The one local to me is honestly the absolute best ever but it's in the mid-west of Ireland, so not much use to you. It's in a local historical site/beauty spot by a lake surrounded by big hills. The Santa experience itself is very low key. You follow the lake path to the heritage centre, which is designed to look like an iron age settlement. There are large wooden Christmas character decorations around and a large sled at the entrance. Inside Mrs Claus is sitting by the fire and Christmas tree, she chats to the kids while they wait and she provides free, cakes, brownies, lollies, fruit, tea and coffee for everyone.
When it's time to see Santa he calls the child by name and knows a few bits about them. If the child isn't nervous or shy he asks the adults to sit on the couch on one side of the room while he spends a few minutes chatting quietly with the child. It sounds a little odd and I was a bit taken aback by it at first but watching it, I could see how magical it was. The man is very much Santa, with a real white beard and the best looking Santa suit I've ever seen. But beyond that, he entirely embodies Santa. DS sat on his lap and they talked so intensely about all sorts of things that DS is interested in for at least 10 minutes. During this time the photographer is moving about the room doing candid shots of the two them together.
Then Santa calls the adults over to join the chat while the photographer takes candid group shots. After another few minutes of chat, you do a more normal posed photo and Santa gives the child a little gift. Which is in a good quality Christmas stocking instead of wrapping paper. Then it's time to say goodbye and head back out to Mrs Claus for another brownie and to see your completely amazing photographs. After that, if it's not too wet it's a good time for a hill walk, or to visit the fairy woods. It's honestly the best Santa experience ever.