Best place in the UK to see Father Christmas...

[Redmasseyinmydrive]

We are looking to book a weekend away at the start of December for the DC to see Father Christmas. We have been to a couple of different places before but would like something different for this year. We were thinking maybe polar express? Maybe legoland?

Have you been anywhere that was brilliant and would go back again? We don't mind travelling.

My kids loved Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park last year. We shall go again this year but I live in London anyway so no biggie for me. If you haven't already been you could do a day at Winter Wonderland and then something like Hamleys or Harrods grotto and then a pantomine although actually I don't like Hamley's that much and everything is about £5 more expensive than Toys R Us or Symths.

If money was no object i'd love to do Lapland

Have a look at Kielder Winter Wonderland in Northumberland. It's amazing & the best Father Christmas I've ever seen! It's not cheap, there are holiday lodges near by - full day of activities though & a good chance of snow

Thanks baking

We have done the Cardiff Winter wonderland before which was nice but I'm sure the London one will be on a different scale. How busy is it? Busy or heaving busy? DD has ASD and does struggle with very large crowds. Will google and start looking at prices.

I would love to do Lapland too but really can't justify spending that amount of money.

DS really enjoyed the legoland one last year. Not many rides open but the ones that were, were perfect for him. The Father Christmas was brilliant & he got a great (lego) gift. We'll be going again this year but will probably go down the night before this time & stay somewhere like a travelodge.

north
It looks lovely... Do you know what price we would be looking at for a family of four?

ikl legoland is very tempting as DS loves lego but we are going there soon to celebrate his birthday. Staying over night is a must for us too, did you stay in the legoland hotel last year?

Lots of Steam railways have Father Christmas trips, it can be very civilised, you see Santa in your seat. If you could combine that with a Christmas market.

I can't remember how much it was, sorry! DS is 10 now & we haven't been for a few years but I still hear good reports
Kielder is quite remote! BUT if you went for weekend, there is bird of prey centre, small indoor pool & an award winning observatory nearby!

Lapland UK was wonderful, highly recommended but very expensive too.

We stayed in the legoland hotel. It was really great, hardly any queues for rides (though only 8 open) . Santa was great too.

Thursford (in Norfolk).

Or your local heritage railway.

My children went to one with their grandparents at llangollen steam railway. They caught the train to Santa, had hot chocolate, visited father Christmas and got gifts and then got the train home. DS1 is Autistic and was absolutely convinced he'd really been magicked too the real father Christmas grotto.

We went the weekend just after Boxing Day and it was still very busy and pretty heaving.

It's better if you can go mid-week before Christmas when a lot of people will still be at work and the kids still at school. You don't pay for entry but most kids rides are £2 - £3 a go.