Where to visit Santa - SW London or within travelling distance

[fobbald]

Hi - I am looking for somewhere to take my kids (4 and 18 mnths) to visit Santa. We live in SW London and would either go locally or happy to go on a trip to see a Santa. Last year we went to Bocketts farm and had a great time.

Does anyone have any good suggestions?

Thanks

Kew Gardens - very tasteful Santa (no presents though). And allegedly a real snow dome.

www.kew.org/events/winter-2007/index.html

We're going to Painshill in Cobham but you have to pre-book.

I was going to suggest Kew too, they have two free evenings iirc with carols etc (weekend of 15th I think)

Last year we took ds to Battersea Park children's zoo, they had a lovely Santa and we got a little pressie, ds was terrified though, so we left after about 30 seconds! We had to pre-book, I'll check if they're doing something similar this year, even if Santa isn't a big hit, the animals and playground are great.

We take our boys to see Santa at Bentalls department store in Kingston. It's free but you can pay a small fee for them to get a present or have a photo taken with him.

Kew is lovely. If your children are old enough to enjoy it, the evening visits are lovely as they light up the gardens and it's completely magical.

I went with the children a few years ago (to the carols in the evening) and I would rate it as one of the best Christmassy things we've ever done (and I'm normally a bit bah humbug about all this festive stuff!).

I'm going to Willows Farm which is just outside north London so may be too far? They do a brilliant day out to make it worthwhile - just wrap up warm!