North Pole Post Office

The North Pole Post Office opens at Harrogate International Festivals on Saturday 14 November, and it stays open right through to Christmas Eve. It's a pop-up post office that takes over the Festivals' Cheltenham Parade office in the town centre, so it's right in the middle of things for the run-up to the big day.

The whole point is for children to post their letters to Father Christmas. They're encouraged to include their name, their age, what they'd like for Christmas, and something they enjoy doing — and if they want Santa to write back, they'll need to add an address. The setting is built on festive detail: twinkling fairy lights, snow flurries, and Christmas music, with Father Christmas appearing in the window. It's part of Harrogate BID's 'Harrogate at Christmas' campaign, and it's the arts charity's third collaboration with the BID this year.

The feature was created when Santa's grottos were expected to be few and far between, so it's a good alternative if you're looking for a proper place to drop off a letter. And if you're after something a bit extra, there's a special letter from Father Christmas you can download through the Harrogate International Festivals website or by scanning the QR code beside the post box.

You'll find it at Harrogate International Festivals, 32 Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1DB, running from Saturday 14 November until Thursday 24 December.