We usually go to the Grotto at Painshill, which is a trek but a great experience. However, I didn't get my act together this year and they're all sold out. I've just booked Westfield London which includes a 4d sleigh ride to the North Pole (done by the same folks that do the Shrek Experience). It's our first time so I'm really hoping it will fit the bill for a 5/7 year old.

Duke of Yorks is all sold out I think....

I am looking too - I will maybe try Battersea Park Zoo.

Tickets are really selling fast for our grotto at Eddie Catz Wimbledon.

http://santasgrotto.london/

Those of you that came last year will I'm sure share how good it was!

This year we have a special Baby's first Christmas package too! http://santasgrotto.london/babys-first- ... ing-santa/

Kew Gardens is wonderful in winter and has a great Santa experience

Bocketts farm is good. In a barn...

Thanks everyone, I've booked Chessington garden centre! (The bad review I mentioned was for the grotto at Chessington world of adventures. Obviously got my chessingtons confused!)

Bocketts Farm is amazing.

Bit of a hike but always wonderful

We'd been to Harrods and Bentalls a couple of times before we became Chessington Garden Centre Grotto converts. This will be our fifth year.

You book your timeslot and there's no excessive queuing. You watch a short Christmas film to get you in the mood whilst you're waiting. You can take your own photos and/or buy their's. The children's presents are good quality and the walk through grotto theming is fantastic for both young and old. The theme this year is Frozen. Highly recommend and the garden centre and the cafe are well worth a visit.

I just booked to go to the one in Duke of York Square. I was told it was good by a friend and its free!!

Hi,

Does anyone have any recommendations for where to visit Father Christmas? I have 3 and 6 yr old girls.

Had heard Chessington was good but an online review says it was all changed last year and is now not a patch on what it was. Did anyone go there last year and think it was good?

Anywhere else good?

Thanks. X

Battersea Park Zoo, Hyde Park (our favourite choices)

Many places will have Father Christmas. For example WackyWareHouse in Colliers Wood.

Yes, Harrods is fully booked. We booked our tickets in September and only few days in November were free. It fills up very quickly... But in my opinion (unlike the previous poster) it was all worth it. This was our third visit (we go every year) to see Father Christmas at Harrods and my daughter loves it. We had tickets early morning so it wasn't so busy. And yes, they charge you £10 but you can spend this money in the store. Shame it is so difficult to book the tickets there.

I would hugely recommend Santa's grotto at Battersea Park Zoo. We went last year and it was a lovely day out. It's local, very reasonably priced and no queues, plus you get to spend time at the zoo. We are going again this year, my niece and daughter are very excited....

I went to the Harrods one last week with one of my ex-mums - it was a queue, with ridiculously dressed women singing Jingle Bells to help distract us from the delay - followed by a wander down a corridor flanked by about 5 doors (each one containing a Father Christmas!), where you are greeted by a FC. You are not allowed to take pictures, but the Harrods employee on standby is! You are then ushered back out through another door, round the corner to another area where they sell you the pictures that were just taken! 3 x prints, £30. Entrance fee, £10. I felt it was a complete rip off!! And the (now toddler) ex-baby was singularly unimpressed. She preferred the golden teddy bear display model thingy in the shoe department, and sitting in the little people's chairs there, having an imaginary tea party!!

Winter wonderland - Hyde park