Where to meet Father Christmas in Kent this December
Christmas is the perfect time of year to make family memories, and what better way than to meet Father Christmas himself?
From magical grottos to festive trails, we’ve got 10 spots around the county where you can visit Father Christmas this December.
Ashford Designer Outlet
Escape from the winter weather inside Santa’s Lodge. The cosy cabin will be open for visitors to learn all about how Santa makes the magic of Christmas come to life from his own elves, who will also be hosting plenty of games and family activities inside the lodge. The workshop will end with a relaxing storytime and, of course, all visitors will get a chance to meet the man himself.
Details: Saturday, December 3 to Christmas Eve at Ashford Designer Outlet. Book online here.
The lodge will be open on weekends only until Monday, December 19. It will then be open every day, from 12pm to 6pm, until Christmas Eve. The lodge will close at 5pm on Christmas Eve.
Betteshanger Country Park, Deal
Set off on your own magical adventure to the North Pole where you will meet enchanting characters, visit the Candy Village, and say hello to Father Christmas. He will be waiting in his workshop with his elves, ready to give you a special gift and wish you a very merry Christmas, before you venture home. For one weekend only, there will also be an additional visit from the Snowman and Snowdog, a special screening of The Snowman, and a bustling Christmas market.
Details: Saturday, November 26 to Friday, December 23 at Betteshanger Country Park in Deal. Book online here.
The Christmas experience will be open on weekends only until Monday, December 19. It will then be open every day, from 10am to 5.30pm, until Friday, December 23. The Snowman and Snowdog character meet, The Snowman screening and Christmas market will only be available on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4.
Bluewater, near Dartford
The Believe Christmas experience has returned for another year of festive fun. The experience begins inside a Christmas cavern where guests can meet McJingles the elf and his reindeer friend, Norbert. Children can decorate their own bag of reindeer food before heading into the grotto, where they will meet Santa and receive a gift to take home. Alongside Believe, Bluewater’s Winterland outdoor fair will also be open, boasting market stalls, funfair rides and an undercover ice rink.
Details: Friday, November 25 to Christmas Eve at Bluewater in Greenhithe, near Dartford. Book online here.
Believe is open daily from 10am to 7.30pm, except for Christmas Eve when the final session will take place at 3.30pm. Time slots must be booked online in advance. Some times and dates have already sold out.
Bewl Water, near Tunbridge Wells
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially when you’ve got to deliver presents to children all over the world. This Christmas, Santa will be filling up on a buffet breakfast at Bewl Water and, on select dates, you can join him at the table. The breakfast includes hot and cold food, soft drinks and the chance to chat to Santa, before soft play opens for children. There will also be an outdoor elf trail to explore, with festive clues and a sweet treat at the end.
Details: From Saturday, December 17 to Christmas Eve at Bewl Water in Lamberhurst, near Tunbridge Wells. Book tickets by emailing info@bewlwater.co.uk. Find out more online here.
Breakfast with Santa takes place on weekends only between Saturday, December 17 and Christmas Eve from 9am and 10.30am.
Groombridge Place, Tunbridge Wells
This Christmas, you can take a peek inside Santa’s toy workshop. Meet Jinx and Jovie, the Christmas elves, who will welcome you to the workshop and show you how to decorate gingerbread before Santa makes a special appearance and hands out presents for the children. There will also be activities such as making reindeer food and writing a Christmas wish to put in the wishing well, two festive family shows and the grounds will be decorated with trees and lights.
Details: Saturday, December 10 to Christmas Eve at Groombridge Place in Tunbridge Wells. Book online here.
Santa’s toy workshop will be open for the weekend only on Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11. From Saturday, December 17 to Christmas Eve, the workshop will be open daily from 9am to 4pm.
Historic Dockyard Chatham
For the first time, the dockyard is opening its doors in December and giving visitors a chance to see what goes on behind closed doors at this time of year with Mission Christmas. This exclusive experience will take you on an immersive Christmas journey through the Historic Dockyard Chatham with festive storytelling and interactive activities. There will then be an exclusive meet-and-greet with Father Christmas himself, where children will receive a gift and can have their photo taken.
Details: Saturday, November 26 to Christmas Eve at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. Book online here.
Mission Christmas is open on weekends only until Saturday, December 17. It will then be open every day, from 11am to 6.30pm, until Christmas Eve. Admission to Mission Christmas is not included in an annual ticket and must be booked separately.
Kent Life, near Maidstone
The farm will be transformed into a winter wonderland with a number of festive activities this year, with the highlight being a visit from Father Christmas. His magical grotto will be filled with toys for children to take home, and there will be a chance to soak up the Christmas atmosphere while you wait your turn. There will also be an Elf School, where you can learn how to be a Christmas elf, build-your-own teddy bear workshops, festive film screenings, a candy cane sweet shop, train rides on the Jingle Express and a chance to cook in the kitchen with Mrs Christmas.
Details: Saturday, November 26 to Christmas Eve at Kent Life in Sandling, near Maidstone. Book online here.
The grotto will be open on weekends only until Sunday, December 18. It will then be open every day, from 10.15am to 5pm, until Christmas Eve. All tickets must be pre-booked, some time slots have already sold out.
Reindeer Centre, near Tenterden
Visitors can meet Santa in his Christmas cabin and receive a delightful gift, before experiencing the fun-filled festive activities on offer. You can walk through a spectacular 150ft animated grotto with eight festive scenes, play in the fake snow pit, take a family selfie, and visit the Christmas animal barn and see reptiles, tortoises, meerkats, goats, alpacas and, of course, Santa’s magical reindeers.
Details: Saturday, November 19 to Christmas Eve at the Reindeer Centre in Bethersden, near Tenterden. Book online here.
The Christmas cabin is open daily, but tickets must only be booked in advance for weekends and Christmas Eve. On weekdays, you can pay on the gate.
Reuthe’s The Lost Garden, Sevenoaks
Explore the festive trail and make your way along the path to meet Father Christmas at this Sevenoaks garden. When you discover the woodland grotto, you can step inside and see Father Christmas in his green woodland robes, where he will give each child a present and take a photo with your family. This year, there is also a special early evening grotto experience, where you can see the gardens illuminated with lights and decorations.
Details: Saturday, December 3 to Friday, December 23 at Reuthe’s The Lost Garden in Sevenoaks. Book online here.
The woodland grotto will be open on weekends only until Friday, December 17. It will then be open every day, from 10am to 7pm, until Friday, December 23.
Tonbridge Castle
Tonbridge Castle has a guest moving in this December. Santa, Mrs Claus and the elves are setting up shop in the castle preparing for the big night, and your children can help them get ready for Christmas. Enjoy an immersive experience with lots of theatrical storytelling and festive themes, where you will meet the Claus family and receive a teddy bear to take home. Your ticket will also include entry to the Castlemas grounds, which boast market stalls, hot food and drink, and beautiful decorations.
Details: Thursday, December 8 to Tuesday, December 20 at Tonbridge Castle. Book online here.
Santa’s Castle will be open daily, from 10am to 7pm on weekdays and 9am to 7pm on weekends. On Monday, December 19 and Tuesday, December 20, the castle will be open from 9am to 7pm.