Updated for 2025! We will keep updating this as we find more details.

Christmas is already just around the corner and I think this will be one of my children’s last visit to Santa! Sob, sob! It’s a very magical time for kiddies and finding the best place to see Father Christmas seems to get harder and busier each year!

With that in mind here are some enchanting places for your children to meet Father Christmas or Santa Claus In Bromley and wider Kent.

So where should you go to visit the Big Man and what type of events are on offer? I’ve been researching and found the best places to see Santa in Bromley and Kent in 2025! Read on…

20 Best Places to See Father Christmas In Bromley and Kent

Santa in Bromley and Kent

This is my local area so if you are on the outskirts of London like us but don’t want to head into town, here is where you can find Santa this Christmas.

1. Ruxley Manor Garden Centre

One of our regular places to visit, behind the scenes, Ruxley Manor have been working their elf-sized socks off to make this year the most magical yet! Father Christmas has been making Ruxley his Christmas HQ and this year he’s back, bringing Christmas cheer with Mother Christmas and a merry band of Elves in tow!

Meet Father Christmas privately with your family, in his Grotto and receive an extra special gift to take home and treasure. Not forgetting the all-important photo with Father Christmas!

Tickets are on sale now.

2. Father Christmas Afternoon Tea - Chiddingstone Castle

Chiddingstone Castle is once again opening it’s doors for a magical Christmas Experience this December.

Included Father Christmas Afternoon Tea Experience.

🎄 Christmas Trail around the Castle

🎄 Storytime with Father Christmas

🎄 Full afternoon tea

🎄 Personal visit with Father Christmas

🎄 Goody bag gift for all children

🎄 Christmas craft activities

Tickets are limited and on sale now. Click here for details.

3. Dobbies Garden Centre, Ashford

Embrace the festive season with a must-have visit to a Dobbie’s Santa’s grotto this Christmas. This experience includes meeting with Santa and, of course, a special gift for your little ones.

Click here for details.

4. The Fenn Bell Conservation Project

This our choice in 2024, head down to Fenn Bell and climb aboard the Santa Safari! They will whisk you away through the zoo and down to the magical winter wonderland where you can meet the main man himself, Father Christmas. We loved it!

This gets booked up very quickly so get your ticket HERE.

5. Bewl Water

More than a Santa’s Grotto, this 3-hour Christmas event is packed with immersive and interactive festive activities, where every step of your adventure will help raise the Cheer-O-Meter, the ultimate measure of Christmas magic, just in time for the big day.

Book tickets here.

6. The Elf Express at Quex Park

Board the Elf Express this Christmas and immerse yourself in the Magic of the Elf Kingdom and Magical Elf Woods. Our elves need your help to prepare for the big day and can’t wait to welcome you to their world full of festive fun and magic.

With thousands of Christmas lights, sweet treats and memorable encounters with Santa’s top elves, the Elf Express is a unique and unrivalled interactive theatrical treat this Christmas. Now in it’s 10th year, The Elf Express at Quex Park is the Christmas treat not to be missed.

Grab a ticket here.

7. Kent Life Farm

Always a great day out. This year you get to meet Father Christmas in his magical grotto. Little ones will be thrilled to choose a special gift from the wonderfully stocked toy shop.

You can immerse yourself in the holiday spirit by exploring the delightful sweet shop, and even building your very own Be My Bear teddy bear for a small additional charge. Be sure to catch an enchanting live show and make a stop at The Snow Inn for delectable festive treats and drinks. And don’t forget to hop on The Jingle Express for a merry ride!

Tickets can be booked HERE.

8. Kent & East Sussex Railway

We love Christmas at the Kent and East Sussex Railway, the Santa train is such a different way to celebrate. You get the the pleasure of a steam train ride knowing your child will meet Santa and receive a gift. It gets booked up quickly though so book early!

Check availability HERE.

9. THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride at Spa Valley Railway

Your adventure starts exactly like the film, with THE POLAR EXPRESS™ collecting your whole family from Spa Valley Railway to start your magical journey. You’ll meet your favourite icons from the beloved movie, including the Conductor, dancing chefs, a mysterious ghost, and of course the magical Santa Claus himself.

Find out more here.

10. Hever Castle

Christmas in the Land of Oz! Follow the yellow brick road on a magical journey with loved ones this Christmas. Begin in Kansas at Dorothy’s house, meet familiar characters along the way, and be swept into the colourful Land of Oz through charming displays. Then step inside the Castle to enjoy the warmth of a traditional Christmas. A visit to Father Christmas is available as an optional extra for little ones.

As darkness falls from 4pm, the grounds are magically transformed. Wrap up warm and step into a world of wonder as the Castle, gardens, and lake are bathed in festive lights, capturing the heart of the Christmas season.

Find out more information here.

11. Christmas Lights and Neverland at Leeds Castle!

Leeds Castle are offering their usual amazing lights show this year, get your tickets here. However we are most excited about the Neverland event! Second to the right, and straight on to Leeds Castle!

In collaboration with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity , this Christmas, discover the magic of the holiday season with a Neverland Christmas at Leeds Castle!

This captivating event invites families to step into the beloved world of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan for a Christmas adventure full of wonder, imagination, and storytelling.

12. Scotney Castle

What happens when you blend the spirit of Christmas with the magic of literature? Step into 'Cover to Cover', a storybook Christmas inside the Victorian Mansion house at Scotney Castle this festive season.

Each room of the House will be beautifully transformed with individual decorations inspired by much-loved books from Scotney Castle’s own collection. From the timeless whimsy of Alice in Wonderland to the nostalgia of A Christmas Carol, The Jungle Book, Peter Pan, Agatha Christie mysteries, and Jane Austen favourites, around every corner, a new chapter of enchantment awaits.

The festive magic continues into the evening with Late Nights & Lights events (5-8pm on selected dates). As dusk falls, the mansion glows with beautiful illuminations, the shop stays open for relaxed, stress-free gift shopping, and the tea-room serves warming drinks and seasonal treats, perfect for a cosy evening stroll.

Grab your ticket HERE.

13. Bluewater

In the heart of Kent, a world of wonder & excitement awaits at Winterland! Located at Bluewater Shopping Centre, outside The Village near Zizzi, this spectacular event offers an amazing selection of rides, games, attractions, and delicious treats for the whole family. Celebrate this festive season with a memorable day out at Winterland Bluewater. They don’t appear to have a Santa this year - he must be busy!

A group of reindeer in a field — Credit: Unsplash.

14. Godstone Farm

Jingle all the way to Godstone Farm this Christmas for a heart-warming festive experience the whole family will love! Your whimsical journey will immerse you in all the festive feels and includes a visit to our special wish room, as well as a chance to operate the sleigh controls. There will also be a quick stop in the post room for any last minute letters. You and your family will meet Father Christmas in his cosy grotto, where children can share their Christmas wishes and then pay a visit to the well stocked Christmas Toy Shop where they can choose their own special gift! Your child can also decorate their own festive treat and you’ll all feel a part of something truly magical.

Tickets are now on sale HERE.

15. Penshurst Place

This venue is holding a Christmas Panto event instead called "The Last N.O.E.L"!

Enjoy a festive show in the medieval Baron's Hall at Penshurst Place!

Naughty Old Elves Limited [N.O.E.L] have infiltrated the North Pole (cue shocked gasps, please!).

With a dastardly plan to take over the workshop, N.O.E.L have got their eye on the toy-making procedures and want to put a stop to the workshop's manufacturing to ruin Christmas!

Using their hypnotic powers to cause havoc and stop the toy making in its tracks, Mother Christmas is now under their power, whilst Neville the Elf has been convinced that Rapping rather than Wrapping is the best career move for him....

Father Christmas needs your help to ensure Christmas and its magic, are saved!

Book your ticket to find out more!

16. Salomons Estate

Santa’s Grotto at Salomons Estate promises to be filled with delightful activities and crafts in anticipation of the most important meeting of the year! Enjoy a range of festive activities with Santa’s Elves before the magical moment arrives to knock on Santa’s door. Afterwards, set off on our Festive Fairy Trail before meeting the Elves back in The Bistro for something delicious to eat.

Ticket information HERE.

17. The Reindeer Centre

Walking through his 150ft magical grotto will be open for everyone to enjoy all the beautiful scenes.

There will be a trail for everyone to follow, which will include seeing all of the wonderful farm animals including the naughty goats, donkeys, rabbits, cute Llamas, unusual chickens and adorable sheep

The reindeers will be the big barn and you can learn all the interesting facts and maybe feed them some food. There will be Christmas activities for the children which include helping the elves prepare some special reindeers food to take away for Rudolph and his team on Christmas Eve

The popular snow play area ( fake snow) will be here again this along with the small soft play area and also the large boat sand pit area

There is also a under 5’s soft play area, 3 selfie rooms, colouring corner and much more…

Grab a ticket HERE

18. Mission Christmas Elf Academy

Have you ever wondered why The Historic Dockyard Chatham closes every Christmas? For over 400 years, Dockyard workers past and present have been keeping a heavily guarded festive secret…

All over the world, dockyards just like ours are on high alert during the festive season. Hidden deep within the Historic Dockyard is a secret sub-station, concealed from plain sight. Here, a crew of ingenious elves is stationed, ready to jump into action should Father Christmas run into trouble with his sleigh, need help with his Santa-Nav, or locate a child staying away from home.

The elves are thrilled that humans will be passing through the sub-station – though some have been up to mischief…

The Dockyard’s secret sub-station elves have been working on new inventions for Father Christmas. Inspired by the trades and history of the ‘Yard, they’ve come up with some ingenious inventions to help during the festive season.

But… someone has been tinkering with the inventions, and none of them are working properly. Can your family complete the mission and get everything running again?

Click here for details

19. Royal Engineers Museum Gillingham

The Wartime Christmas weekend at the RE Museum will be as busy as ever this year.

Christmas is a time for celebration and tradition, but during wartime, Christmas was simpler. Mini Museum Explorers will sing carols like those sung in the trenches and create homemade decorations to hang on the tree. They’ll also craft a mini wooden tank, just like the ones children would have received as Christmas presents during wartime and learn about how gifts were different during that time. It’s a festive, hands-on way to explore how Christmas was celebrated in more challenging times.

Find out more here.