Longleat

[Harrin]

So we've decided we're off to Longleat at Christmas. We will be taking 4 kids aged 4-12.

We're not sure what to do about the Santa train though. I've looked online and there is a price for adults and a much higher price for children which includes the Santa visit and present. The 4 year old will want to see Santa but the next one up is 9 so won't be interested but they still want to go on the train etc. Does anyone know if it's possible to pay the adult price for the 3 older ones and only the little one see Santa?

If not I think one of us will go to see Santa and the other stay with the other 3, but we both want to go really. TIA!

Anyone?

I'm not sure but the train is lovely. Make sure you book it for wen it will be dark. The train is lit with fairy lights and you go through the dark woods and then come out to trees full of lights and a fire to warm up on. Kids thought we really ha been trasnported to the North Pole!

i just looked. for 9 of us to go including two carers and 2 disabled children, with the santa train at 7.30pm (before a 2 hour at least drive home) is £220. its a lot of money

We used tesco vouchers for the entrance tickets, and booked the iceskating for the time when kids went free so didn't cost nearly as much. Think it was about £80 form5 of us.'

It is expensive, but this is our only present to them as they're not our dc. Tbh I think I'm more excited!

So I tried to ring and find out from customer services but couldn't get through so looked online at the booking options. When you book a child place for the train it asks for age and gives options up to 18 so assuming they will have suitable gifts?

I think I'm just going to do that and hope the pre teens humour me

Thanks for the info about booking after dark, will definitely try for a later time

Oh I thought about using Tesco vouchers too but they no longer accept them on the Christmas event

That's a shame about tesco as we wouldn't have been able to afford to go otherwise. Presents are labelled with their name so should be appropriate.
Last year ds1 age 6 got a paint your own train money box set and a big magnetic maze. Dd age 5 got a really nice ballerina necklace, little purse and something else I can't quite remember. And ds2 got a big long alphabet train puzzle and a cuddly toy. He had jus turned 3.

Are they taking online bookings at the moment? The train is currently out of commission following an accident over the summer and it's having to be officially investigated.

We went for several years when the kids were younger. It was really good and the presents were good. Definitely call when it is dark.

My DC are late teens now but still talk about about how much they enjoyed it.

Your 12 yr old is old enough to understand that for the sake of your 4 yr old we must all be super excited about meeting Santa

You can use Tesco vouchers for entry but not for the train - type it into clubcard rewards and it will come up with a separate offer for christmas. You can then go on the website and add extras or more tickets. We did it last year and i did it again on friday for this year.

Its £7.50 worth of points for one entry

Still taking online bookings so assuming all will be back up and running by then?

That's good about Tesco vouchers, too late for me now though!

Great, I've just used clubcard points and then gone and booked the Santa train. Can't wait, my ds will love it. He's obsessed with trains and I'm obsessed with Christmas.

It's Sunny outside and I'm feeling festive. Eeeek!

Oh wow that sounds SO lovely! I'm too far away though