Can you recommend a day out with Santa within 1-1.5 hrs of SW London

[orangeplum]

I can't believe we are thinking of christmas already but I want to book a day out for the kids to see Santa before christmas. Have missed Harrods and not sure where else in or near London does visits - have been to Kew and Bocketts before so looking for something different, preferably combined with something else to make it a day out.

Would def recommend Bocketts

Amberley Working musueum is just over an hour by train from Victoria.

You can ride on all the old vehicles then take a steam train trip up th ehill to see Santa. you have to book tickets.

We have been several times. Nice quality gift from Santa too.

Santa FundaysClick on Special Events in side menu then Santa Fundays

Bluebell Railway

Bocketts had a lovely haybale grotto last year.

Message withdrawn

Stick to the tried and tested this year!

It wan't bad last year, but definately wasn't value for money.

Painshill park ? Or is Bocketts better (interested to know actually as was going to book Painshill again).

What's Painshill like?
Bocketts has the appeal of small farm animals but my DC are getting a bit old for that now. We went to Bocketts for a birthday party, so we petted the rabbits etc, then went on the big slides, and the children rode to the grotto in a trailer driven by an elf . They all met FC as a group. Unsure how it works for individual visitors.

Painshill is nice but not a lot else there for children other than FC. You book a timed slot though and you arrive and there's a waiting area where they get an activity pack in case there's a wait and then you go into his grotto - which is an actual 18th/19th C grotto and is v. pretty. FC has a bit of a chat and then gives present and then out. Its probably not much for your money but its fairly magical (but dd was only not quite 3). There's a longish walk to the grotto.