Father Christmas-Liverpool

[Smellybears]

FTM, little one will be 11 months at Christmas. Can anyone recommend a good Father Christmas experience please in or near Liverpool? I understand I need to book early to avoid disappointment!
Thank you all! Ho ho ho! 🎅🏻

How near do you want to be?

There's a lovely little steam train in Tarleton which is a really short ride. You stop at the halfway point, see FC, then get back in and travel back.

Martin Mere has a lovely one too where you travel across by boat to get to him.

I've not been to any more towards Liverpool, as I'm further up the coast.

The steam train sounds good. I get very sea sick so wouldn’t fancy the boat.
I’d travel Chester way too

We've been to Green Acres farm a few times at Christmas, the kids have always loved it. Green Acres Christmas

We went to Dobbies last year with my six week old baby. There does seem to be mixed reviews about ( often about queues and rude staff from some I read) we went in the day and about a week and half before Christmas. Perhaps because children were still in school it was quiet, no queue and we had a lovely experience x

We normally go to the Cheshire Reindeer Lodge, its near Cheshire oaks (we are in North Liverpool). Its brilliant, its a bit pricey but there are real reindeer, little rides, an Elf show and the Father Christmas there is great.

Dobbies is great. You need to book online in advance. I had an email to say they’ll be taking bookings soon, so to keep a look out.

The Dobbies in Speke is chaotic at the best of times though. I bet it's carnage at Christmas.

I’ll have a nosey at all suggested, thank you! Dreading the queues and screaming kids, lets hope my little one doesn’t add to the screaming!!😂

Had a nosey and I’m thinking as it’s his first Christmas, try somewhere local in Liverpool. Dobbies looks good although there’s quite a few bad reviews on TripAdvisor. Also the same for the grotto in St Johns (the one that used to be in Lewis’?), mixed reviews.
I’ll be going on a week day and will find out when the schools break up so that I can go before when it’s a bit quieter.
Anymore suggestions please?!

The schools break up relatively late in Sefton, so not all of Liverpool, but does include Bootle etc. We finish at 2pm on 20 Dec. 21 is an inset day.

I'd say that the shops will be busy all of that week anyway. I find Liverpool centre busy most of the time, but only normally get there at lunch time on work days, so if I were you I'd go the week before and either 10-12 or 2-3.00. I reckon they'd be the quietest times.

I don't know of a grotto though as we're up the coast a bit and have always gone north rather than south.

If you google Santas in Liverpool you should be able to find a list as well as reviews. TBH, cheap and short is your best bet at that age. There aren't many people who don't have a picture of a wailing baby on Santa's knee at around that age! 🎅

The steam train you’ve already suggested looks lovely but he’s a little small for that I think. Defo something for next year though!
That’s what I’m thinking, short and sweet, which is why I thought Dobbies but so many mixed reviews. Thank you for the dates, I’ll lrobably go the second week in December during the week when it’s quiet I’ve managed to nearly finish all of my Christmas shopping so that I don’t have to venture into town and face the manic crowds with a pram!

We didn't do Santa until DD was 18 months. DS was 17 months. Those trips were both that little train. Since DD was 3 1/2 we've gone to the Lakes and done the Lakeside and Haverthwaite trip which is excellent, if you want to travel further afield once he's older.

I was disappointed with divvies last year - he was a bit miserable! It wasn’t busy though.

I think I’m going to do the Cunard Buildings this year if it’s on, heard amazing stuff last year!

Dobbies not divvies

Mine used to love Farmer Ted’s. It’s probably the closest thing to experiencing Lapland they ever had.

Really?! Farmer Ted's was that good? I'm amazed at that, to be honest!

I’m not saying it was as good as Lapland (not that I’ve ever been). It’s just the closest thing my DC ever came to that kind of experience!

The whole idea of it being good at all is surprising to me. I'm not a fan as I find it very over-priced with awful customer service. Though I know others disagree with me!

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/christmas-grottos-liverpool---find-8105987

I've heard great things about the button boutique although not sure if it's suitable for babies.

Cunard buildings looked fab last year! Doesn’t look like they’re doing it this year though, can’t seem to find any info for it.

They don’t normally mention it until November

I’ve been to a couple of the Halloween events at farmer teds and found it far too busy and expensive for what it was. The first year was great, cheap, fun and no crowds. After that over the years it’s got very popular and just felt like they’ve sold as many tickets as possible at a ramped up price therefore making it far too busy and not enjoyable. Shame.

I haven’t been to Farmer Ted’s in years because my DC are older and it’s a shame to hear it isn’t as good as it used to be. I hope you find a great experience OP.

To put it into context the little wide-eyed DC I used to take to see Father Christmas are now going to Farmageddon