Santa’s grottos · Christmas 2026
Santa’s grottos near Southampton
We’ve checked 10 Santa’s grottos within 20 miles of Southampton. 9 have confirmed 2026 dates, 1 is still to announce. The first opens on Friday 20 November (Santa's Grotto at Christmas at Marwell Zoo).
Where prices are published, entry runs from £10 to £27.50 per child. 9 include a gift in the price.
On this weekend
Based on each listing’s first and last dates. Some run on selected days only, so check times before you set off.
- ✓ 2026 dates confirmed
Visit Father Christmas at Tudor House & Garden
Tudor House & Garden, Southampton · 1 mile from Southampton · run by Southampton Museums & Galleries
- When
- Sunday 13 December
- Times
- Timed slots 11:15am – 3:00pm
- Price
- From £25
- Booking
- Book ahead
- Per child
- £25
- Gift included
- Yes
- Type
- Grotto visit
Dates: Sunday 13 Dec 2026
Prices: £25 per child ticket; each child may bring up to two adults
Each child ticket covers a visit to Father Christmas with a gift, one festive craft, a hot chocolate or juice, a festive biscuit in the café and museum admission. Babies in arms come free with a paying child but need a ticket to get a gift. Tickets are single entry and non-refundable unless the event is cancelled.
Under-5s: Good for themChecked Mon 5 Oct · source: southamptonmuseumsandgallery.co.uk Book a visit - ✓ 2026 dates confirmed
Santa's Grotto at the Hythe Christmas Tree Festival
St John's Church, Hythe · 3 miles from Southampton · run by Hythe 2000 Charitable Trust
- When
- Saturday 5 December
- Price
- £10 per visit; optional donation at checkout
- Per child
- £10
- Gift included
- Yes
- Visit length
- 5 minutes
- Type
- Grotto visit
Dates: Saturday 5 Dec 2026
Five minutes with Santa in his grotto. The visit includes a wrapped book and a piece of snowman confectionery. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- ✓ 2026 dates confirmed
Santa Specials on Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway
Lakeside Country Park, Eastleigh · 4 miles from Southampton · run by Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway
- When
- Sat 12 Dec – Wed 23 Dec
- Price
- Not published
- Gift included
- Yes
- Type
- Santa train
Dates: 12, 13, 19, 20, 22 and 23 Dec 2026
Steam train ride around the park, with a visit to Santa when you return. Children get a present from Santa, a drink and biscuits; adults get a hot drink and a mince pie or cake. Prices are not published yet.
Checked Mon 5 Oct · source: visit-hampshire.co.uk Details - ✓ 2026 dates confirmed
Santa's Grotto at Paultons Park
Paultons Park, Ower, Romsey · 7 miles from Southampton
- When
- See dates below
- Times
- Park opens 10am; rides close 4:30pm in December
- Price
- See prices below
- Booking
- Book ahead
- Gift included
- Yes
- Type
- Santa experience
Dates: Christmas at Paultons Park runs on selected open dates in December 2026 to 3 Jan 2027; the grotto is on selected December dates only
Prices: Park admission plus an extra grotto charge; see the booking page for the amount.
A walk-through grotto with lights, music and animatronic characters, then a meeting with Santa. Each child gets a plush toy in a gift bag and one printed photo. Maximum 8 guests per booking. Must be booked before the day of your visit, and park admission is also needed. Santa also appears in the Christmas Wish and Santa's Storytime stage shows until 24 Dec at no extra charge.
Checked Mon 5 Oct · source: paultonspark.co.uk Book a visit - ✓ 2026 dates confirmed
Meet Father Christmas at Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway, Exbury · 7 miles from Southampton
- When
- Sat 28 Nov – Sun 6 Dec
- Price
- From £12
- Booking
- Book ahead
- Per child
- £12
- Gift included
- Yes
- Type
- Santa experience
Dates: Weekends 28–29 Nov and 5–6 Dec 2026 (5–6 Dec sold out; 28–29 Nov tickets available)
Prices: £12 per child, £11 for Friends of Exbury members. Christmas Fair tickets are needed as well
Children meet Father Christmas in a decorated railway carriage in the engine shed and get a festive gift. Christmas Fair tickets are required in addition. A separate evening Father Christmas event runs 30 Nov – 4 Dec.
Checked Mon 5 Oct · source: exbury.co.uk Book a visit - ✓ 2026 dates confirmed
Santa's Grotto at Christmas at Marwell Zoo
Marwell Zoo (Marwell Hall), Winchester · 8 miles from Southampton · run by Marwell Wildlife
- When
- Fri 20 Nov – Thu 24 Dec
- Price
- See prices below
- Booking
- Book or turn up
- Gift included
- Yes
- Visit length
- 45 minutes
- Type
- Santa experience
Dates: Santa's Grotto on selected dates 20 Nov – 24 Dec 2026
Times: Zoo day 10am – 4pm; Fire & Ice evening 4pm – 7:30pm
Prices: Grotto must be added to a zoo day ticket or Fire & Ice evening ticket; prices shown at checkout
A 45-minute walk through Marwell Hall with a Nordic Forest story, a wish-making activity and a family visit with Santa. Each child gets a gift worth £14.95. The grotto cannot be bought on its own, and it sells out every year. Quiet sessions with reduced noise and fewer visitors run on 10 and 17 Dec.
Checked Mon 5 Oct · source: marwell.org.uk Details - ✓ 2026 dates confirmed
Santa's Grotto at The Great Hall, Winchester
The Great Hall (Westgate Museum), Winchester · 11 miles from Southampton · run by Historic Winchester
- When
- Sat 28 Nov – Wed 23 Dec
- Price
- From £20
- Booking
- Book ahead
- Per child
- £20 (with gift)
- Gift included
- Yes
- Adults pay
- Yes
- Visit length
- 5 minutes
- Type
- Grotto visit
Dates: 28 Nov – 23 Dec 2026
Times: Timed slots through the day; the slot you book is the time you see Santa
Prices: Adults £7; children aged 0–5 with gift £20; children 6+ with gift £20. At least one adult and one child ticket per booking
Five minutes with Santa and his elf; each ticket includes entry to the Great Hall and Westgate Museum, a craft activity and a hot chocolate. Under-6s get a plush reindeer or polar bear, over-6s a wooden board game. Up to 8 guests per slot, arrive 5 minutes early or the booking can be lost. Many dates are already sold out.
Under-5s: Good for themChecked Mon 5 Oct · source: historicwinchester.co.uk Book a visit - ✓ 2026 dates confirmed
Father Christmas Express at the Watercress Line
Ropley Station, Watercress Line, Ropley · 18 miles from Southampton · run by Watercress Line
- When
- Sat 12 Dec – Thu 24 Dec
- Times
- Activities 9:30am – 3:30pm
- Price
- From £27.50
- Booking
- Book ahead
- Per child
- £27.50 (ages 1–15; £34.50 on 24 Dec)
- Gift included
- Yes
- Adults pay
- Yes
- Visit length
- 35 minutes
- Type
- Santa train
Dates: 12, 13 and 19–24 Dec 2026
Prices: Advance booking, 12/13/19–23 Dec: under 1 £12 (gift, no seat), ages 1–15 £27.50, 16+ £22.50. 24 Dec: under 1 £14.50, ages 1–15 £34.50, 16+ £28.50. £2.50 booking fee
About 35 minutes round trip from Ropley to Medstead with Father Christmas on board. Also includes presents from Present Junction, miniature railway rides, an elf-door trail and reindeer food making; bubble waffles are new for 2026. Departs from Ropley only. Assistance dogs only.
Parking: Ropley station, Bighton Hill, Ropley SO24 9SQAccess: Limited accessible carriage spaces; pushchairs should be folded and stored on luggage racks. No discounts or free carer tickets.Dogs: Not allowedUnder-5s: Good for themChecked Mon 5 Oct · source: watercressline.co.uk Book a visit - ✓ 2026 dates confirmed
Santa Specials at Moors Valley Railway
Moors Valley Railway, Moors Valley Country Park, Ashley Heath, Ringwood · 20 miles from Southampton · run by Moors Valley Railway
- When
- Sat 5 Dec – Mon 21 Dec
- Price
- Not published
- Booking
- Book ahead
- Gift included
- Yes
- Type
- Santa train
Dates: 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 and 21 Dec 2026
Train ride, then a visit to Santa to collect a present. Adults and children both receive a present. Booking is open; prices and times are shown when you book.
Checked Mon 5 Oct · source: moorsvalleyrailway.co.uk Book a visit - Awaiting 2026 dates
Christmas at Longdown Activity Farm
Longdown Activity Farm, Ashurst · 5 miles from Southampton
- When
- Awaiting 2026 dates
- Price
- Not published
- Type
- Santa experience
Dates: Last year: Christmas Barn with a visit to Father Christmas
Dates will follow once confirmed. Phone 023 8029 2837 or join the farm's newsletter for updates.
Checked Mon 5 Oct · source: longdownfarm.co.uk Details
Compare at a glance
| Name | Where | When | From | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visit Father Christmas at Tudor House & Garden | Southampton (1 mi) | Sunday 13 December | £25 | Book ahead |
| Santa's Grotto at the Hythe Christmas Tree Festival | Hythe (3 mi) | Saturday 5 December | £10 | — |
| Santa Specials on Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway | Eastleigh (4 mi) | Sat 12 Dec – Wed 23 Dec | — | — |
| Santa's Grotto at Paultons Park | Ower, Romsey (7 mi) | Christmas at Paultons Park runs on selected open dates in December 2026 to 3 Jan 2027; the grotto is on selected December dates only | — | Book ahead |
| Meet Father Christmas at Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway | Exbury (7 mi) | Sat 28 Nov – Sun 6 Dec | £12 | Book ahead |
| Santa's Grotto at Christmas at Marwell Zoo | Winchester (8 mi) | Fri 20 Nov – Thu 24 Dec | — | Either |
| Santa's Grotto at The Great Hall, Winchester | Winchester (11 mi) | Sat 28 Nov – Wed 23 Dec | £20 | Book ahead |
| Father Christmas Express at the Watercress Line | Ropley (18 mi) | Sat 12 Dec – Thu 24 Dec | £27.50 | Book ahead |
| Santa Specials at Moors Valley Railway | Ashley Heath, Ringwood (20 mi) | Sat 5 Dec – Mon 21 Dec | — | Book ahead |
| Christmas at Longdown Activity Farm | Ashurst (5 mi) | Awaiting 2026 | — | — |
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Common questions
Which Southampton grottos include a present?
Visit Father Christmas at Tudor House & Garden, Santa's Grotto at the Hythe Christmas Tree Festival, Santa Specials on Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway, Santa's Grotto at Paultons Park, Meet Father Christmas at Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway and Santa's Grotto at Christmas at Marwell Zoo and 3 others include a gift for each child in the ticket price.
Are any Santa’s grottos near Southampton free?
None of the ones we checked is free. The cheapest is Santa's Grotto at the Hythe Christmas Tree Festival at £10, and the dearest Father Christmas Express at the Watercress Line at £27.50.
When do Santa’s grottos near Southampton open in 2026?
Confirmed so far: Santa's Grotto at Christmas at Marwell Zoo (Fri 20 Nov); Meet Father Christmas at Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway (Sat 28 Nov); Santa's Grotto at The Great Hall, Winchester (Sat 28 Nov); Santa's Grotto at the Hythe Christmas Tree Festival (Sat 5 Dec); Santa Specials at Moors Valley Railway (Sat 5 Dec); plus 3 more on the list. Every listing shows the date we last checked it.
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