To think I need a bank loan to visit Santa

[Outandabout43]

Looking for places to take DD to see santa this year and my God why is it so expensive?

What happened to the little grotto at the local shopping centre for a small price, you see santa, get a present, all good.

Now it's all this santa experience, breakfast with santa, dinner with santa, winter wonderland malarkey... I just want to go to a bleeding grotto, tell santa what you want, get a cheap gift, jobs a good en

Thinking of setting myself up a grotto in the garage and dressing DH up. Could probably make a small fortune

@Bananainpj reminds me of a certain Gavin and Stacey episode.

Yes, along with all the Christmas/winter wonderland illuminations/light experiences where you have to pay extra to see Santa too. I always say I'm not doing any, but then tend to cave and book one last minute. I have found grottos at school fairs very good, your child doesn't have to go to the school to go, so if they aren't at a school that does Christmas fairs find a local one that does. They usually cost about £3.

Yes do this. Also school fayres as well.

There are usually free or cheap ones about.. our local library does a free Grotto but books up so fast. We went to one at our local museum for £3.50..was rubbish though. Next cheapest ive seen advertised is £5 mark at Par market.. National trust ones are good esp if you have membership. Just book in the santa for extra..usually reasonable. Best one we went to was at Trerice near Newquay.. was a traditional santa dressed in green...told the kids a lovely story then a pressie relevant to the story wrapped in brown paper...Will book that for our daughter this year. The whole experience ones cost at least £100 once you include everything!Crealy Devon looks quite good as there's lots to do!I find the whole meeting santa just awkward though so prefer the group ones where he tells them a story. If you're ever cornwall way at christmas the Heligan Gardens light trail is amazing and well worth the money

IKEA is free, and our local one was surprisingly good last year. I appreciate, however, not everyone lives near a branch of Ikea.