Christmas is coming and that means Santa is out on his rounds meeting all the boys and girls to see what they want and make sure they’ve been good. Is Santa in South Wales this year? Of course he is.
Where can you see Santa in South Wales this Christmas?
Where?
Cardiff Castle
When?
Saturdays and Sundays between 24th November and 22nd December.
Whats included?
- Visit to Santa in his Grotto
- Traditional Christmas Gift
- Christmas Craft Area while you wait
- Christmas Activity Booklet to take home
- Candy Cane Trail in the decorated Victorian House
- Access to the Castle Grounds
- 10% off Christmas range in the Gift Shop
How much?
Child tickets are £12.95 (includes 2 accompanying adults).
Where?
The Magic of Christmas’ at Pugh’s Garden Village Radyr.
When?
17th November – 24th December. (Only some weekdays and certain times left)
Whats included?
- A 30 Minute Journey through The Magic of Christmas visiting 5 different rooms along your merry way towards and including meeting Santa.
- A Magical Gift for children to take home!
- A Free Toy from Santa to be collected from the toy shop
- A Voucher for a FREE Hot Drink for every adult to redeem between Wednesday 2nd January and Thursday 28th February 2019 in any of the Pugh’s Coffee Shops.
How much?
£15.00 per Child
£5 per Adult
Photos – starting from £6
Where?
Caerphilly Garden Centre
When?
Saturday 10th November – Monday 24th December.
Whats included?
- Visit to Santa
- Gift
How much?
£7 per child
Photos – £3.25 each/4 for £10/Memory stick £8.95
Where?
Gower Fresh Christmas trees
When?
Saturday 24th November – Monday 24th December
VIP – Only on a Tuesday evening 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Whats included?
The Standard Admission ticket will give you entry to Santa’s Grotto.
There are loads of different scenes to see inside and your welcome to take as many photos as you want. There is a sleigh you can sit in and even a place where you can write your Christmas list to Santa. Also the reindeer inside may need feeding, so hopefully you will have some reindeer food with you. Every child will receive a small present personally handed by Santa himself, it’s very exciting.
You are also welcome to walk around the site and fields, spend time with the reindeer, see the piglets and lambs.
The special treatment for our VIPs, includes:
- Goodie Bag for the child
- Present for the child
- Reindeer food for the child
- Hot chocolate and mince pie for all
- Visit to Mother Christmas in Mother Christmas room
- Special Hello from Santa in the Mother Christmas room
Before entry to Winter Wonderland. There is mother santas room and she will read your children a story.
The story times will be starting at 4:45pm, 5:15pm, 5:45pm and 6:15pm.
How much?
Standard;
Adult – £4.00 + £0.49 booking fee
Child – £9.00 + £0.49 booking fee
Family – £22.00 + £0.49 booking fee
VIP;
Adult – £8.00 + £0.49 booking fee
Child – £18.00 + £0.49 booking fee
Family – £44.00 + £0.49 booking fee
Where?
Walnut Tree Farm Park
When?
Saturday 1st Sunday 2nd, Saturday 8th Sunday 9th and Saturday 15th Sunday 16th
Whats included?
- Lunch for the children
- A present off Santa
- Access to the farm for the day
How much?
£10 for children £5 for adults
Where?
Woodland Walk Garden Centre
When?
Every weekend from 17th November
Whats included?
Kids get to feed the reindeer and get a present from Santa while exploring his winter wonderland.
How much?
£7.50 per child
photos – £3.50
Where?
Celtic Manor
When?
1st – 22nd December
Session starting at 2.30pm and a further one starting at 5.30pm.
On Friday and Saturday the sessions will start at 2.15pm and 3.15pm.
Whats included?
As well as their own special afternoon tea, children will also be able to enjoy a very special group story time with Mother Claus and write their ‘wish list’ to Santa, before the big man himself drops in to say hello to the group and deliver a small gift before Christmas.
This a group experience so there will not be time for photos with Santa. A number of Elves will be on hand to entertain the children and help them to write their letters to Santa.
How much?
Monday to Thursday:
From £26 (adults)
From £8 (2 – 12 years)
Under 2 years Free
Friday and Saturday:
From £30 (adults)
From £15 (2 – 12 years)
Under 2 years Free
Where?
Clearwell Caves
When?
30th November – 24th December
Whats included?
In our ever popular Christmas Spectacular you and the kids can follow our seasonal story – Cora and the Bloobious Bright – through exciting displays, meet Father Christmas in his Grotto, choose a present and halfway through discover Christmas stalls selling gifts, decorations, stocking fillers and seasonal treats. Our underground cafe will be open for you to enjoy a welcome hot chocolate and cake, before you continue on your journey.
How much?
Adults 15+ – £12.50
Child 2-14 (with gift) – £12.50
Baby under 2 – Free (£5.50 for gift)
Where?
Dean Forest Railway
When?
Saturdays and Sundays from the 8th December including Christmas Eve.
Whats included?
Your chance to ride behind a real steam engine with Santa and his helpers on board – no queues for a grotto here!!
Each child will receive an age related gift and each adult will receive a mince pie and a miniature to help keep warm!
Our cafe will be offering seasonal refreshments all day. Our shop is well stocked with toys and gifts for both young and old. Plenty of stocking filler ideas!
Each trip lasts approximately one hour, travelling through the forest from Norchard Station (GL15 4ET) to Parkend and back.
How much?
£14 per person
Where?
Rhondda Heritage
When?
24th November – 24th December
Whats included?
The unique and magical journey begins underground as you make your way through Santa’s Toy Mine, past the sweet mine, into the ice cave and surface right at Santa’s front door. But is he home?
Each child will receive a gift from Santa.
Adults will have a mince pie and hot drink (tea or coffee) on arrival.
Hold on there’s more….
- Make-your-own teddy bear workshop *
- Photos with Santa *
- Late night evening tours (tours up until 8pm on selected nights)
- Craft stalls
- Christmas shop
Additional cost applies *
How much?
24th November – 16th December
- Children £10.95
- Under 1 years old £5.95
- Adults £6.95
Christmas week 17th December – 24th December
- Children £11.95
- Under 1 years old £6.95
- Adults £7.95
Where?
Ikea Cardiff
When?
Saturday 1st December – Saturday 22nd December
Whats included?
Bring the little ones to meet the man himself, and they will take home a gift to put under the Christmas tree.
All proceeds go to the Noah’s Ark Charity Tiny Lives Appeal, supporting the life-saving care of premature and critically ill babies.
How much?
Visit & Gift: £8
Visit, Gift & Photo: £10
Where?
St Fagans National Museum of History
When?
6th-8th December
Whats included?
- Performances of the Mari Lwyd & Hunting the Wren from Cwmni Dawns Werin Caerdydd
- Carol singing in the Chapel
- Plygain singing in St Teilo’s Church
- Meet Father Christmas (small gift for each child)
- Write your Christmas list in the schoolhouse
- Brass Band performances
- Ride the Christmas land train
- Storytelling and Christmas characters
- Craft workshops for adults and families*
- Community carol singing session to close the evening
- Event car parking (after 5pm)
How much?
£15 adults
£8 children (under 16 years)
Under 2s free
Where?
Big Pit National Coal Museum
When?
8–9 & 15 December, 10am OR 1pm
Whats included?
Join us for breakfast or brunch with Mother Christmas, visit the elves workshop to make a Christmas decoration or a toy to take home. There’ll be a chance for a photograph with Mother Christmas and a present for every child.
Pancakes, crumpets, mini Danish selection and maple syrup, fruit bowl served with a regular filter coffee or Welsh brew tea for adults and unlimited squash for children.
How much?
£10 for children
£5 for adults
Where else can you see Santa in South Wales?
Where?
Big Pit National Coal Museum
When?
16 December 2018, 10.30am-1pm and 1.30pm-4pm
Whats included?
Be amazed as Father Christmas arrives at Pit Top at 10.30am, travelling 300ft UP from underground on his way to Lapland.
Once he’s arrived (and found his elves!) there’ll be an opportunity to visit him in his cottage.
Music will also be provided by Blaenavon Town Band.
How much?
£5 charge to include a gift.
Where?
The Pontypool and Blaenavon Model Railway
When?
1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd and 23rd December 2018
Whats included?
You will enjoy a train ride to Blaenavon High Level, where, next to a roaring fire, you will meet the big man himself in the station grotto! The train will return to Furnace Sidings following a non-stop run (through Furnace Sidings) to Whistle Inn (please call 01495 790403 to check opening times of the Whistle Inn Pub if you are planning to visit, as this is not part of the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway).
As well as the opportunity to meet with Santa, each child will receive an age appropriate gift.
For the Adults there will be Sherry and a Mince Pie.
How much?
£12 each.
Even more places to see Santa in South Wales…
Where?
Cardiff Museum
When?
15 & 16 December 2018, 11am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 3.30pm.
Whats included?
Father Christmas will also be bringing his reindeer into land at the Museum. Come and meet the man himself in his grotto for a special Christmas treat.
There will also be crafts, activities and music
How much?
£3 for Santa
Crafts and activities free.
Where?
Principality Stadium
When?
1st – 24th December
Whats included?
Follow in the footsteps of your rugby heroes as we explore the halls in search for Santa Claus and the magical Christmas grotto.
As you wander through the stadium halls and historic rooms picking up vital clues along the way, the sights and sounds will immerse you into the world of Welsh Rugby that will be an adventure for the whole family, not just for kids. Feel the buzz of the Ray Gravell press room and stand in the footsteps of International players in the team changing room before completing the last piece of the puzzle and discovering the entrance to the illusive Santa’s Grotto!
The enchanting grotto will delight and surprise, filled with festive fun, twinkling lights and Christmas characters, not forgetting Santa Claus himself! Reveal your secret Christmas wish list to Santa and each child will receive a surprise Christmas gift as part of the experience.
How much?
Adult (16+) – £6.50
Child (with gift) – £12
Family (2 adults 2 children) – £34
Concession (60+) – £6
Where will you be seeing Santa this year? If you have other suggestions for Santa in South Wales let us know!
Until the next post,
Santa in South Wales times and prices were correct at time of writing 2018. Check websites before going. If you are considering going along to Pugh’s then check out our review of the Candyland.
