Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To say this was an unsatisfactory meet Santa gift?

218 replies

TellerTuesday · 12/12/2022 19:25

Curious to hear other people's opinions.

The experience cost £87.63 for one child and one accompanying adult.

Can't fault the Santa experience and the stately home walk round I was more than happy with that but I don't think the gift was commensurate with the cost and calibre of the outing.

I have emailed the company as I honestly think it's just a peg doll and a box of grass moss but interested to hear if others would agree with me.

OP posts:
icelollycraving · 12/12/2022 19:43

How much was the Santa bit? As in, how much more than the usual price of the stately home?
That gift is completely crap. Is it a very eco friendly place that these odd choices are linked to? Rubbish!
Amazed that’s the price for a Santa visit.

NoelNoNoel · 12/12/2022 19:44

The present looks pretty rubbish but the price for the day out seems ok.

Boooooot · 12/12/2022 19:45

I paid less than that for 4 of us to do a day at a place near us where all got a free drink, loads of games and activities, a train ride included, mince pies and the kids both got decent presents from Santa.

santasbushybeard · 12/12/2022 19:46

Okay, I was going to say £88 was nuts but now you’ve explained it, it does actually sound okay for that and with an hour long show.

That present is rubbish. A selection box would’ve been better.

thelobsterquadrille · 12/12/2022 19:46

The gift is rubbish but I still can't believe you willingly paid that much in the first place. £90?! They saw you coming 😳

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 12/12/2022 19:47

Oh, Castle Howard. You don’t surprise me. We never go there these days because there’s always something that makes you come away feeling ripped off.

Whitewolf2 · 12/12/2022 19:48

Looks like a gift someone picked who knows nothing about children! They were probably given the brief to chose something sustainable. I’d be annoyed too.

I was similarly annoyed with our local Dobbies who had a lovely Santa but gave my 6 year old a 250 piece puzzle that was so tricky that I couldn’t do it! Won’t be bothering again.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 12/12/2022 19:48

I know lots of people who have paid similar amounts (not me for sure). They got a series of experience and activities, e.g. decorate gingerbread with an elf, meet live reindeer, see Santa, then go to the "workshop" and choose a decent toy.

I think your mistake was going for a tasteful and classy one where only organic, biodegradable eco toys will be given.

Original poster
TellerTuesday · 12/12/2022 19:48

So looking on the website it seems the walk around bit is £30 per adult, £15 per child. The Santa experience is £50 per child and £21 per accompanying adult. Both are plus £5 parking ticket and booking fees. So it cost us £26 extra for the Santa element.

OP posts:
Nevertrustasilentpoo · 12/12/2022 19:51

jeeps 🤯. Mine cost £5 per child great gift and the decorations in the grotto were lovely. Only 1 family in at a time so was so special. Local rotary club

Badoukas · 12/12/2022 19:58

If you look on TripAdvisor there are other parents feeling ripped off over the Castle Howard santa gifts so you aren't on your own.

BaggieMaggie · 12/12/2022 19:58

I paid £8 for dc to go to a Santa’s breakfast at our local pub chain. Included in that was a children’s breakfast, drink, gift and individual cupcake to take away. The Santa part was amazing too. He spoke to all of my dc for around 20 minutes and he was really nice. They also had the opportunity to write a note for Santa to take back to the North Pole. The present was a cuddly toy, a book and some colouring pens. Not the best but the dc were made up and that’s all that counts really. I would never repay £88 and that present really is naff

Pearfacebanana · 12/12/2022 20:00

It's such a middle class "look how eco friendly yet traditional we are" present. These places are extortionate though. Blenheim is extortionate but lovely, thankfully no crappy gifts though.

Hellyeahbaby · 12/12/2022 20:03

I wouldn't have been impressed either.
We paid similar and was a 4 hour experience, amazing santa, received a brass key off santa to exchange in shop for any present of her choosing ( id say shop cost would have been about a tenner) then built her own teddy (build a bear type thing) made reindeer food, decorated a box of 4 cookies and train ride.

Yeah if I was you I'd be a bit peed off aswell

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 12/12/2022 20:07

Jeez that is a present that would fail to meet even the lowest of expectations.

Hopeyoursproutsarealreadyon · 12/12/2022 20:08

I would expect the real fella visiting Xmas eve for that price!

FearofQueefing · 12/12/2022 20:08

That peg doll looks like it's come out of the workhouse! What a depressing toy for a child... I would definitely complain.

Floralnomad · 12/12/2022 20:12

I wouldn’t have been impressed , but I watched the programme on TV last week about the Castle Howard Christmas so I’m not surprised as it looked crap . That said we did the Waddesden Christmas house / lights etc last week , fortunately got it cheap as NT members and that was distinctly under whelming .

Skyeheather · 12/12/2022 20:13

Whitewolf2 · 12/12/2022 19:48

Looks like a gift someone picked who knows nothing about children! They were probably given the brief to chose something sustainable. I’d be annoyed too.

I was similarly annoyed with our local Dobbies who had a lovely Santa but gave my 6 year old a 250 piece puzzle that was so tricky that I couldn’t do it! Won’t be bothering again.

My 6 year old and DP are currently working on that puzzle, it is very hard for the 6-8 age group. Last years gift was a K'nex type thing which was better.

TheLittlestLightOnTheXmasTree · 12/12/2022 20:13

They saw you coming op

What were you hoping for?

Dixiechickonhols · 12/12/2022 20:15

So £26 extra for an hour Santa show over 3 rooms inc gift? It doesn’t sound too bad albeit the gift is a bit random.

AsPrettyAsAnAxe · 12/12/2022 20:17

Ha! Knew it would be Castle Howard. Money grabbing so and sos. Give nothing back to the community either.

1000yellowdaisies · 12/12/2022 20:17

That gift is shocking i would be furious. Sounds like they've rinsed on the whole thing though... im all for splashing out at xmas but thats far too much

Floralnomad · 12/12/2022 20:18

Hellyeahbaby · 12/12/2022 20:03

I wouldn't have been impressed either.
We paid similar and was a 4 hour experience, amazing santa, received a brass key off santa to exchange in shop for any present of her choosing ( id say shop cost would have been about a tenner) then built her own teddy (build a bear type thing) made reindeer food, decorated a box of 4 cookies and train ride.

Yeah if I was you I'd be a bit peed off aswell

Where was this, it sounds brilliant

TeachesOfPeaches · 12/12/2022 20:21

I paid £20 for Santa at Legoland and my son was in there 3 minutes and got some Lego as a gift