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Original poster

WTF? Harrods Grotto Sold Out?

26 replies

LittleOneMum · 30/10/2008 14:18

OK, sorry, I know I'm obviously behind with the times but I only have one DS and he's only just at the age where he's even able to have any idea what Xmas is. So today (and note, it's still October) I thought how lovely it would be to take him to see Santa (in London) at Christmas. So I look at the Harrods website - having heard they do a Grotto. Er, it's sold out? How? What does one have to do to get one of those slots? How early? What's the deal - is there anywhere else I can take DS? Am amazed. In my day (albeit that I grew up in Glasgow) you could just rock up to your local department store and Santa would see you straight away...

OP posts:
samandted · 30/10/2008 14:33

Hi Selfridges still have some spots left

www.wishticket.com/selfridges.aspx

Hope this helps
Bex

RainbowChaser · 30/10/2008 14:42

Sorry but why would anyone want to take their children to see santa specifically at Harrods? Is it some kind of 'one-upmanship' type of thing amongst parents? FGS there are santas and grottos everywhere!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 30/10/2008 14:44

Its free and it has a good reputation

misdee · 30/10/2008 14:44

harrods ones went 'live' about a month ago. i was going to take dd's but too close to my due date.

MilaMae · 30/10/2008 17:19

Actually Harrods went live in Aug apparantly!!!!!!I rang and the man in the grotto told me.

MrsMattie · 30/10/2008 17:21

Harrods is hideous. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Lucky escape

mynametoday · 30/10/2008 17:22

Up until last year i've always taken my dc to Harrods and as much as i've had to queue for hours we've never pre-booked. Has this changed?

queenrollo · 30/10/2008 17:23

look out for local ones.......i thought i'd be stuck with the usual 'shed in a department store' grotto and then found that a local cottage which is a museum is having a 'santa by the fireside day' with hot mince pies for the grown ups.......i think it will be much nicer than queuing in a shop for hours with a hyper 3 year old....

pointygravedogger · 30/10/2008 17:25

Harrod's santa is free?? Does Snata not give the little childers a present? If it's free what do they get?

LadyLaGore · 30/10/2008 17:26

harrods xmas shopping floor is open from august, i used to live round the corner and was to see it the first time.
never done the grotto thing - anywhwere i mean. is it good? ought i be arsed to take my brood y'think?

Saturn74 · 30/10/2008 17:28

We went last year.
Tickets are booked in time slots, so no queuing - well, about 5 minutes but that's it.
The children got a sticker storybook, specially commissioned by Harrods, and a badge.
Photos were £10 each, but we bought one as it was a very good shot, and we gave it to my Mum as part of her Christmas present.

mynametoday · 30/10/2008 17:28

Usually it's something like a book. It's completely free and the have entertainmenmt for tthe kids as they queue. They do charge for a photo though.

MilaMae · 30/10/2008 17:28

Yes we've got some lovely ones down here in Devon- Castle Drogo and Penniwell Farm are lovely if you're near.

We're doing Selfridges this year as we want to do the lights etc before the dc are no longer wonder struck by it all.

You can only pre-book for Harrods now. Don't know if Hamley's are doing one, I hate Hamley's on a good day though

FAQ · 30/10/2008 17:32

I've booked Selfridges for the DS's this year, I suspect it may be the last year that DS1 will believe in the whole santa thing, next year although DS3 will understand more could be too late.

Going to make a day of it and see the lights etc

pointygravedogger · 30/10/2008 17:32

Ahhh! Photos for a tenner. More than recoups the cost of a few lousy sticker books.

And I bet you can't take your own photo with your own camera, can you?

Saturn74 · 30/10/2008 17:33

We took our own photo, but it was a bit surreptitious.
DH didn't want to risk getting twatted by an elf.
Again.

pointygravedogger · 30/10/2008 17:38

there's nothing worse than getting twatted by an elf

hatrickortreat · 30/10/2008 17:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

hollyandnoah · 30/10/2008 17:52

they went out a few months ago, there was a post on the 'for free section' Lots of dates were taken up on the first date, latest i could get was the 1st of december. Ask on for free, maybe someone cant make it.

Buda · 30/10/2008 17:54

Did Selfridges 2 years ago with DS. Wasn't overly impressed but I suppose it was free. Bought the photo.

I used to love going as a child and getting a present.

Will take DS in Dublin this year. Not sure he will be bothered though.

savoycabbage · 30/10/2008 18:42

Littleonemum, I have some harrods grotto tickets you can have.

They are for 25/11 at 15.30. It says that they are not transferable though so you would have to give my name and things, I don't know what they do as I have never been before.

We can't go now and I was going to phone and tell them. my e-mail is [email protected]

kiwibella · 30/10/2008 19:42

I was offered a place on their waiting list - I was number eight hundred and something .

IlanaK · 30/10/2008 19:51

We go every year and thanks to a posting on here this year, got in early enough to get tickets. To answer "why go to Harrods grotto", for some of us it really is the local place to go. Selfridges is geographically closer for us, but we went there one year and were quite disappointed. Harrods is lovely - very real Santas who really spend time talking to the children. They do a lovely book every year and the kids get a badge that they collect one for each year (they are dated). I love it!

kiwibella · 30/10/2008 21:15

shame... has anyone enjoyed Selfridges? I'm heading there to book a spot for my dd.

BexieID · 30/10/2008 21:34

We took Tom to the House of Fraser one in Glasgow last year. You are supposed to book, but we just turned up (first wednesday in December) and got in ok. Santa was late though, lol.