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Original poster

Santas grotto price increases this year?! 😒

67 replies

RisenWhine · 21/11/2025 10:18

DD has been coming home asking if we’re going to see Santa before Christmas as all of her friends are. I’ve been meaning to book something but everything I’ve looked at just isn’t in my price range. I can’t find anything relatively locally for under £60?!

also why are adults tickets being forced out with mince pies and mulled wine? That’s great as an optional extra.. but I don’t want to buy an adult ticket for £12 because it comes with a mince pie (which is a heinous festive creation) and mulled wine (I’m sober).

I’m stressed. I clearly wasn’t prepared enough for the price increase this year and need to do better next year.

anyone else frustrated at the price of grottos now?😒

OP posts:
itsthetea · 21/11/2025 10:50

60?!?

Skimama123 · 21/11/2025 10:48

We went to one at Chatsworth farm park last year, we paid about £8 each for entry to the farm and playground, story time with Santa, a book and reindeer food making and it was an absolute bargain. This year…£22 for kids, £18.50 for adults. 😭 not prepared to pay that especially when most of the actual attraction is outside and might not be useable if the weather is bad.

FlowersInPots · 21/11/2025 10:43

Meant to add, I agree about prices though. Some of the ones around here are ridiculous- there was enough of a kick off here that the local farm have revamped their pricing as they were charging £20 for kids and £10 for adults, with the rule that at least 1 adult had to attend with the child 🤑

FanofLeaves · 21/11/2025 10:42

kirinm · 21/11/2025 10:31

Not sure where you’re located but the transport museum in Covent Garden is free. You don’t get a present or anything like that.

It’s not free to get in to the museum (although you can use it again during the year you buy it) it’s £25 for an adult and £20 for a child. If you’re not London based and unlikely to use it again then it’s a pretty expensive option.

StrawberrySquash · 21/11/2025 10:41

kirinm · 21/11/2025 10:31

Not sure where you’re located but the transport museum in Covent Garden is free. You don’t get a present or anything like that.

Do you not pay for the museum itself? Or is this separate?

Bumblenums · 21/11/2025 10:41

I agree OP, my DD is 11 now but when she was a toddler you could do this for 4/5 quid at our local nature park. Now its about 15 quid per child, and and extra 5 quid for an adult. Ridiculous.

FlowersInPots · 21/11/2025 10:41

If you can’t find a small local one (our garden centre is doing one for £10 i think), have a look at breakfast with Santa at Harvester. You buy a meal (make it as cheap as you need), no cost for adults and LO gets to see Santa without queueing (elves come and get you from your table when it’s your turn).

ldnmusic87 · 21/11/2025 10:39

Are shopping centres or garden centres any better?

TheatricalLife · 21/11/2025 10:38

£60 😳🤯
Mine are young adults now, but holy shit, I can't even imagine a grotto being that much, even it it is an "experience".
Like others have said, look at garden centres. Put a post on Facebook and ask on the community page, there's sure to be someone with a good idea.

kirinm · 21/11/2025 10:31

Not sure where you’re located but the transport museum in Covent Garden is free. You don’t get a present or anything like that.

FanofLeaves · 21/11/2025 10:31

RisenWhine · 21/11/2025 10:30

How do you find the smaller ones? I’ve just looking on Facebook at local events that are on ect. I live pretty rurally so we don’t have much about that puts on things I guess. But I am a bit clueless in how to seek the smaller ones out!

I find everything through local Facebook community pages generally.

Original poster
RisenWhine · 21/11/2025 10:30

How do you find the smaller ones? I’ve just looking on Facebook at local events that are on ect. I live pretty rurally so we don’t have much about that puts on things I guess. But I am a bit clueless in how to seek the smaller ones out!

OP posts:
mutinyonthetwix · 21/11/2025 10:29

Garden centres are generally good for grottos with a nominal fee.

Uhohuho · 21/11/2025 10:29

Try libraries, ours is £1 and they get a book.

FanofLeaves · 21/11/2025 10:27

Yeah I avoid the ‘big’ ones for this reason. Our local shopping centre is doing it for £8 and includes the present and photo op and no charge for up to two adults. Look at department store or shopping ones. We did it for a £3 donation last year at the local church, that was a really good one, properly decorated etc.

PatThePenguin · 21/11/2025 10:27

Gth2013 · 21/11/2025 10:22

Maybe have a look at smaller local options, our Scout christmas fayre is £4 to see santa, including a present.

This is exactly what I was going to say.

My local small museum has a grotto. The tickets are £3.50, the kids get a nice book and the parents can take as many photos of their kids in the grotto as they want.

Gth2013 · 21/11/2025 10:22

Maybe have a look at smaller local options, our Scout christmas fayre is £4 to see santa, including a present.