Xmas What‘s On OAKTREE GARDEN CENTRE & NURSERY
SANTA’S CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND AT PAULTON’S PARK
Brock Hill, Bracknell Road, Warfield, Bracknell, RG42 6LH, www.oaktreegardencentre.co.uk
Christmas is a very special time at Oaktree Garden Centre, see the amazing Christmas wonderland display, a lit avenue of trees with real snow machines and much more. Santa’s reindeer will also be visiting most weekend days from Sunday 30 November, please check website for details. Santa visits start from £6.50 per child with two accompanying adults.
COTSWOLD WILDLIFE PARK Burford, Oxon, OX18 4JP, 01993 823 006, www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk You can find Santa in his Grotto on the 14-15 Dec and from 21-24 Dec. A visit costs £1.50 and parents can also choose a gift for their child to receive for £3-£10. Santa has very kindly loaned out some of his reindeer, so they can get some exercise before the big day, and the Giant Snowmen, situated around the Park, add to the festive feel.
LEGOLAND WINDSOR RESORT
Winkfield Road, Windsor, SL4 4AY, www.legoland.co.uk Santa will be visiting during the weekend of 7-8 Dec and then every day from 14-24 Dec. Santa’s Elf will stay on to meet and greet visitors from 27-31 Dec. Tickets are only available for purchase in advance online for £20 per person including a Santa visit, all themed activities and 8 attractions.
FATHER CHRISTMAS TRAIL AT CLIVEDEN
Taplow, SL6 0JA, 01628 605 069, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden Follow the special family fun trail to find Father Christmas in his grotto and receive a special Christmas treat. Join the trail during Dec (until 22 Dec) on Wednesdays from 10am-1pm and weekends from 10am-3pm. £5 per child, no booking required. Normal admission charges apply. The gardens of Cliveden are open daily, 10am-4pm, (closed Christmas Day) until the end of the year.
Take a Santa Cruise with Hobbs of Henley
DOBBIES GROVELANDS GARDEN CENTRE 166 Hyde End Road, Shinfield, RG2 9ER, 0118 988 4822, www.dobbies.com Celebrate Santa’s grand arrival on 17 Nov at 11am with a day of family fun and entertainment or visit him in his festive grotto until 24 Dec. Grotto tickets are £6 and must be booked in advance, booking is available online. Santa will also be hoho-hosting a special Christmas party in the restaurant. For £9.95 per child, enjoy a meal, Christmas party games and a special gift from Santa. Breakfast with Santa is available from 30 Nov and Supper from 14 Dec.
THE LITTLE WELLY CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL Wellington Country Park, Odiham Road, Riseley, Reading, RG7 1SP, www.thelittlewelly.co.uk Billed as the only children’s Christmas festival in the UK, this brand new event is being held from 21-23 Dec. Ideal for 3-12 year olds, there will be entertainment, stalls and activities for the whole family, plus of course, Santa’s Grotto. Cost: £25 for a standard all inclusive ticket to the whole festival, which includes an ice rink, five ‘big top’ tents (Show Tent, Skills Tent, Activity Tent, Chill Out Tent and Catering Tent). Plus Christmas market stalls throughout the Park, and an ‘Enchanted Forest’ with treasure trail and re-creation of The North Pole.
MID HANTS WATERCRESS LINE 01962 733 810, www.watercressline.co.uk Santa Specials are running every weekend from 30 Nov until Christmas plus 20-24 Dec. Depart from Alresford or Alton stations for a 1-hour round trip on a steam train. Santa will visit each child in their seat and give them a gift whilst adults enjoy a mince pie and glass of wine. Tickets from £14, babies (under 1) £8, advance booking only.
Ower, Romsey, Hants, SO51 6AL, 02380 814 442, www.paultonspark.co.uk Christmas arrives early at Paulton’s Park with the opening of their Christmas Wonderland on 16 Nov. Walk through an icy world filled with animated singing characters such as Rudolph and Donner the singing reindeer, see the elves working hard in Santa’s toy factory and, of course, meet Santa Claus himself and receive a gift. Peppa Pig World will also be open and decorated for Christmas with twinkling illuminations and Christmas trees. Tickets must be pre-booked and cost from £20.75 for adults and children, from £15.50 for 1-3yrs. This includes entrance to the rest of the Park (selected rides only) and a new 4D adventure film featuring Reindeer Blitzen and Elf Bobo.
CHOLSEY & WALLINGFORD RAILWAY 01491 835 067, www.cholsey-wallingford-railway.com Santa Specials run on 7-8, 14-15 & 21-22 Dec. Santa will ride on the train and each child up to the age of 8 will receive a gift. Mince pies for the adults at the Trackside Café after the ride. No need to book.
HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND Hyde Park, London, W2 2UH, www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com There is something for all ages at London’s biggest festive attraction. The site is free to enter but tickets must be bought for most activities which can get expensive. Visit Zippo’s Circus; take a ride on the 60 metre high Giant Observation Wheel; glide (or not!) around the outdoor ice skating rink; or walk through the Magical Ice Kingdom, a fantastical sub-zero world crafted from real ice and snow. Santa will be appearing in his grotto in Santaland every day until 6pm with a free present for each child, but beware the queues can be very, very long. There is also a large funfair with some thrilling rides, a Bavarian Village with plenty of warming food and drink plus Christmas Markets for that all important shopping. Open daily from 22 Nov-5 Jan (except Christmas Day), 10am-10pm (open 5pm on 22 Nov).
BROAD STREET MALL Reading, RG1 7QE, www.broadstreetmall.com Poor Santa made the national headlines here last year when a technical hitch left him suspended from the ceiling for over half an hour during the big light switch-on event. Hopefully things will go a little more smoothly this year and he will be safely back in his grotto to greet visiting children at weekends from 16 Nov and 16-24 Dec. For times visit the website.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
LAPLANDUK Whitmoor Forest, Swinley Road, Ascot, SL5 8BD, www.laplanduk.co.uk LaplandUK has re-located this year from Kent to the much handier site (for Thames Valley residents) of a pinewood forest on the Windsor Estate. Travel along the forest pathways to a snowy wonderland, visit the Toy Factory to help the Elves and Mother Christmas’ Kitchen to decorate gingerbread and gather for storytelling. Then it’s skates on at the ‘ice’ rink in the Elves’ Village with a chance to meet the resident huskies and reindeer, before having a personalised visit to Father Christmas in his woodland home. Book in advance for visits from 30 Nov-24 Dec, but be warned it isn’t cheap - tickets cost from £45-£75 per person.
Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, RG12 7QW, 01344 354 400, www.bracknell-forest.gov. uk/thelookoutdiscoverycentre Enjoy Christmas Weekend at The Look Out on 7-8 Dec. There will be lots of fun with a free children’s entertainer, festive art and craft activities and face painting. Christmas trees, holly and mistletoe from the Windsor Estate will be on sale and Santa will be in The Look Out grotto from 10am-4pm. He will also be paying a visit on 5 & 6 Dec for the Toddler Days (see Diary Dates) from 10.30am-12.30pm.
National Trust John Millar
THE LOOK OUT DISCOVERY CENTRE
Ride behind Thomas to visit Santa at Didcot Railway Centre
Santa will also be appearing at many of the events featured in our Diary Dates pages.
Pantomimes and Xmas shows at www.familiestvw.co.uk/pantomimes
Thames Valley West
PAGE 27