Santa's grottos and meet-and-greets with Father Christmas are big business in London. If your children want to meet the man in red, his elves and reindeer in London for Christmas 2025, our advice is get booking — tickets can sell out fast! (Oh, and always be kind to the hardworking elves.)
Santa's grotto at The Mall, Wood Green
Eager youngsters can meet Santa a whole seven weeks before the big day, at Santa's Grotto within The Mall, Wood Green. He's in situ from early November, meeting and greeting children and dishing out gifts. Tickets, priced at £7.50 per child, include a present and a £1 donation to local charity the North London Hospice.
Santa's grotto at The Mall, Wood Green, 1 November-24 December 2025.
Meet Santa at Wundrful World of Christmas
A new festive attraction for 2025, Wundrful World of Christmas at Borough Yards (near London Bridge) elevates a simple trip to see Santa into an enchanting-sounding 50-minute immersive experience.
First, step into the lift (powered by Santa's elves, naturally), and whizz above a snowy pine forest to the North Pole. On arrival wander through the Enchanted Forest to the elves' workshop, and learn how that all works, before taking your own turn at the toy-sorting station. Once you're lent a hand here, follow the delicious aromas to Mrs Claus's kitchen, and into Santa's cottage, where he's waiting to tell you a story. Finish up by having a photo taken with him in the North Pole Post Office.
Meet Santa at Wundrful World of Christmas, 7 November-24 December 2025.
Santa's grotto at Fujifilm, Covent Garden
The Fujifilm House of Photography, unsurprisingly, has a very photo-centric grotto experience. Book your kids' slot to meet Santa in his chalet-style grotto, get a pro-quality photo taken with him among snow-topped trees — and take part in festive games, crafts and other immersive photo opportunities.
Santa's grotto at Fujifilm House of Photography, 7 November-24 December 2025.
Santa's grotto at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland dedicates an entire corner of the Hyde Park extravaganza to Father Christmas. Santa Land bustles with family-friendly rides, attractions and activities, as well as the grotto itself. There are also hour-long 'Santa's Parades' on selected days (13, 14, 17, 19, 20, 26 and 27 November and 1, 2 and 3 December 2025; and 1 January 2026), where everyone can wave goodbye to the big man as he heads home in his sleigh to see Mrs Claus.
The good news for parents: this one's completely free (though there's an entry fee for the Winter Wonderland site as a whole), and all kids get a small gift. The bad news: you have to just turn up and take your chances. Be warned: the queue has been several hours long in past years, and they close it when it gets out of hand.
Also worth noting for 2025: Winter Wonderland has retained its entry fees and the requirement to book entry to the site in advance. If you can visit on a weekday morning in November or early December, it's cheaper. Alternatively, buy your family a Santa Land Unlimited Pass. It gives families unlimited access to 12 family-friendly rides in Santaland — and also includes free entry to the site, so you don't have to buy a separate entry ticket.
Santa Land at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Free, no booking (but book for Winter Wonderland itself). Grotto open daily from 14 November 2025, 10am-6pm. The queue may close earlier than this to make sure everyone is seen.
Santa's grotto at Ealing Broadway
We're promised light-up candy canes, glittering stars, snowy mail sacks and friendly snowmen as Father Christmas sets up shop grotto at Ealing Broadway. Visit the man himself and receive a small gift. Take your own photos, or leave it to the professional photographer on site — their snaps can be bought as a printed photo, keyring, bauble or snow globe to take home.
Santa's grotto at Ealing Broadway, 14 November-24 December 2025.
Santa's grotto at Hamleys and The Langham
OBVIOUSLY Santa has to visit the world's most famous toy store as he preps for Christmas. Booking is now open for 15-minute grotto sessions at Hamleys North Pole, in which you're welcomed into the workshop by the elves, have a meet-and-greet with Saint Nick, and receive a special gift.
Hamleys also once again partners with the Langham Hotel (Oxford Circus) to open a Hamleys grotto there, where children can play games with Santa's cheerful elves, enjoy sweet festive treats and meet Father Christmas, as well as leaving with a special gift.
Santa's grotto at Hamleys, 15 November-24 December 2025. Hamleys grotto at The Langham, 15-24 Dececember 2025 (though at £275 for up to four people, the latter isn't a cheap option).
Victorian Santa's grotto at London Museum Docklands
As always, the London Museum Docklands (formerly Museum of London Docklands) runs its charming Victorian Santa's grotto. It's located in the museum's Sailortown area, with festive decorations strewn hither and thither. There might even be a smattering of snow, as children head inside to meet their hero...
Each child receives a Victorian-inspired gift, with minimal plastic used in these products.
Victorian Santa's grotto at London Museum Docklands. Various dates, 21 November-23 December 2025.
Meet Santa at Chiswick House
New for Christmas 2025, Chiswick House gets a Georgian makeover for interactive experience The Twelfth Night of Christmas. See the rooms transformed as they would have been for the festive period during Georgian times, inspired by the 1780 Twelve Days of Christmas carol. Perhaps most exciting for youngsters is the 18th-century grotto, where Santa awaits, ready to share a Christmas story and send you on your way with a pressie.
The Twelfth Night of Christmas at Chiswick House, 21 November 2025-4 January 2026.
Father Christmas at Fulham Palace
Such is Father Christmas's magical prowess, he makes two stops at the library at Fulham Palace this year, across weekends in November and December. The historic library is beautifully decorated for the season, and children can take part in a crafting activity led by the elves among cosy fires and festive decorations, before meeting Father Christmas for photos and gifts.
Father Christmas at Fulham Palace, 22-23 November and 6-7 December 2025.
Meet Santa at London Zoo
Santa returns to London Zoo this winter on various dates from 22 November. Be warned that this one sold out pretty sharpish last year. There's a range of experiences to choose from, including relaxed meet-and-greets and — if you're pushing the sleigh out — VIP breakfasts.
Meet Santa at London Zoo, 22 November-24 December 2025.
Meet Santa and his elves at London Transport Museum
Though it's a rather busy time for him, Santa finds time to stop by the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden on his way up to the North Pole. Meet the cheerful elves and climb aboard a Routemaster-inspired interactive sleigh, with buttons and bells, before meeting Father Christmas and sharing your festive wishes.
Santa at London Transport Museum, 27 November-23 December 2025.
Santa Claus at Southside Shopping Centre
Youngsters of Wandsworth get their chance to meet Father Christmas at the new grotto opening on the first floor of the Southside Shopping Centre. For £7.50 per child they can chat with Santa, and take home a small gift and keepsake photo.
Santa Claus at Southside Shopping Centre, 27 November-24 December 2025.
Santa's grotto at Alexandra Palace
Santa Claus swings by the East Court at Alexandra Palace on selected dates in November and December, where he'll be meeting children, handing out small gifts and posing for photos.
Santa's grotto at Alexandra Palace, 28 November-23 December 2025.
Storytime with Santa at the Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum promises a fairy-lit wonderland filled with snowy Christmas trees as the setting for Storytelling with Santa. Settle down on cushions to hear him read a festive favourite, and learn how he, his elves and his reindeer get ready for the festive season. Children all receive a T.rex tree decoration and chance to have a photo with Father Christmas.
Storytime with Santa at the Natural History Museum, 1-21 December 2025.
Santa's Ice Grotto at Camden Market
Things get chilly in Camden Market this Christmas, as an ice grotto is installed in Hawley Wharf — with both Father and Mother Christmas dropping by on selected days to meet the public. Over 1.5 hours, meet the festive duo alongside a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, and get stuck into art tables for crafts, letter writing to Father Christmas and face painting for the children.
Ice Grotto at Camden Market, 6-24 December 2025. Father Christmas meet and greet days, 12pm-4pm: 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21 and 22 December 2025.
Santa's grotto at John Lewis Oxford Street and White City, and Peter Jones Chelsea
Father Christmas drops by loads of John Lewis stores across the country, for a variety of festive experiences in a collaboration with Lego this year. Oxford Street is graced with a traditional Santa's grotto, taking you through the skies to reach Santa's Post Office, followed by a chance to meet Santa and take home a special Lego set.
Over at the White City branch, and at Peter Jones in Chelsea, families can also meet Santa, while at Brent Cross, Canary Wharf and Stratford, Santa hosts a tea party with cocoa, a festive snack and a special gift.
Oh, and if your 'child' is of a different species altogether, the Santa Paws Experience is back this year, where well-behaved pooches can enter the grotto, have a photo with Santa, and get a present.
Santa experiences at John Lewis and Peter Jones. Various dates and prices.
Santa's a busy man, and some of his London appearances — including at Fortnum & Mason — sell out very quickly. Get yourself on the mailing list for any you're keen to go to, for the best chance of scoring tickets.
