Santa's Grottos in Cornwall 2026: Dates and Prices

Short answer: Cornwall's main Santa grottos for 2026 are at Eden (£16 plus admission, from 21 November), Heligan (£8 per child with a Night Garden ticket), Trebah (December weekends), Lappa Valley (from 28 November), Trelissick and Trerice (National Trust, from £5.50 per child), and Mount Edgcumbe's Christmas Fair (12–13 December). For Santa by steam train, see Bodmin and Launceston.

Every big attraction in Cornwall has a Father Christmas in December, and they're very different visits: a few minutes in a grotto, a story session, a whole day of play with Santa at the end. Here they are, with dates and prices where they've been published.

The big days out

• Eden Project — 21–22 and 28–29 November; 4–6, 11–13 and 17–24 December. £16 per person plus Eden admission. Christmas at Eden.
• Lost Gardens of Heligan — a grotto on the Night Garden trail, £8 per child as an add-on to an evening ticket; brunch or tea with Father Christmas is £35. Heligan Night Garden.
• Lappa Valley, near Newquay — 28–29 November; 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19–24 December. Adults £19, children £22, under-2s £10, dogs £6. A steam train ride and a day of play.
• Trebah, near Falmouth — Storytelling with Santa on 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 December. Adults £23.50, children £16.75, under-5s £8. Trebah at Christmas.

National Trust grottos

• Trelissick, near Truro — 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19–23 December. £6 per child, £4 per adult, plus admission (NT members free entry).
• Trerice, near Newquay — 19–23 December. £5.50 per child, £4 per adult.

More in National Trust Christmas in Cornwall 2026.

Smaller and cheaper

• Mount Edgcumbe Christmas Fair — 12–13 December, with the Lions' grotto. Entry £5 adult, £3 child online. Mount Edgcumbe Christmas Fair.
• Enys Gardens — a 45-minute storytelling session with Father Christmas, with combined trail tickets. Enys Lantern Trail.
• Paradise Park, Hayle — 2026 dates aren't out yet; last year the grotto was £13.25 per child.

Santa by train

Bodmin & Wenford and Launceston run Santa specials; see Santa trains in Cornwall 2026.

Which Santa is best for toddlers?

For under-3s, a short visit near home is better than a big day out: Trelissick, Trerice or the Mount Edgcumbe grotto. Heligan's is magical but in the evening, which can be late for small children. Lappa Valley is best for 3–8s who'll use the play areas all day.

When should you book?

Now for December weekends. The midweek dates in the last week before Christmas are the last to sell.

Dates, prices and times are the organisers' to change — check the official page before you travel or book. Spotted something we've got wrong? Tell us and we'll fix it.