At Almondsbury, every Christmas our goal is to provide the most magical experiences for families around the South West. For many visitors, our incredible event has become an annual event, creating special memories year on year, but for those yet to attend, here’s what to expect and how to get the very most out of your visit!
What is Almondsbury’s Christmas Grotto experience?
Our Grotto event is more than just a meet and greet with Santa. Instead, we’ve built a truly immersive experience full of exploration, games and plenty of fun!
Buying Grotto tickets
Tickets for Almondsbury’s Christmas Grotto are essential to secure your spot for this popular event, and they can be booked online. The Grotto will run from November 30th to December 24th, ensuring plenty of opportunities to experience the magic before Christmas Day.
Ticket Prices:
- Children: £20 (includes a gift from Santa)
- Adults: £10
Please note that every child must be accompanied by at least one adult, and both adults and children will require a ticket to enter. The Grotto can only be accessed with pre-booked tickets, so make sure to book early to avoid disappointment.
What to expect
Your journey starts as you take the ‘lift’ down to a magical series of passages and chambers, guided by the playful elves until you reach Santa’s secret workshop. (No need to be nervous – you won’t really be underground, but the clever elves make it feel that way!)
Next, it’s time to pass through the Naughty or Nice scanner before settling down into the elves’ bedroom for games or a festive story time.
Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for… a personal visit with Santa Claus! Each family will meet Santa privately with time for photos and despite being busy preparing everyone’s presents at the North Pole, Santa has a special treat for each visitor! Each child will receive a gift to take home, as a lasting reminder of your special day.
What to bring
The most important thing to bring to the Grotto is yourselves and your tickets! But, you might also want to bring:
Card: We’re a card-only business so please be mindful that cash is not accepted.
Cameras: Make sure you have your cameras and phones ready to get your snaps with Santa!
Is the Christmas Grotto suitable for all children?
We’ve done our best to make the Grotto as inclusive as possible for all visitors. All our sessions will include Makaton and our elves are there to help and engage with all guests.
Our experience can get very busy during peak times, as well as the garden centre itself. For children with additional sensory needs, our 9am to 10am slots tend to offer a slightly quieter experience.
For wheelchair access, we do ask that you call or email us at marketing@almondsbury.co.uk with your booking reference so we can make necessary arrangements.
Before or after your Grotto session
We advise that you arrive 10 minutes before your ticket time at the allocated Grotto area. However, if you decide to arrive earlier or you’re looking for something to do after you meet Santa, there’s still plenty on offer!
Festive Food and drink at Florum Cafe
Why not treat yourself to festive treats at Florum Café? Fuel up before your visit with Santa with hot drinks and a spot of lunch or if you’re visiting us in the morning, how about breakfast?
We’ll have plenty of Christmas treats available that you and your little ones will love!
Christmas shopping at Almondsbury
You can’t leave Almondsbury without browsing our Christmas shop. From Christmas lights to decorations to novelty decorations and Christmas trees, we have everything you need to deck the hall this year.
It’s the perfect way to finish your visit, picking your Christmas décor with your family!
We hope you're as excited as you are! Don't forget to book your tickets and we'll see you there!