Santa Claus is coming to town......

Whether you live, work or are just visiting London here's something you'll really need to know to give those little ones a magical day to remember!

Santa's grotto's in London

Santa at Selfridges - 22 Nov-24 Dec Price: £2 if booked in advance; free on the day
Kew Gardens Grotto - 12-3.30pm, 13-23 Dec Price: Included in Kew's entry fee (£13 for adults; children under 17 free)
Southbank Green Grotto - Bargehouse, OXO Tower. 22-23 Nov Price: £1
Santa's Winter Wonderland - Hyde Park bandstand 22 Nov-24 Dec Price: Free
London Wetland Centre - 6-7 Dec Price: £4 in addition to entry fee (adults £8.95; under 4 free)
Sandown Park Racecourse - 5-6 Dec Price: Various prices (children under 16 free)
Hamleys - 29 Nov-24 Dec Price: Free
Harrods - The Christmas Grotto at Harrods is already fully booked this year. However, you can still see the famous man himself at the Once Upon A Time Parade on 1 November, as he makes his grand arrival at the store.

Do you have any other ideas?

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That's actually quite a handy little post.

i remember when you used to go to Santa's Grotto, and you'd get a present. Do they still do that? I remember in my primary school they used to have a christmas party type evening and they converted one of the music rooms I think into Santa's grotto and I met santa and it was god :) And the hall was decorated with decorations we made :D And that's all I remember.

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If you're looking for something else festive to do with the kids this Christmas take them to Amazonia at the Young Vic. Here's the blurb:

Music and dance... laughter and adventure. Christmas, Brazilian style!

'It doesn't get more spectacular, sensory or right-on than the
Young Vic's bastion of first-rate Christmas fare' - Daily Telegraph

Life is changing for the villagers of Todos Os Santos. Danger and desire are unleashed and the Amazon trembles. Can the spirits of the forest save our heroes? Will you be one of them?

A unique festive experience for all the family. Inspired by Brazilian people's hero Chico Mendes, Brazilian and British theatre artists come together to create a spectacular Amazonian adventure. For everyone 7 and over.

www.amazonia-london.com
www.youngvic.org

[PS - 15% off tickets with voucher from www.AfterWorkDeals.com]

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I took my little girl to the santa's grotto at the local playgroup and picked her up to put her on his knee so that I could take a picture - the attendant woman said that i couldn't as he wasn't allowed to have any physical contact with the children for legal reasons!! Presumably this must have been for fear of allegations of improper conduct or something, but with the child's parent/s or carer there as well as the assistant it's hardly likely. What is the world coming to???? :veryangry:

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we live in a nanny state!
It drives me mental :bangin:

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Blame those who think everyone is a paedophile, or who sue at every opportunity for this.

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Yep I agree with you....

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So do I - whole thing drives me nuts. Can't we just see the situation for what it is... children having fun in a totally safe atmosphere under the supervision of 3 adults including a parent/carer - hardly the ideal scenario for a paedophile.

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