Make Christmas extra magical this year by taking the little (or big) ones to a Santa experience where they can meet Father Christmas and maybe even get a present. We’ve pulled together the best ones in Brighton and Hove and the surrounding areas. Be warned; many of these are booking up fast so be quick if you want to secure a spot and do something fun in Brighton with your child/children.
where can you meet Santa in brighton and beyond in 2023? Family-Friendly Christmas Events.
Meet Santa in The Sky
Santa and his elves will be at the Brighton i360 throughout December this year. Standard tickets, which are £14.25 for children aged five to 15, include a 25-minute pod journey, a meet and greet with Santa and his elves and a gift for every child. Tickets for children under four are from £7.65 and tickets for adults aged 16+ are £19.75. There are discounts available for i360 members.
New in 2023 is Santa-themed festive cream teas served after the pod journey at an extra £20.85 for children aged five or more and £27.75 for adults, available in the i360’s beachfront building. Alongside your usual scones, clotted cream and jam, the menu includes chocolate log and mini mince pie for kids, chocolate mousse cake and a deep-filled mince pie for adults.
All time slots can be booked via i360’s website where you can pay £2 per child or £2.20 per adult to make a flexi booking so you have the choice to change the time and date or through the below link (to support WeLoveBrighton.com).
When: From Saturday the 2nd of December to Saturday the 16th of December – various times
Where: i360, Lower Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2LN
Find out more here: https://www.getyourguide.com/brighton-l440/santa-flights-onboard-british-airways-i360
Father Christmas at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
Private meet-and-greets with the man himself are available at his magical grotto at Brighton Museum this December. To beat queues and long waits, time slots are available so youngsters can tell Father Christmas what they’re hoping for this year and each child will receive a present. Tickets are £14.50 per child, with discounts for members or more than one child entering the grotto together. Tickets for accompanying adults are £2.
Enter Santa’s Grotto via the Royal Pavilion Garden and enjoy winter wonderland activities before and after meeting Father Christmas. This event is run in partnership with Pier Pressure who also run escape rooms including two Christmas special escape rooms: A Christmas Carol and The Great Elfscape.
When:
- Friday the 1st of December from 2 pm-5 pm, Saturday the 2nd & Sunday the 3rd of December from 9 am – 6 pm
- Friday the 8th of December from 2 pm-5 pm, Saturday the 9th & Sunday the 10th of December from 9 am-6 pm
- Friday the 15th to Saturday the 23rd December from 9 am – 6 pm
- Sunday the 24th December from 9 am – 4 pm
Where: Royal Pavilion & Garden, Brighton, BN1 1EE
Find out more here: https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/event/father-christmas/
Meet Father Christmas at Brighton Toy Museum
St Nick will be stopping by Brighton Toy and Model Museum the first weekend in December. A ticket, which includes museum entry, means a meet and greet with Santa Claus, gifts for children (suitable for ages three plus) and photo opportunities. The museum will also have special festive toy displays this Christmas. Children’s tickets are £15, £8 for accompanying adults and £7 for those aged 60+. Pre-booking via Eventbrite is essential.
When: Saturday the 2nd of December and Sunday the 3rd of December at 2 pm (also 11 am on Sunday)
Where: Brighton Toy and Model Museum, 52-55 Trafalgar St, Brighton, BN1 4EB
Find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/brighton-toy-and-model-museum-3824025101
Meet Santa at One Garden Brighton
Santa’s somehow making it to One Garden in Stanmer Park on Sunday the 3rd of December. He’ll be there the following Sunday too (10th of December), with various time slots available. Tickets are £5 per child (adults go free) and must be pre-booked.
Activities include the chance to write a letter to Father Christmas and post it and to decorate a gingerbread man. There will also be the chance to get a photo with Santa.
When: Sunday the 3rd and 10th of December – 10 am to 3.30 pm
Where: One Garden, Stanmer, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN1 9SE
Find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/meet-santa-at-one-garden-brighton-tickets-746929033847
Santa’s Breakfast
There will be the chance to meet Santa after breakfast and activities at this festive event at Dobbies Brighton. It runs every weekend from the end of November 2023 then every day from December 16 to Christmas Eve.
A £13.99 child ticket (suitable for children aged three to 10) includes breakfast, festive activities including an elf mask to take home and a gift from Santa. Adult breakfasts are £8.60 and do not include a gift from Santa. This Santa experience is running across Dobbies garden centres in the UK.
When: Saturday the 25th of November until Sunday the 24th of December – 8:30 am or 9 am depending on the day
Where: Dobbies Garden Centre, Warren Road, Brighton, BN2 9XX
Find out more here: https://events.dobbies.com/event-detail/?e=4253&v=0&r=v
POP KIDS: Christmas Wonderland at Komedia
And now for something a little bit different… Santa will be live on stage at Komedia at the POP KIDS: Christmas Wonderland event. The two hours of entertainment will include Elf On The Shelf live on stage, Disney hits, singing and dancing as well as party games and the chance to win prizes.
There will also be face painting on offer and a tuck shop, promising affordable snacks. Lots of photos will be taken (which will include ones of Santa) and added to the POP KIDS Facebook page. Tickets are £10 for ages four and over (maximum three children per adult allowed).
When: Sunday the 10th of December – 12 pm to 2 pm
Where: Komedia Brighton, 44-47 Gardner St, Brighton, BN1 1UN
Find out more here: https://www.komedia.co.uk/brighton/kids/pop-kids-christmas-wonderland/
Santa Experience at Christmas at Drusillas 2023
If you fancy making a whole day out of a Santa meet and greet then you may want to venture out of town to Drusillas Park. Tickets are £18 per child and include meeting Santa in his cosy cottage, a photo opportunity and a Christmas gift. In order to visit the experience though, park entry tickets (£29.50) must also be bought, with a 20% discount on offer.
There are plenty of other festive things going on at the theme park and zoo too. There’s a huge Christmas tree, husky cave, singing reindeer and lots of festive photo opportunities, which are all included in the park entrance ticket. Santa Experience tickets and time slots can be pre-booked online and Drusillas says there may be some tickets available on the day but recommends pre-booking to avoid disappointment.
When: Saturday the 25th of November until Saturday the 23rd of December – various time slots available
Where: Drusillas Park, Polegate, BN26 5QS
Find out more here: https://tickets.drusillas.co.uk/
Santa’s Grotto with Retro By Ronnie
Early booking is advised to visit Santa’s Grotto at Retro by Ronnie down the road in Worthing. This is essential because parents and caregivers will be asked questions about the child when booking so Father Christmas can wow them at the meeting. With this experience, Santa’s elves will greet each child and lead them down the stairs to his bank vault.
Each child will be given a stocking and also be able to choose a toy from a selection on offer. There will also be the chance to take a photo with Santa. Please bring your own camera. Tickets are £19.95.
When: Saturdays and Sundays from the 2nd – 23rd of December. Time slots are available between 10 am and 5.30 pm.
Where: 66 Goring Rd, Worthing, BN12 4AH
Find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/santas-grotto-with-retro-by-ronnie
Other Santa experiences in Brighton and beyond worth visiting
Elsewhere, Santa will also be making an appearance at various winter fairs.
Saturday the 2nd of December – He’ll be at English Martyrs Primary School Christmas Fair in Goring-by-Sea.
Saturday the 9th of December – He will also make an appearance at Blatchington Court Trust Christmas Bonanza in Hove.
Sunday the 10th of December – You can find Santa at Field Place in Worthing.
Sunday the 17th of December – He will also be making a stop at the Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre Christmas Fair.
Tuesday the 19th of December – Santa Brunch at Rockwater in Hove. This event will run for 3h from 8 am to 11 am. This event offers holiday brunch, with a special menu for kids and a meet and greet with Santa Claus. All children will have the opportunity to talk to Santa, have a photo taken and receive a special holiday surprise. Don’t forget to bring your Christmas wish list to share with Santa!
Ferrington Country Centre in Worthing has various Santa events too, including Supper and Story with Santa on the 12th, 13th, 18th and 19th of December, as well as a Santa’s Grotto at its Christmas Tree sale. There are also festive activities including a Santa’s Grotto at Borde Hill in Haywards Heath.
Don’t forget, as we mentioned in our best pantomimes and Christmas shows article, the Santa’s Grotto can be added on as part of a ticket to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarves pantomime at The Royal Hippodrome in Eastbourne.
Also, if you fancy seeing lots and lots of Santas, then the 2023 Brighton Santa Dash has been scheduled for Saturday the 9th of December at 10.30 am. Runners, joggers and walkers, all dressed as Santa, will gather at Hove Lawns near the Peace Statue for a jolly good event to raise money for charity. It can be a really fun event for the whole family to watch and there’s still time to register and take part. The £20.60 entrance fee includes a Santa suit and bespoke medal.
So, there you go, there are plenty of opportunities to see, meet, greet or get a photo with the big man of the season in Brighton, Hove and surrounding areas this Christmas. We just don’t know how he manages to get to all of them but that’s part of the festive magic.
