Santa's grottos in London 2026: where to meet Father Christmas

What is it? New for 2026, this Covent Garden grotto experience combines a special festival walking trail around the Piazza with an actual grotto at the end in St Paul’s Church, with the logic being to make it more of a full-bore family experience than simply getting your gift and leaving. Don’t have a child? No worries! You can take your dog instead of (or in addition to) a small person, and it can be the recpient of the trail’s gifts. 

Where it it? Covent Garden Piazza (grotto in St Paul’s Church).

What is it? For 2026, Greenwich’s Queen’s House is transformed into a gorgeous, enchanting land of towering Christmas trees inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. More theatrical – and dare we say, a little classier – than the average grotto, you’ll experience an ‘actor-led story adventure’ in which you meet the various characters in Andersen’s fairytale, followed by a visit to Father Christmas’s grotto and a gift from the man in red. 

Where is it? Queen’s House, Greenwich.

What is it? Proof that Santa will set up shop more or less anywhere, the jolly man in red will call in at the Fujifilm House of Photography this ‘season’ with a by all accounts fairly involved grotto experience that will last approximately half an hour. As well as a meet and a present from the big man, there’s various bits of interactive and crafting fun.

Where is it? Fujifilm House of Photography.

What is it? Winter Wonderland is where Santa thrives. The annual mega attraction doesn’t just boast a grotto, but a whole area dubbed Santaland. It’s filled with rides that take inspo from the jolly giant, like Santa’s Spinning Coaster and Santa’s Flying Sleigh Ride, a chill zone, and – on certain days – a whole parade where you’ll get to see the top dog and his elves heading home for the day. There is also the traditional grotto, of course, where you can get up close and personal with the guy behind the beard and grab a present – but only if you’re good.

Where is it? Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park.

What is it? Fancy a taste of Santa’s grottos of the past? Head to the London Museum Docklands where you and the kids can step into a metaphorical time machine and experience what little ones in the Victorian era would have witnessed when they went to meet Father Christmas. Even the gifts given out will be in keeping with times gone by and will be made from ‘traditional materials with minimal plastic’.

Where is it? London Museum of the Docklands.