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Where Kids Can Meet Santa in Edinburgh & the Lothians 2025

Updated: 2 days ago

The run-up to Christmas is always full of magic, and meeting Santa is one of the best bits for little ones (and big ones too!). Here are a number of places across Edinburgh, West Lothian, Midlothian and East Lothian where children can meet Santa this festive season.


Santa at Dalkeith Country Park
Tales with Santa at Dalkeith Country Park

East Lothian


Archerfield Walled Garden – The Santa Experience

Location: Archerfield Walled Garden, Dirleton

Dates: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 28th November

Times: Various time slots available each day

Tickets:

  • Child’s ticket: £22 + booking fee

  • Adult’s ticket: £4 + booking fee

What to Expect:

  • Write a letter to Santa in the Barn and drop it into the magical well with the elves.

  • Join Santa in his cosy Christmas cabin for tales from the North Pole.

  • Select a gift to take home.


Newhailes Santa experience

Location: Newhailes, Musselburgh

Dates: Friday 21 November–Sunday 21 December, weekends only,

Times: Various time slots available each day

Tickets: Tickets from £19

What to Expect:

Santa will be nestled in the beautifully decorated, grand dining room, ready for you to tell him your Christmas wishes, and then leave with a gift picked just for you.


Christmas at East Links

Location: Dunbar, EH42 1XF

Dates: 13, 14,20 and 21 December

Times: 10am till 4pm

Tickets: Tickets from £19 each

What to Expect:

  • Join Santa for a sing-along in our Winter Wonderland!

  • Watch Santa arrive on the Sleigh Train direct from the North Pole

  • ‭ Free present for every child* from the Elf Station!

  • ‭Hang your Christmas wish on the tree!

  • ‭Old fashioned carnival style games for all the family to play together!


Christmas Grotto at Carberry Tower

Location: Carberry Tower, near Musselburgh

Dates: 15th – 24th December

Times: Various time slots available each day

Tickets: Child’s ticket: £21.73 (adults don’t need to pay)

What to Expect:

  • Meet Santa

  • Receive a gift from his elves


Santa’s Grotto at Merryhatton Garden Centre

Location: 1 Wallyford Toll, Musselburgh, East Lothian, EH21 8JU

Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday in December

Times: Various time slots available each day

Tickets: Child’s ticket: £12.95 (adults don’t need to pay)

What to Expect:

  • Meet Santa

  • Receive a gift and take a picture


Santa’s Grotto at Strawberry Corner Garden Centre

Location: Strawberry Corner, Wallyford

Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday in December

Times: 10am to 4pm, no booking required

Tickets: Child’s ticket: £8.50 (adults don’t need to pay)

What to Expect:

  • Meet Santa

  • Receive a gift and take a picture


Santa’s Experience at Jungle Tumble

Location: 55 High Street, Musselburgh

Dates: 6th – 7th December

Times: Various time slots available each day

Tickets:

  • Child’s ticket: £18

  • Adult’s ticket: £8.50

What to Expect:

  • Meet Santa

  • Soft play session

  • Make your own reindeer food

  • Food included



Midlothian


Peggyslea Farm

Location: Peggyslea Farm, Midlothian

Dates: 6th and 22nd December

Times: Various time slots available

Tickets:

  • Child’s ticket: £19.96 + booking fee

  • Adult’s ticket: £3.91 + booking fee

What to Expect:

  • Meet Santa and his team of horses

  • Meet other farm animals

  • Enjoy festive activities, a bouncy castle, and face painting

  • Capture memorable photos with Santa


Dobbies Garden Centre – Festive Grotto

Location: Dalkeith, Midlothian

Dates: 23rd November – 24th December

Times: Various time slots available

Tickets: £14 – £16 per child (adults don’t need to pay)

What to Expect:

  • Journey through a North Pole adventure

  • Meet Santa and receive a gift


Santa’s Grotto at the National Mining Museum

Location: Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange

Dates: Saturdays and Sundays in December

Times: Various time slots available

Tickets: Child’s ticket: £12.50 (adults don’t need to pay)

What to Expect:

  • Children can chat with Santa

  • Receive a special gift

  • Take a festive photo to remember the day


Breakfast with Santa at Elginhaugh Farm

Location: 9 Gilmerton Road, near Dalkeith

Dates: Saturdays and Sundays in December

Times: Various time slots available

Tickets:

  • Child’s ticket: £9.99

  • Adult’s ticket: £10.99

What to Expect:

  • Little ones can write a letter to Santa, get their own certificate of attendance, and a present from Santa himself

  • Adults can tuck into a buffet breakfast with unlimited tea and coffee, while children enjoy their own buffet breakfast


Santa Experience at the Bubbling Toad

Location: Vogrie Park, Gorebridge

Dates: 4th -24th December

Times: Various time slots available

Tickets: Child’s ticket: £22 (Adults free)

What to Expect:

  • Meet Santa

  • Mixing a pouch of wildlife-friendly reindeer food,.

  • Crafting keepsakes at the elves’ workshop corner.

  • Choosing a Christmas tattoo to wear home.

  • Take home a sleigh bell pendant , a wax-sealed letter from Santa and a sweet treat.




Edinburgh


Edinburgh Zoo – Lanterns Grotto

Location: Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine

Dates: 6 – 24 December 2025 (selected evenings)

Tickets: Child ticket £19 (plus Lanterns ticket)

Times: Various time slots available

What to Expect:

  • A 10-minute private slot with Santa inside Budongo Trail.

  • Part of the Zoo’s Giant Lanterns event.

  • Ideal for those already visiting the lantern trail.


Edinburgh Zoo – Meet Mr & Mrs Claus

Location: Edinburgh Zoo, Corstorphine

Dates: 1 – 24 December 2025 (selected days)

Tickets: Child ticket £18 (plus zoo admission)

Times: Various time slots available

What to Expect:

  • Meet both Santa and Mrs Claus

  • Includes a small gift.

  • Perfect for families with zoo membership


Lost Shore – Meet Mrs Claus

Location: Lost Shore, 11 South Platt Hill, Newbridge, EH28 8AY

 Dates: 6,7 and 22 December 2025

Tickets: Child ticket £15 (1 adult included) Adult £7.50

Times: Various time slots available

What to Expect:

  • Meet Mrs Claus

  • Includes a gift.

  • Story with Mrs Claus

  • Children will be invited to write a kindness promise for next year and post it in the Goodwill Letterbox


Santa at the the Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage

Location: 1A Dryden Terrace, Edinburgh,

 Dates: 6th December

Tickets: Child ticket £12

Times: Various time slots available

What to Expect:

  • A personal meeting with Santa to share their Christmas wishes

  • The chance to take memorable photos

  • A special gift chosen just for them


Craigies North Pole Express

 Location: West Craigie Farm, South Queensferry

Dates: Saturdays and Sundays in December

Times: Various time slots available

Tickets: 

  • Adults £12.50

  • Children £25

  • under 2 £10

What to Expect:

  • Enjoy a magical story before meeting Santa

  • Every child will receive their own ‘believe’ bell and a special gift

  • Enjoy playtime in Little Farmers

  • Board the Craigies North Pole Express to our festive area for marshmallows and hot chocolate.


Edinburgh’s Christmas – Santa’s Stories

Location: West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh City Centre

Dates: Mid-November – 24 December

Tickets: 

  • Child £17, one adult ticket is included

  • Extra adult £7

Times: Various time slots available

What to Expect:

  • Festive story time with Santa.

  • A lovely option if you're already visiting the Christmas Markets or the Big Wheel.


Santa's Grotto at Dynamic Earth

Location: Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh

 Dates: 29th November to 23rd December 

Tickets: children £20 (no ticket needed for adults)

Times: Various time slots available

What to Expect:

  • As the Northern Lights dance around you, Santa will share magical tales about life in the Arctic

  • Choose your gift to take home with cuddly toys hand-picked by Santa


Conifox Adventure Park – Christmas Experience

Location: Conifox Adventure Park, Kirkliston

Dates: 28,29 November, 6,7, 13,14, 20.21, 23, 24 December 2025

Tickets: 

  • £27.50 adults

  • £32.50 children

Times: Various time slots available

What to Expect:

  • Meet Santa in his cosy living room.

  • Exchange a golden coin for a teddy at the Make-a-Teddy Factory.

  • Bake cookies with Mrs Claus.

  • Enjoy the Magic Forest, Elf School, Reindeer Flying School, and more.


Santa Breakfast at Hard Rock Café

Location: George Street, Edinburgh

 Dates: 13th, 14th,20 and 21st December

 Tickets: 

  • Adults £27.27 + booking fee

  • Children £21.93 + booking fee

What to Expect:

Tuck into breakfast sharing plates, including pancakes for the kids, while being entertained by Tricky Ricky. When it’s your time to meet Santa, one of the helpful elves will take you through.


Sleighbell Santa Brunch at Brewhemia

Location:  1A Market Street, Edinburgh

 Dates: Dates across December

Times: 10am-12.30pm

 Tickets: 

  • Adults £20

  • Children £15

What to Expect:

  • Screening of a North Pole approved Christmas movie

  • Brunch

  • Post-film all children are welcome to have a meet & greet with Santa


Santa at Ocean Terminal

 Location:  74 Ocean Dr, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ

 Dates: Dates across December

Times: 11am-5pm

 Tickets: 

  • £6.50 (adults don't need a ticket)

What to Expect:

  •  Visit Santa in his Grotto

  • Receive a small gift


West Lothian


Dobbies Garden Centre, Livingston

Location: Livingston, West Lothian

Dates: 23 November – 24 December 2025

Tickets: From £14–£16 per child

Times: Various time slots available

What to Expect:

  • Journey through a North Pole adventure.

  • Meet Santa and receive a gift.


Fiver Sisters Zoo Illuminations

Location: Livingston, West Lothian

Dates: 21 November – 23 December 2025

Tickets: £16 per child but will need to purchase illimitation tickets separately

Times: Various time slots available

What to Expect:

  • A dazzling festive light display throughout the zoo grounds,

  • Perfect if your already planning on visiting the Illuminations


Jupiter Artland

Location: Wilkieston, West Lothian

Dates: 6-14 December 2025

Tickets: £10 per child but will need to purchase Jupiter Artland tickets separately

Times: Various time slots available

 What to Expect:

  • Visit Santa in his Bothy Grotto

  • Receive a small gift


House of the Binns – Santa Experience

Location: House of the Binns, Linlithgow

Dates: Saturday 6th December & Sunday 21st December 2025

Times: Various time slots available

Tickets:  Children £17, adults £1

What to Expect:

  • Meet Santa and his elves in the beautifully decorated Blue Room, magically transformed by the elves.

  • Each child receives a special gift

  • Children also get a seasonal certificate to commemorate the meeting.


Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway – Santa Steam Trains

Location: Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, Bo’ness

Dates: Dates across December

Times: Various time slots available

Tickets

  • Private Compartment (up to 8 people):  £216 per compartment

  • Standard Shared Seating: £27 per person

What to Expect:

  • A magical ride by steam train— full of festive atmosphere, singing, complimentary refreshments and a present from Santa.


Festival of Christmas at Almond Valley

Location: Almond Valley, Livingston

Dates: 6th to 24th December

Times: Various time slots available

Tickets

  • £10.48 to meet Santa (park entry is extra)

  • £2.10 for the Santa express train

What to Expect:

  • Visit Santa in his cosy cottage

  • Craft Christmas treasures in the Elf Workshop

  • Send letters from the Polar Post Station

  • Explore the site on Santa’s Express Train and our Vintage Tractor

  • Take aim in the Splat-Ta-Clause

  • Share festive stories and meet our reindeer


Festival of Christmas After Dark at Almond Valley

Location: Almond Valley, Livingston

Dates: 6th December to 4th January

Times: Various time slots available

Tickets

  • Adults from £8.38

  • Children from £6.29

What to Expect:

  • Follow the Trail of Mischief crafted by Santa’s most mischievous elf!

  • Craft Christmas treasures in the Elf Workshop (free)

  • Share festive stories and meet our reindeer

  • Whoosh and slide through illuminated glowing play zones

  • Take aim in the Santa-Ta-Clause (additional charge)

  • Explore the site on Santa’s Express Train (additional charge)

  • Send letters from the Polar Post Station (free)

  • Visit Santa in his cosy cottage (additional charge)



Top Tips for Visiting Santa

  • Book early: Christmas Eve slots are always the first to go.

  • Check what’s included: Some grottos include gifts, photos, or activities — others don’t.

  • Consider timings: Morning slots can be quieter for toddlers or children who struggle with queues.

  • Wrap up warm: Outdoor venues like Dalkeith and Conifox can get chilly.

  • Whether you're after a quick grotto visit or a full-day festive adventure, there are lots of magical ways for your little ones to meet Santa across Edinburgh and the Lothians this year.


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