventure through the North Pole in this 10-room interactive walkthrough experience featuring snowy forests, cosy cabins and the amazing Elf Toy Factory. Board the Woodlands Express for an immersive train ride through the North Pole before finally meeting Santa and receiving a gift. You’re sure to find a few surprises along the way!
Take advantage of your Grotto & Park Entry Ticket by exploring everything Woodlands in winter has to offer, with thrilling attractions, soft play, and adorable animals. See opening times on website for which attractions are operating.
Get ready for another season of creating magical family memories at Woodlands!
Father Christmas will be parking his sleigh and settling into a magical Grotto in Dartington’s historic Courtyard. He cannot wait to meet little ones and tell them all about life in the North Pole, how Rudolph and friends are, and about all the hard work his helper elves are doing to get ready for the “big night”. Santa will of course be giving out little gifts too!
Details for 2024 still to be announced - information below refers to previous event
Santa's Grotto with opportunity to take festive photos and receive a special Christmas goodie bag as well as the chance to write a ltter to the North Pole and do some Christmas colouring.
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