NOW SOLD OUT! Step into a magical audience with Father Christmas this festive season at Leeds Castle.
Set in the bustling North Pole Toy Workshop, this experience brings families into the midst of holiday chaos. Most of the elves have mysteriously taken the day off, and the only working sleigh has broken down.
It’s up to the children to become elf recruits and team up with trusty elves like Perky Treacle Pot, Figgy Jingle Berry, and Elvis Pickle Pants, to solve the mystery, craft magical baubles to repair the sleigh, and save Christmas, before it’s too late!
Within a festive group setting, families will enjoy captivating performances, engaging craft activities, a heartwarming holiday finale, and have the chance to meet Father Christmas himself.
This experience is priced at £22.00 per child and £5.00 per adult.
PLEASE NOTE: The Father Christmas experience is a separate ticketed event. Entry to Leeds Castle is required but not included with your Father Christmas ticket. All guests must hold a valid Leeds Castle admission ticket for the date of their visit. Admission tickets are valid for 12 months, so if you’ve visited within the last year you may already have one. Admission tickets are purchased separately and can be bought via the Leeds Castle website.
the key details:
Sessions last approximately 40 minutes and are designed for small groups.
Ideal for children aged 3 to 10 and their families.
This is a ticketed experience; bookable exclusively with an existing Leeds Castle admission ticket.
Each child will receive a gift bag with a small toy and holiday activities.
The event takes place in the elves magical workshop within the estate not the Castle.
Limited availability – early booking strongly recommended!
STAY AT THE KNIGHTS’ RETREAT & SEE FATHER CHRISTMAS
On selected dates during our Christmas period, stay the night in our Knights’ Retreat and then join us the next morning for your magical audience with Father Christmas.
Join our friendly elves for a festive adventure before meeting Father Christmas himself for a very special Storytime.
Each child will:
Decorate their own Christmas Bauble with the elves
Enjoy a magical story with Father Christmas
Take home a goodie bag filled with festive treats, including:
A small wooden sustainable fidget toy
A Leeds Castle chocolate coin (or Jelly Tots alternative)
A set of colouring pencils
An honorary Elf Certificate
A sprinkle of reindeer food to leave out on Christmas Eve
A magic key from Father Christmas
The Father Christmas experience lasts approximately 40 minutes.
No, the experience is a separate ticketed event that must be purchased in advance. You are required to show your valid Leeds Castle admission ticket at the Visitor Centre to gain entry.
Child ticket: £22.00
Adult ticket: £5.00
A maximum of 2 per child, but a minimum of 1 adult is required per party. Adult tickets are £5.00 each. There is a café nearby for those who aren’t attending the experience
The Castle experience can take between 45 minutes to 1 hour. Queues can be long at peak times, so join the queue early to avoid disappointment. Can’t fit everything in one day? Good news, our admission ticket allows you to return as many times as you wish within 12 months!
The experience is entered through the Culpepper Gardens, which is around a 30-minute walk from the Visitor Centre (maybe longer for little legs wanting to explore the grounds). Please arrive in plenty of time and check the website to see if the land train and minibus are available.
The experience takes place in our Education Centre and moves between rooms, including a small flight of stairs. There is an external ramp that can be used to move between rooms. Unfortunately, the ramp isn’t suitable for electronic scooters.
If you would like to tell us more about your access requirements, please complete the box on the booking form and our team will do their best to support you.
As you can imagine, Christmas is a busy time of year at Leeds Castle. We recommend arriving on site at least an hour before your timeslot. If you have the early 10am time slot, please arrive at the Visitor Centre by 9.30am (You will be escorted to the experience, but don’t worry, you will have plenty of time to explore the castle and grounds afterwards!) Likewise, if you are arriving for an afternoon slot, please explore and enjoy the other areas of the site before your experience. Please note that the final entry to the castle is 2.30pm. View our opening times here.
If your slot finishes after 3pm, you will need to leave the grounds after your experience for us to welcome our evening visitors for Christmas Lights at Leeds Castle… If you wish to join us at the Christmas lights too, you can book tickets here!
Afternoon tea slots run in two sessions from 11.30 – 1.00 or 1.30 – 3.00. Please note your grotto experience will last around 40 minutes, so be mindful of your exit time when you book.
If you wish to book more than 4 children, you will need to make separate bookings.
Yes, you can take photos, and there will be an opportunity at the end of the experience for photos to be taken.
Unfortunately not, however, you will be invited to take photos at the end of the session.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.
There will be space available to park your buggy inside. Please ask the check-in team on arrival.
You are welcome to buy a ticket for an under-3-year-old however, they may not get the full benefit of the experience. Please let us know if your child is below 3, and we will provide an alternate gift.
The Castle: 10:30am to 3.30pm | Last entry 2.30pm
Grounds and Gardens: 10:00am to 4pm | Last entry 2.30pm
The experience is indoors, although you may need to queue for a short period outside.
Unfortunately, due to limited capacity, there is no flexibility on time slots.
In the event of adverse weather, we may contact you to arrange an alternative entrance to the experience. If for any reason, we have to fully cancel the experience, we will let you know as soon as possible.
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Leeds Castle provides for a wonderful day out with options to extend your stay should you wish but where to begin. We’ve provided everything you need to know to purchase your ticket online for general admission or for annual events like our mesmerising Fireworks Spectacular and to the riveting Leeds Castle Concert. Read on for details of how to get here plus opening times and information too. Don’t forget you will always get the best price booking directly with us.
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From 4.15pm, visit the all-new reimagined magical lights trail through our enchanting grounds. This event is an additional cost, tickets on sale now!
Fairground Rides
On weekends and school holidays, from 12pm to 3.30pm, visit our fairground where festive rides await… the whole family will love this.
Live Performers
On weekends and school holidays, our magical Narnia experience in the Castle will see beloved characters come to life for you to meet and interact with them.
Festive Shopping
Open daily, visit our Visitor Centre or Castle Shop where there is something for everyone making for a one stop Christmas shop!
Eat & Drink
Across the estate choose from decadent festive afternoon teas, delicious street food, and of course save space for a warming glass of mulled wine.
Wintry Grounds
The Kentish countryside is a sight to behold during winter. From the blue and green hues paired with icy leaves and carpets of snow (even if it’s just half an inch), to frost covered fields and spouts of rainfall splashing on the bare trees.
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