🎅 Santa will be in his Grotto at The Mall, Maidstone, every day from Saturday 14th November right through until Christmas Eve! 🎄✨
So there are plenty of opportunities to come along, say hello, tell Santa what’s on your Christmas list and enjoy a little festive magic! 🎁
No booking required — just turn up and see us!
🎅 Monday to Saturday
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
🎄 Sunday
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Santa and his Elves take a little break between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to feed the reindeer and recharge their Christmas magic! 🦌✨
🎅 It’s just £6 per child to visit Santa.
Each child will have a lovely personal chat with Father Christmas and receive an age-appropriate gift from him to take home. 🎁✨
Adults come in free of charge — so the whole family can share in the Christmas magic! 🎄❤️
Things are much more relaxed these days, but those pesky winter bugs are still about! 🎅
We need to keep Father Christmas fit and healthy for his big night, so if you or your little one has a cough, temperature, or is feeling unwell, we kindly ask that you pop back and visit us another time.
Thank you ever so much for helping us keep Santa, his Elves and all our visitors happy and healthy! 🎄✨
NO! There are no online bookings. 🎅
Simply turn up on the day you’d like to visit and pay on entry — nice and easy!
At busy times there may be a short queue, but don’t worry — Santa will make sure he sees every child waiting to visit him. 🎄✨
So no booking, no time slots — just come along and join in the Christmas magic!
Yes, of course! 🎁🎅
Each child will receive an age-appropriate gift from Santa when they come to see him.
After all, it wouldn’t be a visit to Father Christmas without a little something to take home! 🎄✨
A significant proportion of the money raised through Santa’s Grotto is donated to local children’s charities and good causes.
Thanks to the wonderful support of everyone who visited us last Christmas, together we raised an amazing £4,400, which was donated to several local cjildrens' charities. 🎁❤️
So when you bring your children to see Santa, you’re not only giving them a little Christmas magic — you’re helping us bring some Christmas magic to other local children and families too. 🎄✨
A huge thank you from Santa, the Elves and all the charities your visits help support. 🎅🧝♂️❤️
No, not at all! 📸🎅
You are under no obligation to buy the photograph taken during your visit.
Having a photo taken is all part of the experience for the children — and, of course, it creates a lovely lasting memory of their visit to Santa. 🎄✨
You can see our photo options and prices here: CLICK HERE
Yes, of course — Santa loves meeting babies! 👶🎅
Babies are charged the normal admission price, as they enjoy the same special visit with Santa and he has a lovely selection of age-appropriate baby gifts especially for his littlest visitors. 🎁
We’ll also take a lovely photograph to remember their first visit to meet Santa. 📸✨
And for those celebrating their very first festive season, we even have a dedicated “Baby’s First Christmas” photo overlay to make that special photograph an even more magical keepsake. 🎄❤️
Of course! Nans and Granddads are more than welcome! 🎅❤️
The whole family can share in the magic, although we do ask that there are no more than 6 people in the Grotto at any one time.
And don’t worry — only the children pay admission. Adults, Nans and Granddads come in free of charge! 🎄✨
After all, you’re never too old to visit Santa! 🎅
Please don’t worry! 🎅❤️ Santa is very used to meeting little ones who may be feeling a bit shy or unsure, and he’ll do his very best to gently engage them in a friendly chat.
If there’s something your child particularly loves — a favourite toy, character, hobby or something they’re hoping for this Christmas — have a quiet word with the Elf before you go in. They can pass it on to Santa and give him a great conversation starter! 🧝♂️✨
One little tip from us: please try not to remind your child about a previous visit that didn’t go so well. Instead, build up their confidence and excitement beforehand. Chat about what they might ask Santa for, what they’d like to tell him, or how much Nanny would love a lovely photo of them with Santa! 📸🎄
And if they’re still a little unsure when they arrive, that’s absolutely fine — Santa and his Elves will take it gently and do their best to make it a happy experience. ❤️
📸 Photos start from just £6 each and are printed straight away, ready for you to take home and enjoy! 🎅🎄
We have a choice of photo options and special deals available, so there’s something to suit everyone.
For our full price list and all the different photo packages, CLICK HERE. ✨
Sorry, no. 🎅
For everyone’s safety, all children must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over when visiting Santa’s Grotto.
Don’t forget, adults come in free of charge — only the children pay admission. 🎄✨
No — not without your consent. 📸🔒
Your family’s privacy is important to us, so photographs taken during your visit are not automatically uploaded or displayed online.
We do not offer online photo re-ordering, but you can choose and purchase any photographs or photo gifts you’d like from our Photo Elves during your visit. 🎅🧝♂️
That way, your photos stay private and you take your Christmas memories home with you on the day. 🎄✨
If you purchase a photo from us, our Photo Elves can upload it to our social media for you to share.
This is never done automatically — you must ask for it at the time you order your photo, so please let the Photo Elf know when choosing your pictures. 🧝♂️
In previous years we’ve provided this service completely free of charge. This year, we’re still not charging for it, but we do ask for a small donation to one of the local children’s charities we support. ❤️
Your photos will, of course, never be shared without your permission. 🔒
A little donation for a little extra Christmas magic — and it all helps a very worthwhile local cause. 🎄
Sorry, no personal photography or video is permitted inside Santa’s Grotto. 🎅📵
Only Santa’s official Photo Elf is permitted to take photographs inside the Grotto. 📸🧝
But don’t put your camera away! You’re very welcome to take as many photos and videos as you like with our Christmas displays and decorations outside the Grotto. 🎄✨
And if you share any of your festive photos on social media, we’d love to see them! Please tag Santa using #SantaMaidstone 🎅❤️
You never know — Santa and his Elves might even spot them! ✨
Adults accompanying children do not pay. 🎅🎄
Mums, Dads, Nans, Granddads and other adults accompanying children into the Grotto are completely free of charge.
But if you’re a couple, a group of friends, or simply a big kid at heart and fancy coming to see Santa yourselves — you’re more than welcome! ❤️🎅
The normal £6 admission fee per person applies, and you’ll get the full Santa experience too — a chat with the big man himself and, of course, a nice gift to take home! 🎁
Better still, a large proportion of the Grotto entrance fee is donated to local children’s charities, so you can have a bit of festive fun while helping to spread some Christmas magic at the same time. 🎄
We allow up to 6 people in the Grotto at one time, so there’s plenty of opportunity to get the photographs you’d like. 🎅📸
We’re happy to take any combination of photos you request — the children on their own, with Mum & Dad, with Nan & Grandad, or everyone together!
Just let Santa’s Photo Elf know which combinations you’d like and they’ll do their best to capture them for you. 🧝♂️📸✨
And remember, there’s no obligation to buy any of the photographs — you simply choose the ones you love afterwards. 🎄❤️
It’s entirely up to you and your child. 🎅❤️
Santa will never pick up or place a child on his lap himself.
If your child is happy to sit on Santa’s lap, you are welcome to place them there yourself. By doing so, you’re letting Santa and his Elves know that you’re happy for your child to sit with him.
Of course, there’s absolutely no need for them to sit on his lap — they can sit or stand beside Santa instead and still have a magical visit and a lovely photo. 🎄📸✨
Yes, absolutely! ♿🎅
Santa’s Grotto is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, and we can accommodate them inside the Grotto when needed.
As space inside is limited, if you’re able to leave pushchairs outside, we’d really appreciate it — but please don’t worry if this isn’t practical.
Wheelchairs, and pushchairs that need to remain with your child, are more than welcome inside. 🎄❤️
If you need any assistance, just ask one of Santa’s Elves — they’ll be very happy to help. 🧝♂️✨
Santa and his Elves want every child to enjoy their visit and will do everything they can to make the experience as happy and comfortable as possible.
If your child has additional needs, is nervous around new people, doesn’t like loud noises, needs a little extra time or communicates in a particular way, please have a quiet word with one of Santa’s Elves before you go in.
They can pass anything helpful on to Santa so he can adapt the visit to suit your child as much as possible. 🧝♂️🎄
You are more than welcome to call in before your visit to discuss options with one of our elves
You know your child best — so please tell us how we can help.
Sorry, The Mall does not allow dogs or other pets inside the shopping centre. 🐾
However, assistance and support animals are, of course, very welcome in Santa’s Grotto. 🎅❤️
Santa and his Elves will be delighted to see them too — and they might even make it into the family photo! 📸🎄✨
For all the latest news, updates and information from Santa and his Elves, follow our special Santa Maidstone Facebook page. 🎅🎄
👉 CLICK HERE – Santa Maidstone on Facebook
You can also keep up with what’s happening at The Mall Maidstone on their Facebook page:
👉 CLICK HERE – The Mall Maidstone on Facebook
It’s always worth checking before your visit for any last-minute news or announcements from the North Pole! 🧝♂️✨
