Father Christmas and his huskies are in residence at the London Wetlands Centre. Children can visit Santa in his grotto, a cosy log cabin set among firs and pine trees, and Merlin the Magician and his friends will be keeping everyone entertained. Visitors can have their photos taken with Santa's huskies and under-8s can enjoy a free sleigh ride. There are Christmas arts and crafts sessions throughout the weekend and the Water's Edge Cafe will be serving Christmas dinner as well as coffee and mince pies. The centre's (indoor) Christmas show, meanwhile, tells a traditional story with a conservationist twist: in 'A Wetland Christmas Carol', can the Ghosts of Wetlands Past, Present and Future manage to persuade Scrooge that the wetlands are valuable spaces filled with wonder and magic? All together, boys and girls: Oh yes they can.
To find Christmas grottos all around London see www.timeout.com/grottos