Take the kids to meet Santa as he comes to Bucks & Oxon bearing gifts, mince pies and a mulled wine (or two!) for hard-working parents. Tickets are flying off the shelves for these grottos, sleighs and trains, so get booking, stat!

OXFORDSHIRE

Didcot Railway Christmas special train - Santa

Didcot Railway Centre , from Sat 30 Nov – Mon 23 Dec

The Didcot Railway Centre is a Christmas winner for train (and Santa) fans. The challenge is to find Santa’s lost reindeers and get them back in time to deliver all the presents – there’s a special gift waiting at every reindeer station. Grab a mince pie, hot chocolate and meet the Big Guy in his giant toy workshop (where there are more gifts to choose from) before chugging back to the station. Open every weekend plus 21-23 Dec. Tickets from £27.50.

Fairytale Farm, Chipping Norton, Sat 23 Nov – Tue 24 Dec

Back for Christmas 2024 and bigger and better than ever, Chippy’s Fairytale Farm has gone all out for Santa. Its festive funs starts when children are handed a ‘magic passport’ to travel through the Christmas eras, with helpful elves on hand to stamp it at every stop. Meet the dancing penguins at the North Pole before heading to Santa’s Grotto for a hangout with the jolly man in the red suit. Then it’s off to Dickensian London for A Christmas Carol, where there’s a gift for every child at Tom’s Toy Shop. They’ll love it, and it could be a bit of escapist fun for you too. Open daily until Tue 24 Dec. Book here.

Millets Farm, Abingdon, until Tue 24 Dec

The North Pole has well and truly arrived at Webbs Garden Centre on Millets Farm – and with it Santa, Melvin Sneakybottom the mischievous elf, and a whole lot of festive fun. We’re talking reindeer-feeding, tree-trimming, baking and lots of festive singing and dancing. Kids get a festive family photo with Father Christmas and a sweet treat too. Weekends to Sun 1 Dec, and every day from Mon 2 Dec – Tue 24 Dec. Tickets are £27.50 for 1 child and adult.

Bicester Garden Centre, Sat 30 Nov – Tue 24 Dec

Need a caffeine fix before revelling in all the Christmas cheer? Bicester Garden Centre is holding a breakfast meet-and-greet with Father Christmas, which is great for sleep-deprived parents of 3-10 year-olds. As well as plenty of festive activities to get involved with, the big guy will stop by with a sack full of gifts, one for each child. And all before you’ve finished your first cup of coffee. Winning. £15.95 per child, £14.95 per adult.

Oxford Castle & Prison, Oxford, select dates to 23 Dec

Tickets to see Santa in the atmospheric Oxford Castle & Prison are selling faster than hot mince pies and it’s no surprise really. One ticket grants access to St. George’s Tower where elves will help the kids make penguin baubles, button trees and Christmas card garlands. Then its through to the Victorian prison wing for Christmas tree bauble decorating before meeting Santa and hanging a festive wish on the Wish Tree. £20 for one child and one adult, select dates remaining.

Yarnton Garden Centre, Yarnton, weekends until Sun 24 Dec

Yarnton Garden Centre is breaking with tradition for the second year running to offer a more casual encounter with the big man. Rather than a ticketed grotto, it’s doing a festive photo experience in their Christmas ‘Notto’ – crucially, not a grotto. No pre-booking required. Across any weekend from now until Sun 22 Dec, plus Mon 23 and Tue 24 Dec, pop along to Yarnton, revel in its Christmassy makeover and then pose for a family photo with Mr. Claus himself (plus a whole load of Christmas shopping opportunities of garden goodies, homeware, clothes, deli and gifts). This costs £10 per family which is payable whenever you decide to go so, if you’ve snoozed on tickets for a grotto experience elsewhere, look to Yarnton Garden Centre as your holiday saviour – phew.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Reindeer Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park — Reindeer at Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park

Hogshaw Farm & Wildlife Park, Sat 23 Nov – Tue 24 Dec

Farmer Christmas I hear you say? Hogshaw Farm brings a gorgeous wintery wonderland, real reindeer, Christmas tree planting, gingerbread decorating, mulled fruit punch for the adults, Father Christmas on his signature red tractor – and of course an early pressie. To top it all off, full access to the farm, play areas and all its nativity scene animals. Tickets are £29.95.

Milton Keynes Museum, Wolverton, until Sun 15 Dec

MK Museum’s Victorian Christmas is in full swing, and Santa’s not far behind. The grounds of the museum have been turned into a Lapland paradise, where little ones can hang out with Papa C, sing along with volunteer carollers round the pianola, enjoy some festive crafts and receive a handpicked gift. And there’s a mulled wine in it for you, too.

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre , Quainton, weekends until Sun 22 Dec

The Panto Express experience comes to Buckinghamshire railway again and with it, a glittering new production of Jack and the Beanstalk. Father Christmas will come and say hi while you enjoy the show in a vintage steam train (never-ever a dull moment). If the 25min ride isn’t enough, stay a little longer at the café and gift shop. Tickets from £22.50 (a toy from Mrs Claus and the elves included).

The Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre, Great Missenden, Sat 14 Dec only

Or maybe the kids would prefer a more casual Santa meet-up? He’ll be stopping by the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden for one day only, making appearances throughout the day and giving out chocolate. It’d be a pretty special surprise to bump into the big man at the museum, and it’s a great excuse to see this wonderful homage to some of the best stories ever. And on the plus side for you, it’s completely free with museum entry (£9.95). Better book ahead though, it’s filling up fast.

Lillingstone Pick Your Own, Buckingham, weekends until Sun 22 Dec

This family farm between MK, Buckingham and Northampton is dishing out seasons greetings this year in the form of both Father and Mother Christmas – about time, too! They’ve brought the tradition into the modern day, as Mother and Father Christmas are splitting the hours at Lillingstone, taking one day of the weekend each. Visit on a Sunday to catch the Mrs Claus, who will be seeing kids individually and reading stories with each. It’s £20 per child and includes all the usual sleigh bells and whistles.

Bletchley Park, Bletchley, select dates Sun 1 – Mon 23 Dec

History buffs will love the location of this one. Bletchley Park welcomes Father Christmas into the gorgeous mansion, where the Ballroom has been decorated to the hilt, complete with vintage grotto. The kids can chat with Santa, receive a special gift and get stuck into a festive puzzle trail (in the codebreaking spirit), all for £14!

The Arctic Grill in the snow, Wick Farm — The Arctic Grill, Wick Farm

Wick Farm, Tring, Sat 7 Dec only

Fine, it’s borderline Bedfordshire, but Santa’s new woodland home at Wick Farm is well worth a mention. The atmospheric Arctic Grill cabin is a wedding venue year-round so they’re used to making magic moments. There’s hot choc for everyone, gingerbread making and a gift for each child – £46 for a family of four ain’t bad, either.

Odds Farm Park , High Wycombe, select dates Fri 29 Nov – Tue 24 Dec

The sell-out festive fun at Odds Farm is back and there’ll be plenty to keep the kids entertained – making a cuddly bear, an elf show, Acapella Penguins (you read that right), reindeer feeding, creative crafting, toy shop raiding and a private visit to Father Christmas, Mrs Claus, the North Pole Sorting Office and Elf Town Square. Tickets from £25.20, book before 6 Dec and get a free return visit to Odds Farm Park in January.

Thrift Farm, Milton Keynes, select dates Sat 7 – Tue 24 Dec

Father Christmas’ Grotto at Thrift Farm has a special festive story time for all the boys and girls before meeting the Big Guy (and grabbing a gift from the toy shop) – there’s also some tree decorating to be had, reindeer to be fed and plenty of other festive crafts to get stuck into at the Christmas Barn before refuelling with a marshmallow-laden hot choc at the Potting Shed Café and a toy to pick out at the end of it all. Weekends from Sat 7 Dec + Mon 23 & Tue 24 Dec, £20.

FURTHER AFIELD

Beale Wildlife Park, Reading, weekends until Sun 22 Dec, + Mon 23 & Tue 24 Dec

Let the kids run wild for the day at Beale Wildlife Park as there is a sackful of festive fun going on – searching the winter puzzle trail for clues, elves and gifts, Christmas crafts, feeding reindeers, sharing wishes with Santa (of course) with lots of treats to nibble on in the grotto. Tickets to meet Santa from £12.50 per child.

Roves Farm, Sevenhampton, select dates Sat 30 Nov – Mon 23 Dec

Follow the lights at Roves Farm and discover all sorts of Christmassy fun – along with Santa, you’ll meet the busy elves, watch them in the live Elf Show and choose a gift from the Toy Shop. There’ll also be paper crafts, reindeer food-making, and a living nativity scene with donkeys, sheep and alpacas (instead of camels) – a perfect spot for a family festive photo don’t you think? Tickets are £32.50 – £37.50 for kids aged 1-16 years and include entry to Roves Farm for the whole day.

And for even more Christmassy fun happening near you, check these out:

Best festive afternoon teas in Bucks & Oxon

Cracking Christmas markets in Bucks, Oxon and beyond

Skates on! 16 nearby ice rinks to visit this winter

Christmas wreath-making workshops in Bucks, Oxon and beyond

Winter light trails in Bucks, Oxon, and beyond

Santa Claus is coming to town! Where to meet him in Bucks & Oxon this Christmas

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