Eleven of the best places to see Santa in Suffolk in 2021
The magic of Christmas is best seen through the eyes of children and when it comes to the festive season, nothing beats visiting Santa Claus in his grotto for all the festive feels.
This year a good number of Santa's grottos will be open once more, giving some youngsters the chance to see the big man in person for the first time.
So, where can you see Father Christmas in Suffolk in 2021?
We've searched the county for some of the best grottos which still have tickets available. And, if you are willing to travel a little further for something extra special, we've included a few outside the county within a short drive – believe us when we say they are worth the trek.
1. Kersey Mill, every weekend from December 4, plus December 20, 21, 22 and 23
Santa's Workshop, at Kersey Mill, is a magical and unique experience aimed at children aged three to nine.
The journey starts with a walk through the gardens to collect lost gifts for Santa en route to the workshop. Then, children will head to Santa's workshop to meet Santa and his working elves.
There they will be involved with the Christmas preparations, with various fun activities for them to enjoy, along with loading the sleigh and checking to see if their name is on Santa's scroll.
Each child will receive a small gift and meet the candy elf for a traditional clementine, mix reindeer food and make a craft item to take home.
The experience lasts about an hour, with Santa aprons provided.
Tickets cost £32.50 per child including one adult, additional adults £15 and babies under nine months free
Book tickets here.
2. Mid Suffolk Light Railway Santa Specials, December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19
The Mid Suffolk Light Railway Santa Specials are magical steam train journeys from the festively-decorated Brockford station to meet Santa at North Pole Halt, aimed at children aged up to 10.
Visitors will see Santa in his Christmas guard's van, with each child receiving a present. On the return from their Santa visit passengers can follow the signs for the Christmas market, where Christmas crafts, hot drinks, mince pies and festive mulled wine will be available.
There will be two traction engines and a Dutch street organ on site to give an added festive feel, while there will also be model railway layouts including a live steam model engine.
The Santa Special’s genuine Great Eastern Railway Victorian four-wheeler coaches are a historical experience for any passengers on Suffolk's only standard gauge railway museum.
Book tickets here.
3. Hollow Trees Farm, December 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Hollow Trees Farm, at Semer, offers a wonderfully-themed trail with Santa for the festive season.
Youngsters can follow the trail, ending with a visit to the winter wonderland to see Santa in his grotto and receive a golden token to spend on a toy of their choice at Santa's toy shop (as long as they have been good this year, of course).
Children will also receive a goody bag of festive activities to enjoy at home, while the farm trail kiosk will be open selling a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks (including some Christmassy treats).
Ticket sales re-open on November 26 at 10am.
Adult tickets cost £5-£10, children £10-£14 and babies free.
Book here: https://www.hollowtrees.co.uk/trail-with-santa/
4. Kentwell Hall, Long Melford, December 4, 5, 11, 12
Christmas at Kentwell is a traditional family day out including a visit to Father Christmas.
Families will be able to step back in time and meet a range of Victorian characters, including cooks in the great kitchen, bakers and villagers at the moat house, Charles Darwin and the Victorian ladies in the parlour.
Then they can follow a 'days of Christmas' trail through the gardens and find animals and garden crafts at the stables before taking a Victorian-style Christmas portrait in possibly the biggest 'selfie booth' in the world.
Finally, Mother Christmas will welcome visitors to Father Christmas's cottage to write and post a Christmas letter, sit in Santa's sleigh and meet Father Christmas.
The experience lasts at least two hours and advance booking is essential.
Tickets cost £10 children aged two to three, £30 children aged four-11, £27.50 children aged 12-15, adults from £32.50, family tickets (two adults and two children from £100) and children under two free.
For more information, go to https://www.kentwell.co.uk/events/christmas-at-kentwell
5. Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park, Wherstead, weekends from December 4 and daily from December 18
Jimmy's Farm has two magical Christmas experiences this year – breakfast with Santa and a Christmas grotto.
Breakfast with Santa includes a bustling festive morning in The Barn Restaurant and Coffee House, with Santa’s helpers on hand to serve breakfast before a meet and greet with Santa (and gift for every child) and entry to the farm and wildlife park. Tickets cost £25 per adult and £30 per child.
Visitors to the Christmas grotto will be able to meet Father Christmas, the elves and receive a lovely gift (entry to the park not included). Tickets cost £10 per child (adults free).
Book now at https://jimmysfarm.digitickets.co.uk/tickets
6. Colne Valley Railway, Castle Hedingham, from December 5
Santa is visiting Colne Valley Railway again this festive season after the Colne Valley Railway team worked with Santa and his elf and safety team to ensure visits could be as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Guests will be able to meet Santa in his grotto before travelling by diesel train to collect a present from Santa's toy shop.
Tickets cost from £15 (babies need to be included in party size).
Book at https://www.colnevalleyrailway.co.uk/santa-specials/
7. Arc Bury St Edmunds, from November 26
From the end of November the arc shopping centre will be hosting, supported by Bury St Edmunds Town Council and Our Bury St Edmunds, a new magical Christmas experience.
Tickets, while will be available soon, include a 20 to 25-minute festive experience with a trail, storytelling, walk-through enchanted forest and playtime in Santa's toyshop before finishing in Santa's front room for the traditional grotto experience.
For more information, go to https://arc-burystedmunds.com/
8. Dobbies garden centre breakfast with Santa, Bury St Edmunds, weekends from December 4 and daily from December 18
The popular breakfast with Santa at Dobbies includes breakfast for the whole family followed by games and a visit from Santa, with a gift for every child.
This event is suited to families with children aged 10 and under, who will be seated and served at their own table.
The children's breakfast menu (including gift from Santa and activities) costs £13.99, while adult options start at £6.99 (no gift from Santa included – sorry!).
Book here.
9. Easton Farm Park Christmas experience, Woodbridge, weekends from December 4, daily from December 17
The Christmas experience at East Farm Park offers an array of activities in addition to meeting Santa and experience the farm itself, including wishing tree crafts, meeting the Christmas animals, gingerbread decorating, reindeer food making, choosing a present at the elf workshop and a meeting with Father Christmas.
Advance booking is essential as the 90-minute experience usually sells out.
Tickets cost £17.50 per child, £9.95 for babies under one and £10.95 per adult.
More information and bookings at https://www.eastonfarmpark.co.uk/see-father-christmas
10. Cherry Lane Garden Centre, Long Melford, weekends from November 27-December 19
The Cherry Lane grotto experience is at the budget end – with tickets costing just £5.99 – but that does not mean it will be any less magical for little ones.
Visitors will be able to wander through a Christmas world to arrive at the grotto and meet Father Christmas for a charming chat and special gift.
Elves will be there throughout to guide visitors and answer any questions.
Adults do not need to purchase a ticket for the grotto, but child tickets must be booked in advance.
Book here.
11. Dobbies Woodbridge Santa's grotto, weekends from December 4, daily from December 18
Santa's grotto is one of the best-loved festive experiences at Dobbies Woodbridge, including a magical outdoor woodland (spotting Christmas characters along the way) before being welcomed by Santa himself, to receive a special gift. Tickets cost £11.99 per child.
Book at https://events.dobbies.com/event-detail/?e=4177&r=v&v=37
And now for three festive grotto experiences from outside the county (but still well worth a visit):
1. Bressingham, weekends from November 28 and daily from December 18
Christmas is always magical at Bressingham. Under twinkling fairy lights, Christmas at Bressingham includes a ride on the steam train on the Fen Railway, a festive spin on the gallopers and a visit to Father Christmas, including a present (for children aged up to 12).
There will also be a very Christmassy Walmington-on-Sea Dad's Army display in the exhibition hall and vehicles decorated especially for the season.
Advance tickets cost £12.50 for adults, £15.50 for children aged three-12 and £8 for under threes requiring a present. On the day tickets – if any are available – cost £1 per person more.
Book here.
2. Audley End Miniature Railway, Saffron Walden, November 20-December 24
The Audley End Miniature Railway Christmas Special is such a popular family activity that peak dates tend to sell out within minutes of going on sale in September each year. However, when we checked tickets were still available for many off-peak dates.
A festive visit to Audley End includes a trip on the Santa Express through the estate woodland to Father Christmas' Winter Wonderland.
There, visitors can meet Santa and his helpful elves, receive a special gift and watch a Christmas dance.
After the train ride is an enchanted walk to the gingerbread house to meet the Christmas fairy and receive a special letter to write and post at the North Pole Post Office.
Then, it is time to experience the adventure play area, make reindeer food to leave out on Christmas eve and meet Mother Christmas at her interactive show.
Tickets cost £18/£25 for adults and children over 92cm, children under 92cm £9.50/£12.50, children under one are free.
Book online at https://audley-end-railway.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/35848?tickets%5B275278_quantity%5D=2&tickets%5B275279_quantity%5D=2
3. Church Farm, Stow Bardolph, December 2-23
Father Christmas will be back in his woodland retreat at Church Farm for 2021.
Church Farm is a bit special when it comes to Christmas. Visitors can see animals in Nativity scenes, meet the elf, see the elves' workshop and then walk through a magical woodland until they discover Father Christmas sitting on a bale of straw (and hear his remarkable knowledge of local geography, as he describes the route his sleigh will take to get to your home). Meanwhile, Santa's sleigh is available for photo opportunities in the pig barn.
All Father Christmas tickets include entrance to the farm as well as a visit to the big man himself, so you can stay all day and enjoy everything Church Farm has to offer (including indoor and outdoor play areas, animal encounters, undercover petting pens, Christmas shopping and market).
Adult tickets cost £8.10 and children from £10.50.
Book tickets at https://www.churchfarmstowbardolph.co.uk/father-christmas-booking-calendar-v2/
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