15 Awesome Places To See Santa In London 2022

Looking for places to see Santa in London this Christmas?

We have been to lots of Santa’s Grottos over the years and have found that some of the best are in London. London really is one of the best cities in the UK to visit at Christmas with kids as there is just so much to see and do.

We’ve never managed to get into the Santa’s Grotto at Harrods but we’ll put it on here anyway in case you happen to be a Gazillionaire (or as lucky as Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)!

We haven’t been to all of these places to see Father Christmas in London. This post is just a way to let you know what is on this year and we’ll aim to update it when more dates are released.

For the Santa’s Grottos that have been announced, tickets are selling out fast so book soon to secure your meeting with Father Christmas in London!

Looking for something a bit special this year? How about looking into one of the Santa Sleepovers in the UK or even booking a DIY Lapland trip (which works out much cheaper than the package holidays!)

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and buy something, we may earn a small commission but this is at no additional cost to you.

Visiting London for the first time? How about getting some London themed games and entertainment for the kids? Perfect for the hotel room or restaurants…

London Top Trumps and our own London colouring book and pens just in case). We also love these kids’ travel guides to London, a London sticker book and things to spot in London book.

Places to see Santa in London in 2021

Visiting a Santa’s Grotto in London is just one of the many fabulously festive family Christmas events in London. These are London Grottos are looking particularly festive this year.

ZSL London Zoo

The Magic of Christmas at London Zoo
Dates: 27th November to 3rd January 2022.
Ticket Price: £13.50 per child (in addition to the Zoo entry price).
Location: London Zoo, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY.

They are also offering the opportunity for a VIP Breakfast with Mrs Claus on select dates.

If you live locally, the London Zoo annual membership is definitely worth getting. See also what is going on at Whipsnade Zoo at Christmas as your zoo membership can also get you into Whipsnade.

Harrods

Harrods Grotto 2021 (CANCELLED FOR 2021)

Dates: Tickets are usually released mid-November. The caveat is that you need to have spent at least £2000.00 in their store or be one of the 160 lucky families to get a ticket when they are released. This is out of a total of 4,400 tickets so the chances are quite slim.
Ticket Price: £20.00 per child.
Location: Harrods, 87–135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7XL.

Hamleys

Hamleys Grotto 2021

Dates: 20th November to 24th December 2021. Tickets are very limited already.
Ticket Price: Up to 3 people – £45.00, 4 people – £60.00, 5 people – £75.00 and 6 people – £90.00.
Location: Hamleys, 188-196 Regent Street, London, W1B 5BT.

The National Gallery

Meet Father Christmas

Dates: Weekends 27th November to 12th December and then daily from 18th to 23rd December 2021.
Ticket Price: From £22.00 per child (under 12) including gift, adults and children 12+ – £12.00.
Location: National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN.

Selfridges

Breakfast with Santa

Dates: 4th to 22nd December 2021.
Ticket Price: From £50.00 per person.
Location: Selfridges & Co, 400 Oxford Street, London, W1A 1AB.

See also Storytime with Santa and Elf School.

The Strand Palace

Santa on Strand

Dates: 14th November to 24th December 2021.
Ticket Price: £25.00 per child (including gift), £5.00 per adult and £8.00 for a photo.
Location: The Strand Palace Hotel, 372 Strand, London, WC2R 0JJ.

Also just a short stroll from here is the Somerset House ice skating rink, one of the best places to go ice skating in London.

Alexandra Palace

Santa’s Grotto at Alexandra Palace

Dates: 3rd to 23rd December 2021.
Ticket Price: £14.50 per child.
Location: Alexandra Palace East Court, Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY.

You might want to combine this visit with some ice skating too!

Royal Albert Hall

Storytelling with Father Christmas at the Royal Albert Hall

Dates: 2nd to 21st December 2021.
Ticket Price: Tickets go on sale on 15th October.
Location: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP.

Broadgate Circle

The Winter Forest

Dates: This will not be taking place this year.
Ticket Price: TBC.
Location: Exchange House, 12 Exchange Square, London, EC2A 2BQ.

Fortnum & Mason

Storytelling with Father Christmas

Dates: Tickets have now sold out.
Ticket Price: N/A.
Location: Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London, W1A 1ER.

Kew Gardens

Christmas at Kew

Pop along to see the fabulous Christmas light trail and say hello to Santa along the way.

Dates: 17th November 2021 to 9th January 2022.
Ticket Price: Adult – £21.50 to £26.50, Child (4-16) – £14.00 to £14.50, Under 4 – Free.
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE.

Chelsea Physic Garden

Father Christmas Storytelling

Dates: 4th & 5th and 18th & 19th December 2021.
Ticket Price: £11.50 per child and £9.50 for an accompanying adult.
Location: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 4HS.

Rainforest Cafe

Breakfast with Santa

The Rainforest Café is one of our recommendations for family-friendly restaurants in London and offers the opportunity to have breakfast with Santa in London. The breakfast lasts 90 minutes and includes a meeting with Santa and a goody bag for children.

Dates: 21st November to 19th December 2021.
Ticket Price: From £15.00 per person.
Location: Rainforest Café, 20 Shaftesbury Ave, London, W1D 7EU.

Hard Rock Cafe

Santa’s Grotto & Breakfast with Santa

Dates: Santa’s Grotto is taking place at weekends during December.
Ticket Price: Santa’s Grotto is free – Breakfast with Santa has sold out but you can get on the waitlist.
Location: Hard Rock Café, Criterion Building, 225-229 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9HR.

Springtime Nurseries

Christmas Wonderland

Dates: 12th November to 24th December 2021.
Ticket Price: Children – £12.00, Adults – £4.00.
Location: Springtime Nurseries, Cattlegate Road, Crews Hill, Enfield, EN2 9EE.

National Trust

The National Trust has a few lovely properties in London that usually a meet Father Christmas experience. Make sure to check out their website to see what is going on this year.

These are the best places to see Santa in London in 2021 what else is there to do in London at Christmas?

Other things to do in London at Christmas

You might also want to just wander around and peruse the festive gifts in the London Christmas markets or marvel at the twinkling Christmas lights in London. These are some of our favourite free things to do in London at Christmas.

How about booking an ice skating session at one of the fabulous ice rinks in London?

If you fancy venturing out of London over a weekend, how about these Santa Sleepovers near London? We also have a post on festive Christmas breaks for families.

We also have a whole section on Christmas if you are looking for more festive days out this year, including details on the best Christmas markets in the UK and, if we can travel this year, the best Christmas markets in Europe!

Accommodation in London

Looking for the perfect, family-friendly hotel in London to complete your visit to London at Christmas?

Here are our top picks – or check out our post on family hotels in London for more suggestions.

Luxury

The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences – Located in Mayfair, this is a 5 star luxury aparthotel with a difference. We find it so useful when staying in hotels in with kids to have a kitchen. They also have a kids’ concierge service where they arrange your kid’s favourite DVDs and treats for the room. Guest can use all of the hotel facilities and they have a pool.

See also:

The Ritz – Located on Piccadilly near Hyde Park Corner. One of the most well-known hotels in London. The Ritz being the Ritz, they have a Very Important Kids programme providing anything a child could want in their hotel room. Children under 15 stay for free with their parents in a Junior Suite or above.

The Rubens at the Palace – Located near Buckingham Palace. This boutique hotel has their own Director of Fun and Adventure to organise activities for kids. Children under 12 stay and eat for free and there’s a 6pm check out on Sundays.

St Ermin’s – Located near St James’s Park. They offer a kids concierge to take care of the kids needs with fun and games inside of the hotel as well as outside. They even have their own bee hotel within the hotel. There are 2 new rooms that cater for families of 6. They also do a fabulous afternoon tea for kids.

Mid-Range

Park Plaza County Hall – Located near the London Eye, this is an excellent, centrally located mid-range family hotel in London. If booking the Family Getaway Package, they offer goody bags for kids at check-in and ‘Park Plaza money’ to spend in the Spectrum Bar and complimentary breakfast for children up to 12 years old. There are also interconnecting rooms for larger families.

Budget

Premier Inn Waterloo – Located by Westminster Bridge near the London Eye. Family hotels in London can be eye-wateringly expensive but the Premier Inn is a great, no-frills budget family hotel in London option if you are looking for a central location.