Santa's grottos in Hampshire 2026
From a quick grotto visit to a full morning of elves, workshops and a personalised meeting with Father Christmas, Hampshire has a wide range of Santa experiences. We have compared what each one includes, who it suits and what it costs, using the organisers' own published details.
Prices vary a lot because some experiences include a gift, activities and several hours of entertainment, while others are a short visit. Compare what is included as well as the headline price.
21 events we have checked
- Christmas marketsChristmas lights
Southampton Christmas Market
Above Bar Street, Bargate and Guildhall Square, Southampton · 12 November to 27 December 2026
Wooden chalets, bars and fairground rides fill Above Bar Street and Guildhall Square for six weeks, with a laser show projected on the Bargate every 30 minutes from 5pm. The opening event brings local choirs, live music and the switch-on of the Bargate light show.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Thursday 12 November to Sunday 27 December 2026. Monday to Wednesday 11am to 10pm at Bargate and Above Bar (Guildhall Square until 9pm), Thursday to Saturday 10am to 10pm, Sunday 11am to 7pm, Christmas Eve 10am to 7pm. Closed Christmas Day.
- Christmas lightsChristmas markets
Aldershot Christmas Cracker and lights switch-on
Aldershot town centre, Aldershot · 14 November 2026
Rushmoor Borough Council's afternoon of festive stalls, street food and family activities across Aldershot town centre, ending with the Christmas lights switch-on and fireworks in Princes Gardens. Father Christmas has a new grotto this year.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Saturday 14 November 2026, 12pm to 5.30pm. Lights switch-on countdown and fireworks from 5.10pm in Princes Gardens.
- BookMeet Father ChristmasChristmas lights
Christmas at Marwell: Fire and Ice and Santa
Marwell Zoo, Winchester · 20 November to 30 December 2026
Marwell runs a festive day at the zoo, a new after-dark trail called Fire and Ice, and a 45 minute Santa's Grotto journey in historic Marwell Hall. The evening trail is themed on how animals survive winter, with illuminations, fire performers and an ice maze.
- Price:
- From £21.95
- Dates:
- Selected dates from Friday 20 November to Wednesday 30 December 2026. Zoo 10am to 4pm; Fire and Ice evening 4pm to 7.30pm (last entry 6pm). Santa runs on Fridays to Sundays, 10 and 17 December, and 18 to 24 December. Some weekdays are daytime zoo only.
- BookMeet Father ChristmasFamily days out
Christmas Grotto at The Point
The Point, Eastleigh · 21 November to 22 November 2026
Father Christmas visits The Point for the weekend of Eastleigh's lights switch-on, welcoming families with a song and a story before each child collects a gift and has a photo with him. It is a low-cost group session.
- Price:
- From £2.50
- Dates:
- Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November 2026, sessions from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Each session lasts about 20 minutes.
- BookMeet Father ChristmasFamily days out
Christmasville at Gunwharf Quays
ApolloDomes, The Plaza, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth · 21 November to 4 January 2027
Two domes on the Plaza at Gunwharf Quays host a festive immersive theatre show for families by day, a Father Christmas grotto and a bar. The Elf Emporium show uses live performance, puppetry and projection and lasts 25 minutes.
- Price:
- From £10
- Ages:
- All ages.
- Dates:
- From Saturday 21 November to Monday 4 January, 10am to 7pm. The organiser's page gives the days but not the year; this is the 2026 season page.
- Christmas lightsChristmas markets
Fareham Christmas Lights Switch On
West Street and Fareham Shopping Centre, Fareham · 21 November 2026
Fareham Borough Council's switch-on fills West Street with a festive market, funfair rides, community performers and free children's activities through the day. The finale at the bandstand ends with the lights going on at 5.30pm.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Saturday 21 November 2026, 10am to 7pm. Lights switch on at 5.30pm at the bandstand. The funfair rides also run on Sunday 22 November, 10am to 4pm.
- Christmas marketsMeet Father Christmas
Farnborough Frost Fair
Queensmead and The Landing, Farnborough · 21 November 2026
Rushmoor Borough Council's free festive day in Farnborough town centre, with a market of over 50 stalls along Queensmead and family activities from a Father Christmas grotto to donkeys and birds of prey. More than 100 performers play across two stages.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Saturday 21 November 2026, 10am to 3.30pm.
- Christmas lightsChristmas markets
Fleet Christmas Festival
Fleet Road, Gurkha Square and The Harlington, Fleet · 25 November 2026
Fleet's Christmas festival takes over Fleet Road from the Oatsheaf to Church Road, with stalls, a kids zone, a walk-through nativity and the Christmas tree lights switch-on. Santa's grotto is in The Harlington and Santa's Post Office opens in the Hart Shopping Centre.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Wednesday 25 November 2026, 2pm to 9pm.
- Christmas lightsChristmas markets
Alton Christmas Lights Switch-On and Market
Alton town centre, Alton · 27 November 2026
Alton Town Council's evening switch-on lights the Assembly Rooms and Market Square, with a Christmas market spread across the town and a family fun fair on the High Street. Father Christmas sees children for free at Wild House Play Cafe.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Friday 27 November 2026, 3pm to 7pm. Lights on at the Assembly Rooms at 5pm and in Market Square at 5.45pm.
- BookMeet Father ChristmasChristmas markets
Christmas at Exbury: Christmas Fair, Father Christmas and the Festive Express
Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway, Exbury · 28 November to 6 December 2026
Exbury's fundraising Christmas weekends bring a fair of local producers to the gardens, with Father Christmas in a railway carriage in the engine shed and an elf-themed ride on the steam railway. Fair tickets include the woodland gardens, a family trail and crafts.
- Price:
- From £7
- Ages:
- The Festive Express has some flashing lights.
- Dates:
- Weekends of 28 and 29 November and 5 and 6 December 2026. Christmas Fair 10am to 4.30pm.
- BookMeet Father ChristmasFamily days out
Santa's Grotto at the Great Hall
The Great Hall, Winchester · 28 November to 23 December 2026
Santa and his elves set up in the medieval Great Hall, home of the Round Table, for a short family visit with a gift for every child. The ticket also covers elf-led crafts, letter writing and entry to the Great Hall and Westgate Museum.
- Price:
- From £7
- Ages:
- Gifts are a plush reindeer or polar bear for ages 0 to 5 and a wooden board game for ages 6 and over.
- Dates:
- Saturday 28 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026, in booked five minute slots.
- Christmas marketsChristmas lights
Waterlooville Christmas Market and Lights Switch-On
Waterlooville town centre, Waterlooville · 28 November 2026
This year Waterlooville holds its Christmas market and lights switch-on on the same day, with local traders through the day and the switch-on in the early evening. Choirs, a brass band and a visit from Santa are planned.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Saturday 28 November 2026, a daytime market followed by the lights switch-on in the early evening. Times had not been published when checked.
- BookMeet Father ChristmasFamily days out
Hayling Winter Wonderland at Funland
Funland, Hayling Island, Hayling Island · 29 November to 24 December 2026
Funland on the Hayling seafront turns its upstairs space into a Christmas wonderland, with an elf village, a gingerbread factory and a visit to Father Christmas, who gives each child an early present. A ticket also covers an hour in the Kidz Kingdom soft play and a selection of children's rides.
- Price:
- Prices are shown when booking. Under 1s are free. Coffee and the arcade are not included.
- Ages:
- Children must be with a full-paying adult. Height limits apply on rides and in the play area.
- Dates:
- Selected days from Sunday 29 November to Thursday 24 December: 29 November and 18 December 12pm to 5pm; 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19 to 23 December 10am to 5pm; 24 December 9am to 3pm. The booking page gives days but not the year; this is the 2026 season page.
- Christmas lightsChristmas markets
Ringwood Winter Wanderland and lights switch-on
Ringwood town centre, Ringwood · 29 November 2026
Ringwood Town Council's day of Christmas events in the town centre, ending with the Christmas lights switch-on in the Market Place. Last year it included a market of over 80 stalls, Santa's grotto and a festive parade led by Santa.
- Price:
- Free
- Dates:
- Sunday 29 November 2026. The town council says further details will follow.
- BookHeritage railwaysChristmas lights
Exbury Christmas Night Train
Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway, Exbury · 30 November to 4 December 2026
A 30 minute illuminated steam train ride around Exbury's woodland gardens after dark, past lights and festive displays. Father Christmas sees off every departure, and festive food and drink is sold each night.
- Price:
- From £21
- Ages:
- Features some flashing lights.
- Dates:
- Monday 30 November to Friday 4 December 2026. Trains at 5.15pm, 6pm, 6.45pm and 7.30pm; entry from 4.45pm.
- BookPantomime and theatreMeet Father Christmas
Dear Santa Live at The Haymarket
The Haymarket, Basingstoke · 2 December to 6 December 2026
A short stage show based on the picture book by the author of Dear Zoo, in which Santa and his elf try to find the right present for Sarah. Children can meet Santa in his grotto after the show and each child gets a gift.
- Price:
- From £18
- Ages:
- Aimed at young children as a first theatre trip.
- Dates:
- Wednesday 2 to Sunday 6 December 2026. Shows at 10.30am and 1.30pm each day, plus 4pm on Saturday 5 December.
- BookMeet Father ChristmasFamily days out
A Christmas Ship at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
HMS Warrior, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth · 5 December to 6 December 2026
For one weekend HMS Warrior is dressed for a Victorian Christmas Eve in 1863, with the crew preparing their festive show and Father Christmas waiting in the Captain's Cabin. Families can join in with carols, parlour games, crafts and a present trail around the decks.
- Price:
- From £36
- Ages:
- Aimed at families with children.
- Dates:
- Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, 10am to 4pm, with Father Christmas visits booked in a morning (10am to 1pm) or afternoon (1pm to 4pm) slot.
- BookMeet Father ChristmasChristmas lights
Christmas at Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World
Paultons Park, Romsey · 5 December to 3 January 2027
Paultons Park on the edge of the New Forest opens for Christmas with illuminations, a decorated Peppa Pig World and a large number of rides running. Santa appears in the stage shows until Christmas Eve, and families can book a separate grotto visit.
- Price:
- Park tickets are priced by date on the booking page. Santa's Grotto is an extra charge and must be booked before the day.
- Dates:
- Open on 5, 6, 12, 13 and 14 December, 18 to 24 December, 27 to 31 December 2026 and 2 and 3 January 2027. Park opens 10am; rides close 4.30pm.
- BookMeet Father ChristmasAnimals and wildlife
Santa's Grotto at Staunton Farm
Staunton Farm, Havant · 12 December to 22 December 2026
Hampshire County Council's Staunton Farm runs a Christmas grotto on six December days, starting in Father Christmas' garden with hot chocolate and a pretend snowball fight. Each child meets Father Christmas, receives a wrapped gift and can then spend the rest of the day on the farm.
- Price:
- From £15.95
- Ages:
- One ticket covers one child; a responsible adult must stay with children throughout.
- Dates:
- Saturday 12, Sunday 13, and Saturday 19 to Tuesday 22 December 2026. Timed visits every half hour from 10am, last at 2pm.
- BookPantomime and theatreMeet Father Christmas
Santa's Sleigh Ride at The Berry Theatre
The Berry Theatre, Hedge End · 12 December to 18 December 2026
KD Theatre Productions' sing-along show follows Santa and Jingleberry the Elf as they try to fix the sleigh before Christmas Eve, helped by Frosty and Rudolph. Every child meets Santa afterwards and receives a present.
- Price:
- From £13.50
- Ages:
- Aimed at children aged 2 to 9. The show runs 50 minutes, then children meet Santa.
- Dates:
- Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December 2026 at 11am and 2pm, and Friday 18 December at 1.30pm and 4.30pm.
- BookPantomime and theatreMeet Father Christmas
Santa Live at The Berry Theatre
The Berry Theatre, Hedge End · 19 December 2026
Darling Productions' hour-long family show sends Santa's elf Muddles across the North Pole to sort out the mixed-up presents, meeting Frosty, Rudolph and the Gingerbread Man. It is packed with Christmas songs to sing and dance along to.
- Price:
- From £16.50
- Ages:
- For all ages. Runs about 1 hour.
- Dates:
- Saturday 19 December 2026 at 1pm and 3.30pm.
See them on the map
21 of these events, plotted. Tap a pin for dates, prices and directions.
Questions people ask
What age is a Santa experience best for?
Each experience sets its own recommended ages, and many are aimed at primary school children and younger. We show the organiser's recommended age range on each listing where it is published.
Do adults need a ticket?
Often yes. Many experiences charge separately for adults and children, and some include a gift only with a child ticket. Check the booking page for the exact ticket types.