Prices
3 Guests - £42.00
4 Guests - £56.00
5 Guests - £70.00
6 Guests - £80.00
7 Guests - £90.00
8 Guests - £99.00
Dates and Times
Book from 19th August
Sessions Start: 9th November
Sessions End: 24th December
Multiple Sessions per Day
Book Tickets
2025 Tickets are available to book from 10am on Wednesday 19th August.
Father Christmas is on his way to Ruxley Manor!
Get ready for twinkling eyes, big smiles, and a sprinkle of festive magic – because Father Christmas is coming to town! Here at Ruxley Manor, nothing fills our hearts more than seeing excited little ones ready to step into a world of Christmas wonder. As a family-run business, these joyful moments shared between families mean everything to us.
Behind the scenes, we’ve been working our elf-sized socks off to make this year the most magical yet! Father Christmas has been making Ruxley Manor his Christmas HQ for as long as we can remember, and this year he’s back – bringing Christmas cheer with Mother Christmas and a merry band of Elves in tow!
They’re polishing their sleigh bells, wrapping up the last presents, and counting down the days to meet you!
Please note: We recommend booking Grotto tickets early to avoid disappointment as the Grotto normally sells out.
Event Format
This festive season prepare for an enchanting adventure filled with twinkling lights, cheerful elves and heart-warming memories! Here’s what awaits you:
- Join our mischievous Head Elves as they guide you through the art of making magical reindeer food – a must for helping Rudolph find his way on Christmas Eve!
- Pop into Mother Christmas’s cosy workshop, where you’ll get hands-on building your very own Postie Penguin – the cutest little helper you’ve ever seen!
- Visit Father Christmas in his magical Grotto for a special, private family moment. He’ll have a memorable gift for the whole family – and of course, time for that all-important photo to capture the magic!
- Each child will receive a Golden Ticket, granting them entry into Father Christmas’s twinkling Toy Workshop, where they can pick a special gift to take home and treasure!
- Our Grotto is always in high demand so please ensure you have read the FAQ and booking conditions before booking.
Event Specific FAQ's
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Q - Do newborn babies count as an attendee?
A - Babies only need to be included in your group size if you want them to receive a present.
Q - Will my visit to the Grotto be private?
A - The North Pole and Mother Christmas rooms are shared with other groups. When visiting Father Christmas, only one group is allowed in at a time. The toy workshop is a shared experience.
Q - How will I receive my tickets / Do I need to print them?
A - Tickets will be emailed to the address used for booking. They may be shown on a phone or printed.
Q - Can I just turn up and buy a ticket?
A - No, tickets must be purchased online in advance.
Q - I forgot to buy a ticket for a member of my party, can they be squeezed in on the day?
A - No. You must contact the venue prior to arrival to see if they can accommodate an extra person. Additional tickets cost £14 per person and total group size cannot exceed 8. Email: events@ruxley-manor.co.uk
Q - Is there car parking at the Grotto?
A - Yes. There are over 450 spaces but it gets very busy. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your session and be at the entrance 5 minutes before.
Q - Where is the entrance?
A - The Grotto entrance is directly opposite The Food Hall exit.
Q - Is there somewhere I can leave my bags?
A - There are no lockers. Only bring items you can carry. A buggy park is available, but prams are not allowed inside the Grotto. Ruxley Manor is not responsible for belongings.
Q - How long are the sessions?
A - Up to 20 minutes. Arrive at least 15 minutes early and be at the entrance 5 minutes before your session.
Q - What happens if I am late?
A - If you are late, you cannot enter the Grotto or receive a refund. The Grotto runs like a live show and cannot be stopped or restarted.
Q - What is the format of this year's Grotto?
A - All sessions are group sessions, but only one group meets Father Christmas at a time. Arrival: 5–10 minutes before start time. Time inside: around 20 minutes.
Q - What gift/s are provided?
A - Children and babies can choose age-appropriate gifts in the toy workshop. Gifts cannot be exchanged. Adults receive one family gift per family ticket. Damaged gifts can be replaced within 48 hours. Gifts are subject to availability.
Q - When booking I was asked about my child’s interests, will this be used to select their gift?
A - This information is used by Father Christmas for conversation only. Gifts are not selected based on this information.
Q - Is a photo included in the ticket price?
A - No. Photos and photo gifts can be purchased when exiting the Grotto. Check photos before leaving; no refunds or retakes afterward.
Q - Are SEN (Special Educational Needs) sessions available?
A - Yes. These are for families attending with SEN children. More information is available on the website.
Q - What is the refund policy?
A - If the Grotto closes, you can receive a refund or rebook (subject to availability). No refunds if you are late or cannot attend. Tickets cannot be changed or transferred. Damaged gifts can be replaced within 48 hours. Photo refunds or retakes are not available after leaving. Session times cannot be changed.
Q - Is the Grotto wheelchair friendly?
A - Yes. You can note this when booking or email events@ruxley-manor.co.uk
at least 48 hours before your visit.
Q - Who should I contact if I have a query?
A - Email the Events Team: events@ruxley-manor.co.uk
General Event FAQ's
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Q. Can I just buy ticket on the day?
A. If an event has paid tickets, typically they must be purchased in advance online - unless stated differently at the top of this page. The vast majority of our events sell out, however some events may still be available for booking the day before, subject to availability.
Q. What is the refund policy?
A. If we find it necessary to close an event for any reason, we will offer you a full refund or the option to book in to an alternative session (subject to availability). If you are late for your allocated time or cannot make your session, unfortunately we cannot offer a refund. Please ensure that you are confident in being able to fulfil your booking before completing the purchase of your tickets. Tickets cannot be swapped or names changed once booked.
Q. How much car parking is there?
A. There are over 450 car parking spaces in our customer car parks, but it is often very busy during events, so we advise that you arrive at the garden centre at least 15 mins before your event.
Q. Can you take in Pushchairs?
A. You can typically store a pushchair inside the buggy park provided at the entrance; but no pushchair/prams can be taken into an event (except for Afternoon Teas). Any pushchairs/prams are left at your own risk.
Q. What Allergens Advice do you have?
A. Please note that The Mulberry Tree and Sip & Scoop are not allergy free. Although your chosen food or drink may not contain an allergen, it may still be present in the tools we use or the general environment. If you have an allergy, please let us know. We have detailed allergen information that we will go through with you so you can make an informed decision.
Terms & Conditions
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Bookings
- There must be at least one adult per group booking.
- Your group booking will be for the maximum number of people stated on your ticket type.
- Tickets are available for Group sizes up to 3 people, with the largest group size we offer being for 8 people.
- You can only book one group ticket at a time. If you wish to book more than one you will need to purchase these one at a time.
- All bookings are non-transferable and non-refundable.
- Children must be supervised throughout the Grotto experience. Our staff are there for entertainment purposes only.
- Tickets cannot be swapped once booked.
Booking Tickets
- When booking please make sure the address given is the same as the billing address.
- When adding the children’s interests please state all Children’s First Names, Ages and Interests (For example, Joey, aged 7, Likes Cars). Please put a full stop between children.
- Every field must be completed. For example, if you do not wish to fill in the children’s interests then please put N/A.
- Please note that the interests have no effect on the gifts available to a child on the day.
Activities
Please note: During an activity you will be making Reindeer food. Our Reindeer food contains gluten and may contain traces of nuts, but it is not for human consumption.
Arrival
- Please aim to arrive at the garden centre 15 minutes prior to your session and arrive at the grotto entrance 5 minutes before your session. Please note late arrivals will not be admitted.
- Prams: Please be aware that prams and pushchairs are not allowed in the Grotto, please leave them in the buggy park by the entrance of the Grotto. Personal belongings are left at your own risk.
Refunds
- If we find it necessary to close the Grotto for any reason, we will offer you a full refund or the option to book into an alternative session (subject to availability).
- If you are late for your allocated time or cannot make your session for any reason, unfortunately we cannot offer a refund.
- Unfortunately, we cannot change session times and cannot provide refunds for sessions missed.
Photos
Please check all photo products before you leave the Grotto to check you are happy with the layout. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds or re-take photos after you have left the Grotto.
Gifts
Ruxley Manor will provide a range of age-appropriate gifts for each child to select. The Grotto gift is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged (for cash or otherwise). If your Grotto gift is broken or damaged, please let us know within 48 hours and we will provide a replacement gift.
CCTV
Please note: We operate CCTV and Audio recording in the Grotto area for the safety of all our staff and customers.
