Meeting Santa - do you plan to take the children?

[Earlybird]

Who plans to take their children to meet Santa? Where do you go? Any top tips or places to avoid appreciated.....

only at school christmas fairs

I object to the concept of santas in stores that make you queue for ever and pay a fortune for a polaroid and cheap plastic toy

at least at school fair the money goes to school

anyway I've always told DS that these Santas aren't real they're helpers who Santa allows to dress up like him to meet his children .. santa is far too busy making toys

DS was outraged that Santa only gave him a box of chocolate, once. DS expected a wonderful toy, so had a tantrum. We don't teach the kids to believe in Santa, but this was part of a school fayre, and DS really wants to believe. Now though, I'd never take any of my children again, in case of repeat tantrum.

We are taking the dc to Thetford Forest (part of the Forestry Commission) - they make a real effort with little games and a quiz etc and a toy train running round for the children to see whilst waiting their turn to see FC. FC sits in a real log cabin and Mrs Christmas hands out the present (a xmas tree sapling to grow your own tree for the following year and a wooden decoration to put on it and a small bar of chocolate). Because it is in the Forest is seems more magical somehow. My two love it!

I will take the older two. dd is 6 now so prob won't even believe for much longer so I want to make the most of it. It is overpriced, but it's magical for children so I don't mind it. I like going to the ones in garden centers, as they have the whole christmas display thing too which is lovely.
I have no idea where you are located, but the village, near caister somewhere in norfolk is beautiful at christmas. All lit up, with rides, and the kids go on a train to see father christmas. Then when they come out there is a hige indoor carasol. The year we did that really was magical.

Here

ive jsut been trying to google it, and their website says it is shut. anyone in Norfolk know if it is still open at christmas?

no have never taken mine, too overpriced and lets face it santa only visits xmas eve

Kelly, the whole thing closed down last year.

how

Very tempted to post "no I'm just going by myself and am going to sit on his lap, and take all the presents going"!!

Well don't bother with Hamley's, took my two there a couple of years ago and it was pants.

Avoid Frasers in Glasgow - stood in a queue (after booking a slot!) for an hour last year. Queue was in a corridor with nothing to look at. Then sat for a further 10 minutes in a pretend "sleigh" followed by 20 minutes crammed into a garden shed masquerading as Santa's grotto before finally getting our audience with the man himself. He was quite good with the kids - but presents dreadful - dd received a couple of cheap plastic ducks for her bath and ds received a very cheap chalk set. I thinkw e had to pay £ 7 a head WITHOUT the photo! (Kids loved it of course - but we are NOT going back!)

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yes willow farm at london colney, took dd there last year, they have a fun fair, tractor rides animals plus lots more, winterwonderland walk to santa grotto to see santa. Last year we were given a bag and then walked to the elves workshop (a room filled floor to celling with toys) to choose one present.

It is quite expensive but i would say none of the toys cost less then £5 if not more.

web site is www.willowfarmvillage.com

We're going here in a few weeks we hope

Octobermum, would you recommend going to Willowfarm with a 3 year old for this? Did it get really crowded? Not sure whether idea of choosing your own present is good or bad. Have a feeling ds would pick out a 50p pencil while his pushy mum (me ) runs round trying to pick something appropriate and worth the entrance fee .

firemaiden yes dd not three until the end of january, she loved it last year.

I would say go on a day before the school finish and as close to 10am as possible as does get busy, but they decorate where you wait.

I would say there are gifts that would cost less the £5 i would say.

Last year dd choose a bag which hada doll and all feeding and taking care of baby bits i would say that it could prob cost about £10.

Her cousin choose a small garage with cars.

We'll probably (as usual) do one of the steam train trips - either Severn Valley or Gloucestershire/Warwickshire Railway.

We've gone to Harrod's the past two years, and it's an experience I don't plan to repeat. It's a real assembly line, queue for literally hours - imo, not a happy, festive experience.

Anyone in London have suggestions for where to go as a good alternative?

This looks quite good Earlybird, and not too far from London - down the A3.

www.painshillpark.co.uk

Wrong address, try this:

www.painshill.co.uk