The Best Santas Grottos in Nottingham this Christmas
Littluns fancy meeting Santa? Here are the best Santas’ grottos in Nottingham this year for those on the Nice list.
Last updated: 19th Nov 2025
Originally published: 5th Dec 2022
Christmas is coming!
The best time of year for those defending their spot on the Nice list, the littluns are in a frenzy. Scouring TikTok for presents and begging to put the tree up (while reassuring you that no, it isn’t too early), they can’t get enough.
Only coming around once a year, Christmas is a go hard or go home kind of situation. And for kids, nothing beats meeting the big man himself and having the opportunity to check they are, in fact, definitely on the Nice list. And with plenty of Nottingham Santas’ grottos to choose from, they can choose their Christmas adventure - quite literally!
Here are the best Santas’ grottos in Nottingham this year, spanning tea parties, traditional grottos, and even one with The Grinch.
Santa's Grotto
When: Sunday 21st, Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd December 2025
Where: National Ice Centre in Nottingham
National Ice is back again with its much-loved grotto. Littluns will meet the jolly old man and share their Christmas wishes in his grotto, surrounded by twinkling lights and that magical festive spirit.
The grotto ticket includes ice skating, a hot chocolate, and, of course, your Christmas gift. Both morning and afternoon slots will be available for all dates.
They'll also be hosting Elf-tastic Ince Skating through November and December with festive music, festive parent and tot sessions with festive characters, the Christmas Light Switch On (23rd Nov), the Great Santa Skate to raise money for charity, and more.
Santa’s Festive Tea Party
When: 7th and 14th December
Where: The Orchard Hotel in Nottingham
Taking Nottingham’s Santas’ grottos offerings up a level, Notts’ Orchard Hotel invites you to Santa’s tea party. Bringing plenty of Christmas cheer, Santa’s Tea Party welcomes festive fans to indulge in an afternoon treat, relish a meet and greet with Santa, and take a special present from the North Pole home.
On the menu are finger sandwiches, freshly baked cakes, traditional mince pies, seasonal treats, and a cosy pot of tea or hot chocolate. Before you head home with smiles and a full stomach, snap a picture to remember it forever, with the restaurant’s stunning Christmas tree as a festive backdrop.
Magical Father Christmas Experience
When: multiple dates from Saturday 22nd November - Tuesday 23rd December 2025
Where: Woodthorpe Park Plant Nursery in Nottingham
At this experience, Mrs Claus will greet you, providing a list of festive items she needs help finding for Santa. Then you’ll meet Santa, have a chat, share your Christmas wishes, and take some photos for keepsakes. Everyone will receive a special present from Santa and Mrs Claus to take home: your own baby spruce tree, so you can keep the Christmas spirit alive all year round.
Part of the Christmas market, which features craft sessions, live performances, over 30 artisan craft stalls, dog Christmas jumper parades, and more, you can continue the fun even after you’ve left the grotto.
When: Saturday 13th and Sunday 21st December 2025
Where: The Marquis Pub And Kitchen in Ripley
If you live a little closer to Ripley, this unconventional grotto is definitely up there with the best - these events offer a delicious breakfast with a side of mischief.
Kicking things off with pancakes and hot chocolate (sausage or bacon cob with tea or coffee for the grown-ups) before launching into a party with games and dancing, it’s fun for all ages. Then, it’ll be time for a visit from Father Christmas. Of course The Grinch will be there causing mischief too.
Run by a team of DJs and children's entertainers, it’s the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit, but with a twist.
Find tickets for Breakfast with the Grinch
Broxtowe Christmas events
When: multiple dates in November 2025
Where: multiple locations in Eastwood, Beeston, and Stapleford
Broxtowe Council is putting on Christmas Light Switch-Ons in Eastwood (22nd Nov, Eastwood Square), Beeston (Town Centre, 15th Nov), and Stapleford (29th Nov, Walter Parker VC Memorial Square), plus a Christmas fair in Beeston (29th Nov, The Plessey Centre) - all with the chance to meet Santa in his grotto.
The three Christmas Light Switch-On events are all free to attend and feature fun fair rides, hot food and sweet stalls, and arts and crafts stalls. They’ll also have live music, the chance to meet Santa (including Sensory-friendly sessions), and more.
The Christmas Fair features a lit-up grotto where littluns can meet Santa, the opportunity for a picture, and a small present. There'll also be a raffle and tombola, stalls, crafts, games, and activities.
Storytime with Santa & Reindeer food making with Mrs Claus
When: daily from Monday 17th November - Wednesday 24th December 2025
Where: East Midlands Designer Outlet in South Normanton, Derbyshire
Just over a half-hour drive from Nottingham, the Designer Outlet offers two festive experiences this year. Let’s start with storytime…
Storytime with Santa is a 15-minute experience where you’ll gather around Santa in his grotto, decorated with twinkling lights, as he shares a magical Christmas tale. Everyone has the opportunity for a picture with the big man in red, leaving with a personal letter and a sweet treat from Santa.
The other experience: Make reindeer food with Mrs Claus. Another 15-minute experience, you’ll join Mrs Claus to create magical reindeer food to fuel Santa’s reindeer for their biggest night of the year. With festive sounds and twinkling lights, you can snap a selfie with Mrs Claus and take home a letter and treat from Santa.
SEND-friendly sessions are available. A proportion of all grotto proceeds will be donated to Kids Village, the UK's first holiday village just for children with critical illness and their families.
Christmas at Wheelgate and Santa’s Grotto
When: 6th - 8th, 10th - 15th, and 17th - 24th December 2025
Where: Wheelgate Park in Newark
Just a half-hour drive away is Wheelgate Park’s grotto, where you can meet Rudy the reindeer, decorate gingerbread, get stuck into Christmas crafts, collect sweet treats during the festive stocking hunt, and see interactive elf displays with festive stories and sing-alongs.
You’ll wander through the forest and find Santa in his grotto. He’ll be handing out magical golden tickets to those on the Nice list, so they can choose a gift from the Elf Toy Shop.
You can also head down for Breakfast with Santa on the 6th December, or check out the Light Night Illuminations, a 150m illuminated light trail.
Santa’s Grotto Experience at Woodborough Green Garden Centre
When: multiple dates from Saturday 19th November - Wednesday 24th December 2025
Where: Woodborough Green Garden Centre in Nottingham
Arrive at Woodborough to meet Santa’s band of elves who’ll whisk you away on a journey to their magical workshop.
Then, it’ll be time to meet the jolly man in his grotto. Santa will greet everyone with a gift and a personal message, and there’ll be plenty of opportunities to snap some pictures.
If you like, you can add a special Photobooth to further cherish those precious memories.
Woodborough also has quiet grottos, one for babies and toddlers, festive afternoon tea, and a two-course Christmas dinner in its festive calendar this year.
GirlyPop Live Xmas | The Nest, Nottingham
When: Sunday 21st December 2025
Where: The Nest in Nottingham
This Christmas event is a little different, but too good to miss! The perfect add-on to your Christmas celebrations, GirlyPop brings tributes to all the littluns’ favourite pop icons to The Nest.
With tributes to Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, and Olivia Rodrigo (each with a holiday twist), plus roaming entertainers bringing festive cheer, bubbles, confetti, Christmas glam stations for glitter and hair, and treats like popcorn, candyfloss, slushies, and cosy winter street food, it’s a cracking early Christmas present.
Tickets for GirlyPop Live Xmas
While the little guys still believe that Santa does, in fact, check his list twice, now’s the perfect time to ensure they have nothing but great memories of the most wonderful time of the year.
Fancy packing the holidays with nothing but fun? Find out what other Christmas events are coming to Nottingham this year. Or, if you fancy a getaway, see what’s on all around the country and beyond.
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Header: National Ice Centre