Santa Specials - Christmas 2026

Christmas Has Arrived at the Museum! 

Get ready for a magical festive adventure at the Museum as it’s transformed into Santa's Grotto! Hop aboard our steam-hauled Christmas train and journey through the trees to meet Santa in his woodland grotto.

Your Christmas Journey Begins...

At your booked time, your festive ride departs from Reeds Road Station, right near the main entrance. Climb aboard and enjoy a scenic trip around the Museum grounds to the North Pole Station. From there, it’s just a short stroll through the trees to Santa’s enchanting grotto.

Meet Santa & Enjoy Festive Fun!

When you arrive at the grotto, families will be invited in one group at a time to spend a special moment with Father Christmas himself. While you wait your turn, children can get creative in the Elves' Workshop with Christmas crafts and activities - with a little help from Santa’s cheerful helpers.

Gifts & Goodies for Every Child

Children aged 0–12 years will receive a special gift, personally selected and named just for them - plus an ‘I’ve seen Santa!’ sticker to proudly wear all day! We’ll collect children's names and ages when you book to make sure every present is perfectly matched.

Explore a Christmasy Museum

Before or after your Santa experience, take time to wander through our historic buildings dressed in charming period Christmas decorations. It’s the perfect way to step back in time and soak up the festive spirit.

Opening Times

For the Santas Grotto Experience we are open to pre-booked tickets only on:

Saturday 12th December, 10.00 - 17:30

Sunday 13th December, 10.00 - 17.30

Friday 18th December, 12.00 - 16.00

Saturday 19th December, 10.00 - 17.30

Sunday 20th December, 10.00 - 17.30

Warm Up at the Market Garden Café
Need a festive pick-me-up? The Market Garden Café serves a range of delicious hot and cold meals, snacks, and drinks from their seasonal menu. Enjoy indoor seating or wrap up warm in their covered outdoor area. Please note: Café hours may differ from the Museum opening times as they are a separate business running their own winter opening times.

Important Ticket Info

Please note: The Santa Special is a ticketed event and not included in Annual Pass or General Admission tickets. If you’d like to ride the train or visit Santa’s grotto, you’ll need to book tickets separately - but trust us, it’s worth it! Generally, this experience and gifts are suitable for children up to 12 years of age.

Babies

Children under 1 year old (12 months) do not require a ticket.

However, when making your booking, please include your baby’s name and age in the booking notes. This will allow Father Christmas and his elves to have a special present ready for them.

Wheelchair Access

Unfortunately, we are currently unable to accommodate wheelchairs on our heritage train carriages.

Wheelchair users are still very welcome to visit our grotto and enjoy our Santa Special. You can make your way to Father Christmas’s grotto via the footpaths.

Alternatively, if you have a folding wheelchair and are able to do so, you can transfer from your wheelchair and walk a few steps from the platform onto the carriage. Our train guards will safely store your wheelchair in the guard’s van for the duration of the journey.

When the train arrives at the North Pole, our guards will collect your wheelchair and can assist you on the journey to the grotto.

Prams & Pushchairs

Prams and pushchairs are welcome at the Museum. However, for the train journey, we ask that you fold them up and hand them to the train guard, who will store them safely in the guards van for the journey to the North Pole.

During busy periods, we may ask you to leave your pram or pushchair in the undercover area outside the grotto, as the grotto can become crowded.

Dogs

Dogs are very welcome at the Museum, provided they are kept on leads and under control at all times.

The grotto can be a busy and exciting environment, which some dogs may find overwhelming. For this reason, we recommend that, where possible, one member of your party stays outside with your dog while the rest of your group visits the grotto.

Any questions?

Drop us a message at: info@rural-life.org.uk