See Santa for free in 2023

There’s enough to shell out for at Christmas without spending a fortune on a visit with the big man, so we’ve been hunting around to find places were you can see Santa for free in 2023.

Where: Tesco stores up and down the country

What: Tesco Christmas Grotto

When: dates throughout November and December

Tesco is offering kids the chance to meet Santa in his grotto for free. While there, they’ll receive a free gift and get to write a letter and post it in Santa’s special post box. The experience is proving extremely popular with some stores already fully booked. But, at the time of writing, we checked and there was still some availability. If you’re interested, we suggest you act fast.

Where: Woolley Edge Christmas Tree Farm, near Wakefield

What: watch Santa feed his reindeer

When: every weekend from 25 November, 10am

Watch Santa feeding Dancer, Prancer and Cupid every weekend at 10am sharp! Then why not get your picture taken in Santa’s sleigh. Don’t forget to bring your phone/camera! You might also want to pick up your Christmas tree from the farm or some decorations from the dedicated decoration and lighting barn.

Where: Trinity Walk Shopping Centre, Wakefield

What: Christmas grotto

When: 17 November – 23 December

See Santa for free at Trinity Walk Shopping Centre and if you go at the weekend your kids can also get their faces painted for free.

There’s no need to book. You’ll find the grotto in the Gullwing Christmas zone, near the Entertainer and the escalators above Sainsbury’s.

Where: London Transport Museum

What: meet Santa

When: 24 November – 23 December

As well as offering the chance to meet the main man himself, the museum is also running a range of other Christmas activities right through to the New Year, including:

• Christmas stories in the den
• holiday crafts
• a story trail through the its galleries

All festive family fun is free with your museum ticket.

Where: Newport Masonic Hall

What: visit Santa at Newport Christmas Craft & Gift Fair

When: 2 December, 10am to 4pm

Combine a bit of festive shopping with a free visit to see Santa at Newport Christmas Craft & Gift Fair.

Where: Guy’s Thatched Hamlet, Bilsborrow

What: Santa Barges Inn

When: 3 December, arriving at 12.30pm and in his grotto until 5pm

Santa is leaving his sleigh at home for this one and rocking up on a festive canal barge instead. Watch him arrive and then go and visit him in his grotto!

Where: Pontefract Museum

What: Liquorice Santa drop-in day

When: 9 December, 10.30am – 3.30pm

This is a sweet deal. Meet Santa in his liquorice grotto and get a Christmas gift. Suitable for children of all ages, you don’t need to book and best of all it’s free! Discover some amazing facts about the town’s sweet history and enjoy a range of fun festive crafts and activities.

Where: Preston Markets

What: Santa’s grotto

When: 9 December, 11am – 2.45pm

Come and visit Santa and get a free gift. No need to book. As part of a free Christmas fun day, there will be plenty to keep the kids busy.

Where: Fishergate Shopping Centre, Preston

What: visit Santa

When: 9 December, 12pm – 3pm

The kids in Preston must have been good this year! Another chance to meet Santa in the city and on the same day (we just don’t know how he does it!).

Head down to Fishergate Shopping Centre, meet the big man and snap some festive family snaps against their beautifully crafted Christmas scene.

Where: Hanley Market, Stoke-on Trent

What: Santa’s grotto

When: 9, 16 and 23 December, 11am - 3pm

Every child who meets Santa will get a free gift. Free face painting is also available, along with a guess the number of Christmas ducks competition and a Christmas duck hunt too.

Where: Wakefield Museum

What: Marvellous Museum Christmas Toy Box for SEND families

When: 16 December

A relaxed day of festive crafts and activities specifically aimed at SEND and neurodiverse families. There’ll also be the chance to meet Santa. All activities are free but booking to see Father Christmas is essential. At the time of writing, there were no available slots to see Santa but you can add your name to the waiting list.