ith an unkempt, bushy, white beard covering most of his face; a gruff voice booming “Ho, Ho, Ho!” and a frame that obscures most doorways, meeting Santa is not always a dreamy experience for little children, despite wearing their best outfit and a co-ordinating smile! We have consorted with the Elves and chatted with Mrs Christmas regarding where Santa can be found this season and we find out some of the most charming places to meet the Big Man himself.

The finest Santa in London... the Enchanted Christmas House
The Enchanted House is a venue that has been sprinkled with magic. The Christmas experience for children is cosy, captivating and each room presents a new enthralling adventure for them. There's the Garden of Winter Wonder, the Gingerbread Kitchen, Mrs Claus’s sitting room, The Busy Elves Workshop plus, of course, an amazing Santa’s Grotto. All the rooms have been designed by Director Dr Margo Sunderland, who is a published Child Psychotherapist and lecturer. All sorts of colours, themes and activities have been woven into the Enchanted Christmas House to appeal to children of all natures.
Meeting Father Christmas is a calm and happy experience and as if by magic he knows details about them: their name, favourite toy and even favourite television show.
After doing some craft (perhaps making baubles or a magical wand) they leave with a beautifully-wrapped gift of a wooden toy ready to assemble and decorate when they get home.
Baby areas are available in most rooms with cushions for them to sit in comfort while their older siblings enjoy the crafts or activities.
When: Various dates and times from 26 November - 24 December 2011.
Price: Adult £42; child £42;
family of four £129.
Age range: 18 months to under 9 years.
Tour duration: 3 – 3 ½ hours.
Buggy Access: Buggies can come in, but some activities are on the second floor so buggies will have to be left in the cloak room.
Parking: No on site parking.
M1 Centre and the Business Design Centre is 10 minutes walk.
Tube: Angel.
Booking: Essential. Please telephone.
Refreshments: Tea, coffee and cupcakes for the adults (delicious ones!) and spaghetti with meatballs for the children.
✽ London Art House, 2-18
Britannia Row, Islington, N1 8PA.
020 3227 3200
www.christmas.enchantedhouse.net

Father Christmas... in a Victorian Grotto
This year sees Father Christmas situated in a beautiful secret Victorian grotto at the Museum of London. Children are invited to have a look round the museum and then meet him for a chat. He'll have lots to tell them about because its been a very busy year and he really enjoys meeting everyone.
A photographer will be on hand to take pictures, which will be available for an extra charge.
When: 10–23 December 2011
Price: £5 including gift.
Buggy Access: Excellent access to all areas of the museum.
Tube: St Paul's.
Booking: Not applicable.
Refreshments: Benugo Coffee Shop on site.
✽ Museum of London, 150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN.
www.museumoflondon.org.uk

Meet Santa and his real huskies!
It’s a friendly and jolly Santa that the children will meet at the Wetlands Centre. The grotto is set amidst towering pine trees in a warm and cosy log cabin – it’s like being in the Canadian Rockies!
This Santa is one of the most convincing (!) you will ever meet, and he takes care to listen and chat to each child as they share their secrets with him. Everyone gets a chance to do some festive crafts prior to meeting Santa and to take home a goodie bag with a small toy, crayons and colouring inside. Huskies will even be on site to meet the children and give rides on a real sledge.
When: 10-11 December 2011
Price: £5.00 to meet Santa plus Wetlands Centre entry (Free entry for members).
Buggy Access: All paths are tarmac giving full access.
Parking: Free car park.
Tube: Hammersmith, then take the 283 the special Duck Bus from stand C.
Booking: Not essential.
Refreshments: Water's Edge Café situated by a small lake serves hot and cold food, drinks and wines.
✽ London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Barnes, London, SW13 9WT.
020 8409 4400, www.wwt.org.uk

Santa for Free... in Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland is a huge, Christmassy, sparkling event that runs over the festive season. Much of the event is entirely free (and not that busy if you go midweek before school breaks up!).
The whole of Hyde Park is transformed for the event with a massive ice rink topped with twinkling lights, a massive Observation Wheel and a traditional Christmas Market where you can find gorgeous wooden toys, gifts of every shape and style, ceramics, and anything else you can think of that can be sold from a stall!
Santa is a popular feature at the Wonderland and last year he gave out some 50,000 presents to children visiting him in Santa Land.
As there is no charge, you may have to wait a while as a first-come-first-served system is in operation.
You can take your own photographs or opt for an official Winter Wonderland photographer who will take photos for you. A charge applies for this.
When: Winter Wonderland 18 November 2011 – 3 January 2012 (Santa is available until 24 December 2011)
Price: Free to meet Santa, other charges may apply.
Buggy Access: Busy but grassy or pathed mostly.
Parking: Not advisable.
Tube: Hyde Park Corner.
Booking: Not required.
Refreshments: Plenty of stalls.
✽ www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

Step Back In Time and Meet Father Christmas... in his Pantry
For the most part of the year, Betty Blythe's Tea Room is a delectable, elegant place to enchant anyone with a sweet tooth. The vintage tea shop sells the finest afternoon tea, with an array of mouthwatering treats and scones.
For one day only Father Christmas will be popping in to meet local children and their families, sample some lovely cakes and hear all about how good the children have been throughout the year.
Delicious gingerbread biscuits will be on offer to nibble as the children listen to a spot of storytelling by Father Christmas in his grotto. Every little one will have a private audience with Santa and get a lovely goody bag to take home. It's a lovely, relaxed experience that is ideal for toddlers of 2 and above. Especially those more nervous of a thundering, imposing Father Christmas.
When: Saturday 17 December 2011, 10am - 5pm
Price: Family visit with two children is £16.50. Additional children £4.
Buggy Access: Not good.
Parking: Not advisable.
Tube: Kensington.
Booking: Essential.
Refreshments: A must for afternoon tea at this charming 1920's style coffee shop!
✽ Betty Blythe's Fine Food Pantry, 73 Blythe Road, W14 0HP, 020 7602 1177
www.bettyblythe.co.uk

At home with Father Christmas... in Lapland UK
Situated south of London, in Kent's Bewl Water, a whole magical world is created, complete with snow, reindeer and secret tree-lined pathways leading to Father Christmas's woodland cabin. This has to be the ultimate, most complete Christmas experience for children lucky enough to be invited and indeed for the adults who witness the thrill and speechless wonder of their children as their experience unfolds!
From the first tentative step, as the children peek through the huge, great oak doors to the sparkly, snowy land they are transported to the sheer magic and perfection of Christmas. The journey begins with toy-making in the Elves’ workshop, then a spot of gingerbread decorating with Mother Christmas and a story in her sweet, cake-smelling kitchen.
There are tame, cuddly huskies to meet and reindeer to see; letters to write and post in the North Pole Post office; a spot of ice-skating and a chance for some delicious, warming food before you begin the magical journey to the climax of the day. Through the snowy woodland, winding round a magical pathway until you see a cosy log cabin where the whole family get to meet Father Christmas in a relaxed and friendly setting.
It’s a day they will not stop talking about and never, ever forget... and nor will the grown-ups!
When: 26 November - 24 December 2011
Price: £44.50 - £62.50.
Buggy Access: Full and easy access.
Booking: Essential.
Parking: Plenty of free parking.
✽ Lapland UK, Bewl Water Estate, Lamberhurst, Kent, TN3 8JH.
www.laplanduk.com