Best 5 Places to see Santa Locally

Every year we treat our children to a special trip to meet Santa just before the big day. I try and find somewhere new and exciting each year. But this is becoming a little more tricky with each year. So I have put together my top five places to meet Santa.

1/ West Midlands Safari Park

1. Up first we have West midlands safari park’s Santa safari. We went here last year and were very impressed! You have the Santa’s Grotto, which is a lovely decorated log cabin with Christmas tree and fireplace making nice touches. The elf even took a photo of our little ones with Santa – nice touch! You have a pre booked time to meet Santa and are greeted by helpful elves who escort you to a sleigh where you go to the North Pole and then into Santa’s Grotto. This was very well done and would have pre-schoolers believing they are actually in the North pole! After meeting Santa, you will make your way to the Elves’ Workshop where children can pick their own present. With a large selection of good standard gifts we were impressed again! Then we headed to Mrs Claus’ Kitchen to pick up your complimentary hot chocolate and cookie. It has a wonderful atmosphere throughout the whole park with the sprinkling of ‘snow’ throughout you’re guaranteed a white Christmas at the Safari Park! 

2/ Severn Valley Railway

• A very close second we have the new refreshed Santa experience on the Severn valley railway steam train. passengers can now take a magical steam train ride through the Severn Valley with Santa on board! For the upper-class guest there is even reserved seats and tasty treats on board for Premium Santa Special. Santa will visit every family on board their decorated carriage, handing out gifts to children and posing for photos as their train steams through the Severn Valley to Highley.

3/ Umberslade Farm Park

• Up next is Umberslade Farm Park. They claim to ‘sprinkle festive magic all over the farm’ and they really do. Offering lots of seasonal treats and extra craft thing to do in addition to all the year-round favourites. What I particularly love about this park is the Christmas nativity with real farmyard animals. They provide the costumes, the barn setting and the farm animals. It makes for a truly magical and memorable scene and young children love it. Father Christmas arrives at Umberslade to say hello to the children. All aboard our festive tractor and trailer ride with Santa and his elves as we go on a magical ride around the farm.
  

4/ All Things Wild

What I really love here is the exclusive Invite, as each child will receive an exclusive invitation from Santa to visit Elf HQ. There is a chance to help Elves sort Santa’s letters and make Christmas music in the Elves Workshop. They even have a winter wonderland for a quick snowball fight! You do eventually get to meet the big man himself and also choose your own gift. I particularly like the festive tales with Mrs Claus for a magical story time. That on-top of the chance to decorate biscuits to take home, I think this place really has all areas covered.

5/ Webbs

• Finally, no Christmas would be complete without a trip to Webbs garden centre. I particularly love the opportunity to enjoy both a chance to glide across the ice on their Christmas Ice Rink and meet the big man himself. If ice skating is not for you then you do not have to miss out as they have a lovely Christmas café with delicious hot food and drink menu to enjoy. This option ticks so many of my parent boxes as it’s all weather, open seven days a week (including evenings!) and free parking is always a winner for me! When it comes to meeting Santa, Webbs have done a great job with offering a chance to enjoy a festive journey to meet the elves in the workshop, explore the wintery wonderland and finally emerge into Father Christmas’ cosy house to meet the jolly fellow himself. My children particularly love creating reindeer food to sprinkle on Christmas Eve and decorating a wooden Christmas tree decoration to keep, not to mention choosing their own gift from the Toy Warehouse!

Whatever you choose to do with your little ones, get booked up quick as availability is already limited at peak times! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…!