Christmas is fast approaching and for children that means thoughts will turn to Father Christmas. If a visit to Santa is a special part of the lead up to your family Christmas then check out this list of places where you can meet the big man himself. From no book Santa's to deluxe all out special experiences we have a great choice of places to go in Essex.
This list will continue to be updated as more events are announced.
Where To See Santa In Essex This Christmas
Breakfast with Santa at Harvester
Christmas Fest Essex
Christmas Fest Essex, Heath Road, Billericay, Essex, CM11 1HL.
8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30th November and every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December and every day 16th to 23rd December 2025
Back for the second year is Christmas Fest based in Billericay, Essex. Set in 10 acres of woodland and featuring 10 experience rooms to explore perhaps this is Essex's answer to Lapland UK? Aimed at children between 2 and 10 years old the activities include: elf workshop where children will make their own Christmas bauble decoration, ice skating, miniature railway, castle visit and finally a visit to meet Father Christmas and a gift.
November dates are £40 per person and December dates £60 per person (under 1s free but can only observe).
Feedback from the first year was really positive.
Barleylands Christmas Experience
29th November 2025 - 24th December 2025
Meet Father Christmas, take a photograph together (with your own camera) and receive a token for the toy factory where children can choose their own toy. It is then on to meet Mother Christmas and decorate some gingerbread cookies. Next, visitors can make some reindeer food to help the reindeer fly. In addition to all of this, entry includes access to the farm park for the whole day including meet and greet animals, tractor rides, outdoor adventure play and much more.
Tickets are between £38.50 and £40.99 (dependent on date and time slot) for children over 1, £16.50 - £18.99 for adults. Members get discounted rates.
Audley End Miniature Railway
Audley End Miniature Railway, Audley End Road, Audley End, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JB
22nd November - 24th December 2025
Make wonderful memories this Christmas at Audley End Miniature Railway including a train journey into the woods to meet Father Christmas where children will receive a special gift from the comfort of the train. After the return journey they can go through the illuminated woodland walk write a letter to post to Father Christmas, make reindeer food and enjoy the stage show. Make sure everyone wraps up warm.
Adults & Children over 92cm: £22.25 to £40.25, children under 92cm are half price and children under 1 year are free.
Father Christmas at Audley End House and Gardens
Audley End Road, Audley End, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JB
Weekends from 29th Nov to 21st Dec 2025Join Father Christmas at Audley End House and Gardens where he will be telling some of his favourite festive stories around the Christmas tree. After the group storytelling session, you and your children can meet him, take photographs and receive a traditional Christmas present to open. Only one adult can accompany each child.
Tickets cost £9.50 per child in advance, for both members and non-members. Non-members will also need a ticket for entry.
Meet Father Christmas at Colchester Castle
Castle Park, Colchester CO1 1TJ
Running various times and dates from 29th November.
Colchester Castle has a number of Christmas events running throughout December. Booking this year can be done online.
Meet Father Christmas: Visit Father Christmas and his elves in the magical setting of Colchester Castle, children get a chance to meet Father Christmas (each slot is approximately 10 mins) and receive a gift. This event is running selected dates from end of November weekends throughout December and weekday evenings 16th to 20th December. Tickets are £12 per child, £1 for accompanying adult.
Starlight Grotto: On 18th, 19th and 22nd December there are special evening grotto visits which will be lit by (battery powered) candle light. Tickets cost £15 per child, £6 per adult.
An Evening with Father Christmas and Friends: On Saturday 20th December you can join Father Christmas and his elves for a fun-packed evening of crafts, games and Christmas magic. Tickets cost £12 for adults and £22.50 for children (includes a gift, drink, snack and activities).
The Enchanted Midwynter Festival at Wyvernwood
Wyvernwood, St. Osyth Road, Alresford, Colchester, Essex. CO7 8AP
Weekends in December and 20th to 24th December 2025 from 10:30 to 15:30
Wyvernwood are hosting their second Enchanted Midwynter Festival which has all the expected whimsical magic of Wyvernwood with some Christmassy extras!
Visit the Festive Grotto where guests can meet Father Christmas and Queen Tatiana and receive a gift and a complimentary photograph, and a secret gift to place under the tree.
Entry costs £40 per person (£25 if passholder) or £10 for under 2s.
Christmas at The Zoo - Colchester Zoo
Colchester Zoo, Maldon Road, Stanway, Heckfordbridge, Colchester CO3 OSL
Experience runs 22nd, 23rd, 29th & 30th November, 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th & 19th to 24th December 2025
Colchester Zoo has festive themed activities around the zoo, entry (for non members) costs around £17.10 for children, £21.15 for adults. In addition you can book The Santa Experience for the date of your visit, this costs £16.50 per child in addition to zoo entry. The experience includes a journey through the winter woodland, Mrs Claus’ Kitchen, the Elf Workshop and a visit to see Santa with gift.
Christmas Grotto at Call of The Wild Zoo
Call Of The Wild Zoo, Wickford Road, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5QZ
22, 23, 29, 30 November and every weekend in December plus 12, 23 and 24th 2025
Call of the Wild have changed to a Christmas Grotto experience managed in house with the aim of offering a more affordable and better quality experience. Tickets are £16.99 for adults, £24.50 to £29.50 per child (reduction for members). Includes: walking through the twinkling Christmas trail, decorating gingerbread with Mrs Claus, making reindeer food with an elf and a visit to Father Christmas where children get a token to choose a gift.
Meadow Croft Garden Centre is only a 2 minute drive away from Call of The Wild Zoo so why not tie in a trip to their German market and make a full day of festive fun?
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| Everything from Deluxe Christmas Experiences To No Frills Grotto |
The Father Christmas Experience at Marsh Farm
Marsh Farm, Marsh Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5WP
Selected dates 15th November to 24th December 2025
Tickets range from £35 to £75 for non members dependent on date, under 1s are free (as observers). Member prices are discounted. There is also a £15 booking fee per order. Optional extra of a personalised letter to the child from FC for around £17 per child.
The 2 1/2 hour magical tour includes: Elf academy, indulging in some sweet treats with Mother Christmas and enjoying the snow show before meeting Santa for a photo opportunity. Next it's off to the Teddy Bear Market where your little ones can choose and make their very own furry friend to take home. Last but not least its a visit to the Elf Emporium to exchange their Elf money for a gift of their choice.
There is also an ice rink, fairground rides, a train plus all the fun of the farm to be enjoyed before and after the tour (including the soft play which is great for warming up)
Read all about our visit in previous year and tips to get the most out of your visit here.
Santa Claus Experience at Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park
Stubbins Hall Lane, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2EF
Experience takes place weekends from 29th November and the 22nd, 23rd to 24th December
From the same magic created at Marsh Farm comes a scaled down Christmas Experience on the other side of Essex. It's a 90 minute experience which includes a Sparkle Snow Show, Mother Christmas's Kitchen, Santa's grotto and the Teddy Bear Market. Meeting Santa takes place as a group, and while you can get a photo opp it's a quick thing, rather than a chat. It's a fun experience, but more about the activities than meeting Santa. You can read about our visit here. Tickets cost £22.50 to £27.50 per person.
Christmas at Ho Ho Hopefield
Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, Essex, CM15
9BZ
Weekends from 29th November and 22nd and 23rd December 2025
Enjoy the festivities at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary every weekend from Saturday 29th November. Activities include: Letter writing to Father Christmas, a Christmas trail, a grotto with a gift from Santa, Christmas arts and crafts, access to the miniature Christmas village as well as general admission to the sanctuary. There is also free gingerbread and warm squash for children whilst the adults can indulge in complimentary mulled wine and mince pies.
Adult tickets are £11.00, Children between 2-15 £20. They also offer Family tickets where you can save a few pounds. Under 2's with a gift are £5.50 and free without. Extra costs for 22nd and 23rd. Booking fee also applies.
Epping Ongar Santa Special Trains
Epping Ongar Railway, Ongar Station, Station Approach, Ongar, Essex, CM5 9BN.
29, 30 November and 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 December
Enjoy a return journey on the Festive Special Train from North Weald and meet Santa and his friends during the experience and receive an age appropriate gift for each child. There are also festive food stalls, a brass band and entertainers at the station. The entire experience takes around 2 and a half hours starting from the Vintage Train Ride from Epping station. Prices range from £65 to £80 for a family of 2. A limited number of private carriages are also available.
Harlow Harvey Centre Grotto
The Harvey Centre, Harvey Centre Approach, Harlow CM20 1XR
Wednesday 13th November to Tuesday 24th December, opening times are- Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm (Lunch 1pm-2pm) Sundays: 11am – 4pm and Christmas Eve: 10am – 3pm.
£8 per child which includes a gift to take home, this is one of the more affordable options out there, but it is a very basic experience just involving meeting Father Christmas. Photos can be purchased separately. It's no frills, but you don't need to book and the Father Christmas has always been friendly and patient with his time. You can read more about our last Christmas visit here.
If visiting on a Saturday check out the Makers Market stalls showcasing local small businesses and roaming performers including: Living Christmas Trees, Comedy Elves, singers and a Grinch a like.
John Lewis
If you’re a My John Lewis member (free to join) you can access advance booking for their Santa visits until 29th September, but they are not taking place in Essex this year.
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| Meeting Father Christmas at Party Kingdom |
Party Kingdom
Old Oak Farm, Rectory Lane, Latchingdon, Chelmsford CM3 6HBThese popular Christmas experiences are based on a farm in Latchingdon. This year they are offering three options: gold and platinum. Both the gold and platinum experiences include a ride on The Santa Express (children only), letter from Father Christmas, magical elevator ride to the North Pole, a personal chat with Father Christmas and gift. The platinum experience also includes a bear building activity with Mrs Claus and a green screen sleigh ride experience.
Gold experience tickets start from £32.50 up to 12 years old and £12 for adults. Platinum tickets start from £44.95 up to 12 years old and £17.50 for adults.
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| Enjoy the magic of Christmas at White Elm Garden Centre |
White Elm Garden Centre
White Elm Road, Danbury, Bicknacre, Chelmsford CM3 4LRWeekends from 22nd November and 19th to 23rd December 2025
This grotto in Danbury needs to be booked quickly as it sells out earlier every year. It features a walk through experience with Santa’s elves, ending with a visit to Santa where children will receive a gift and have photos taken. There are also grotto games to play earning them a sweet treat too. The garden centre is set in a lovely shopping village with lots of small shops to visit and a petting farm with soft play that can be booked separately.
Grotto entry is £21.99 per child and £3.50 per adult. Babies under six months are free with a sibling but will not receive a gift.
Cherry Lane Garden Centres
Offering breakfast or tea with Santa, these visits are a great way to feed the kids in the run up to Christmas. With stores in both Braintree and Hockley (Riverside) hosting these experiences, everyone is treated to a full breakfast, with beans or preserve on toast also an option for the little ones or tea, such as jacket potato or kids favourite fish fingers, for each person. After the meal, balloons and magic keep them entertained before story time with Santa, an individual meeting and a gift for each child.
Breakfast or tea with Santa is £13.99 per child and £9.99 per adult.
Santa at Lakeside
Lakeside Shopping Centre, West Thurrock, Grays, RM20 2ZPIf you’d like to combine your Santa visit with Christmas shopping this year look no further than Santa on the Quay at Lakeside shopping centre. Children can visit Santa in his magic cabin where they will receive a gift and have the chance to capture memories with photo souvenirs available to purchase.
Tickets are £8.50 per child (+£1.50 fee per booking).
Breakfast and Santa at Harlow Garden Centre
Harlow Garden Centre, Canes Lane, CM17 9LD
Weekends from 29th November then every day from 20th to 24th December 2025
Spend your morning having breakfast as a family at Harlow Garden Centre before Santa arrives to tell stories. He will meet with each family individually before giving every child a gift. Children can enjoy a full breakfast or pancakes while adults can swap their full breakfast for eggs Benedict or Vegetarian version. The garden centre puts on impressive Christmas displays each year so is worth a look around too.
Tickets are £18.50 each. Access via link above or directly here.
North Weald and District Miniature Railway
Harlow Garden Centre, Canes Lane, CM17 9LD
6th, 7th, 20th, 21st and 24th December 2025
Hop aboard this miniature railway for their Santa Specials. Located in the grounds of Harlow Garden Centre (on the other side of the car park and independently run) the North Weald and District Miniature Railway takes you to Santa’s grotto where each child receives a gift and can have their photo taken. This year you can also visit Santa in the dark and admire all the lights along the route in full effect.
Tickets are £9 pp, babies under six months go free.
Layer Marney Tower
Layer Marney Tower, Layer Marney, Near Colchester, Essex C05 9USA lovely opportunity to meet Father Christmas but also support the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity. This is a ticketed event charged at £10 per adult and £30 per child and this includes entry to the tower, meet with Father Christmas, a gift to take home, plus festive entertainment, crafts, storytelling, animals and a ride on a routemaster bus. They haven't forgotten about the adults either as tickets include mulled wine and a mince pie for the grown-ups. Tickets available via the link above.
Wonderland Adventure Inside
Sunken Garden, Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1EEVisit Father Christmas and receive a voucher to exchange for a special toy to take home. There are lots of other festive activities taking place too such as letter writing to Father Christmas, crafts and a reindeer food making station. There will also be other fun characters to meet including the Grinch, Mother Christmas and some cheeky Elves. In addition to this, children will receive an 'adventure wonderland passport' with the following vouchers- Free round of adventure golf for the child, free entry to Sealife Adventure for the child and an adult, £2 worth of free games at funtopia arcade, access to all of the rides in Funtopia (the inside area) plus The Polar Express Christmas Sleigh Ride. Entry to the 6 storey soft play, free hot chocolate/ Berry Juice and free children's meal voucher for Sands by the Sea or Feelgoods Diner (when purchased alongside a full paying adult).
One adult can accompany children for free, additional adults are charged at either £5/£10 depending if tickets are purchased in advance or if you have an annual pass. Children cost £40, half price for annual members. Babies under 6 months are free but won't receive the passport.
Fobbing Farm Shop
Fobbing Farm Shop, Gables Farm, SS17 9HTThis experience includes meet and greet with Mrs Claus and the naughty elves before the finale of meeting the main man himself. In addition to this there is time for the children to write out their letters to Santa, and make reindeer food for Rudolph, plus finally making a visit to "Santa's Sorting Office" for the children to collect their gifts (from Fobbing Farm Shop). Tickets are £22.50 per child, the first accompanying adult per child is free and additional adults are £7.50 plus booking fee. Note that there are additional charges for some elements of the day such as fair rides.
Maldon Promenade Petting Zoo
Maldon Promenade Park, Maldon, Essex, CM9 5JQA ticket to Christmas at Maldon Petting Zoo includes: Entry to the Zoo, meet the real Reindeers and sit on a static sleigh, meerkat meet and greet, visit the elf house and visit Santa and choose a gift from the elf workshop.
Children are £22.95 and adults £11.95
Free Christmas Grottos In Essex
Eastgate Centre
Eastgate Shopping Centre, Management Suite, Southernhay, Basildon, Essex SS14 1AGAs you would expect, this FREE grotto gets booked up very quickly. Secure your space via the link above. Children will receive an age-appropriate unwrapped gift (as part of their sustainability efforts) You are welcome to take photos too.
Frinton Christmas Festival
115 Old Road, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 9BXTaking place on Saturday 6th December 4pm-8pm.
Essex Fire Museum
Essex Fire Museum, Grays Fire Station, Hogg Lane, GraysEssex Fire Museum are hosting a Christmas open day with a Santa's Grotto, perfect for any child who is also a vehicle or emergency services enthusiast. Entry is free and from what I can see the grotto is too but you must email them on museum@essex-fire.gov.uk to tell them how many people will be attending and at what time.
Visit Santa at your local library
I can't see the Santa visits currently be advertised for this year, but there are Christmas events taking place at many of the Essex libraries so check to see what is happening at your local library. |
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*All information added in good faith and is believed accurate at time of checking. Always check the website or social media before visiting/ booking.*
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