Six Places to Find Santa Claus This Christmas in and Around Portsmouth
Kris Kringle, St Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Santa Claus or Father Christmas — whatever you call him, it’s always a festive treat to meet him and put in your demands for Fingerlings Dinos, Elasti Plasti or the latest Lego set. We’ve found five places where you’ll find the chap with the big beard. Just don’t ask how he can be at all these places at the same time!
1. The Gunwharf Express at Gunwharf Quays Shopping
Climb aboard the Gunwharf Express for this family Father Christmas meet experience. The Gunwharf Express is a premium indoor immersive walkthrough (and ride on!) experience for the whole family. With a number of entertaining characters, stunning sets, professionally designed effects, and classic puppetry along the way.
The experience lasts around 30 minutes, giving you and your family plenty of time to enjoy the full North Pole treatment, before meeting Father Christmas himself.
2. Tower Toymaker’s Workshop, Emirates Spinnaker Tower, weekends from 1st December through to Christmas Eve. From £10
Santa certainly is busy this Christmas! He’s setting up his toy workshop at the Spinnaker Tower this winter and you can join his elves to make cuddly reindeers to take home. Finish off the day with a trip to see the big man himself in his grotto.
www.spinnakertower.co.uk
3. Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth, 16 November–24 December
£4.50 per child
Santa will be at the shopping centre in his festive grotto up until he has to head off
for the busiest night of his year. Look out for him outside TK Maxx.
www.cascades-shopping.co.uk
4. Dickens Christmas Festival, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 30 November–2
December
£15.50 (adult); £13.50 (child)
As well as enjoying the numerous activities and markets at the Dockyards this
popular weekend, you can also meet Father Christmas in his traditional green robes.
www.historicdockyard.co.uk/dickens-christmas
5. Christmas on the Farm, Staunton Farm, weekends from 1 to 23 December
£15.95 per child
Santa’s on the farm this year, and you could receive a letter from him before your
visit if you book up! The farm elves will help you decorate something for your tree,
take you on a donkey ride, then on to visit Father Christmas.
www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryparks/staunton
6. Christmas at Keydell Nurseries, Horndean, 10 November to 23 December
£13 per child
Father Christmas will be arriving in November at this popular garden centre. You can
experience the magical Woodland Walk, choose a gift from Santa’s toyshop and
meet the bearded jolly fellow himself!
www.keydellnurseries.co.uk/santa
We know that Father Christmas is a generous old chap, but beware, if you’re on his
naughty list, expect coal in your stocking this year!