*CHRISTMAS KLAXON* Best Santa's grottos?

[HeartStarCircleSquare]

I know it is early, but in case you need to book up or anything.. any recommendations for a great magical Christmas Day out?

You're going to get shouted at!

Most of the ones near me don't release their tickets until mid November and then sell out super-fast.

South East - Ruxley Manor and Polhill are the best ime, and a Santa train somewhere beginning with B that I can't remember the name of.

In the christmas topic, probably.

Yes, there is a whole topic just for you weird people who keep talking about bloody christmas in the middle of summer.

Where do you live? How far are you planning to travel?

Idon'tlike, train sounds lovely..

West Sussex Becca, willing to go a few hours. Probably going to end up in London?

I could have asked there Grockle but I know some people tend to avoid that topic... figured I'd get more answers in chat!

It's August ffs!!!

I think you need of book the Harrods one soon, so it's worth looking into if you plan on going to a big grotto like that.

We have been to the Harrods one every year for the last seven years, the tickets usually come out late August/early September.

I'm not shouting .... honest! But if you post in the Christmas Topic www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas, I'm sure you get loads of answers

It's August ffs!!!

Yes, but as tickets for these things come out in September.. I need to figure it out now.

I've signed up for the rewards card for Harrods so I will know when the tickets get released next month norml and guita thanks

Sorry to be the Grinch guys - we're going to move this to the Christmas topic!

Welcome to the Christmas topic! There are lots of us mad Christmas lovers here, I am sure someone will come along to answer your question soon x

I cant access the harrods grotto page? anyone else having this problem?

Guitar - is the harrods grotto any good? are there insane waits?

HeartCircle ignore these people >

I bought Harry Potter tickets (we booked just before Christmas)
Last year we went to Kew Gardens 'Walk by Lights@ (it was peeing down, DS had his judgey grumpy pants hoiked up. )

Harrods Grotto is released in September
Lapland UK (IIRC) release their tickets Sept

Lots of Pantos already have their tickets on sale , so if you want a particular date/ choice of seats, they get booked quickly.

(Those other posters will be " OMG, what can I do for Christmas, everything is booked up, Where can I take my DC/MIL/Uncle Tom Cobbly and his dog "

and I'll have my tickets tucked away

Did someone actually report my thread for not being in the Christmas topic? It's madness I tell you, every thread in chat could be properly placed in another topic, but dare to mention the "C" word before November. [grinch face]

Bloody scrooges.

(Thanks Loki and 70)

I love Chessington Garden Centre... I prefer it to Harrods.

Last year we went to about 5 different grottos (on random days out, didn't mean to!) and Chessington was better than all of them

Anyone have any suggestions for a grotto in the North West? (Liverpool/Chester way preferred over Manchester).

I'd love to take ds down to London but dc2 is due at the end of November so travel plans are off this year.

SweetSummer - I think the longest wait we have had at Harrods was about 25 minutes. Last year we waited only 10 mins or so. The tickets are in time-slots which is supposed to minimise the wait. It is nice and has become a kind of a tradition for us now. Although, I wasn't too impressed with last year's FC who didn't know what a marble run was when DS said that was what he would be asking for and he virtually promised DD a pet bunny which I had to then spend weeks back-tracking on.

We also did Lapland UK last year which DD still talks about now. VERY authentic-looking FC there!

It wasn't me, HeartStar, I just pointed you in the direction of the Christmas topic, which appears to be busy all through the year! I'm too laid-back to report something as trivial as this

Fru you directed HeartStar to the right place.
We can yak about Yuletide Things till the reindeer come home

Another one who did Lapland Uk. Kids loved it.

We've also done Ruxley manor before and can recommend it. Also legoland is quite nice. Lots of the rides are closed but the 10 or so that were open were good for small children in particular. The hotel was nice was organised Xmas activities after tea time.

Porquoi You have to go to Dobbies Grotto, it's in Speke (Liverpool) really authentic Santa, real beard, instantly knows your child's name as they walk into the room, gorgeous little waiting area before you go in. Best one in Liverpool, and i've been to them all!!

You have to book online in advance on the Dobbies website, last year it was £5 a visit & the gift DD received was brilliant. Have a look online at beginning November.

We have panto booked for Christmas Eve and a trip on the Polar Express another day :)

As soon as we have enough money, I'm booking Winter Wonderland at Center Parcs as it's lovely there for a weekend break at Christmas time.

www.weardale-railway.com/the-polar-express.html

villagefete thank you! I'll check that out.

Has anyone done any of the santa trains that are closer to london - polar express looks amazing but probably too far?

We're going to Harrods and Chessington garden centre (does anyone know how much that is?). Not sure there's much else our way, does anyone know of anything else? We're Sussex/Surrey border.