Santa's Grotto at the Queen's House

Santa's Grotto returns to The Queen's House in Greenwich from Saturday 14 November to Thursday 24 December, turning the house into a winter wonderland based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen. It's not just a quick visit to see Father Christmas; it's an actor-led storytelling adventure that takes you through the house, meeting characters like the Snow Queen herself, her assistant the Hobgoblin, Gerda, Kai and the little robber girl, before you finally reach Santa's Grotto, where children meet Father Christmas and get a gift to take home.

The setting is the Queen's House, a former royal residence and Inigo Jones' architectural masterpiece — the first Classical building in the UK. For the grotto, the interior is dressed with towering snowy-white Christmas trees, lavish decoration and icy blue lights, and there's an outdoor ice rink sitting just outside the house. It's a fair bit to take in, and the storytelling part means you're moving through the building rather than just queuing for a photo.

One practical thing to keep in mind: the entrance is from Romney Road, not King William Walk this year, and the grotto itself is at the rear of the house. Advance booking is essential, and some session days are already sold out, so it's worth sorting your date sooner rather than later.

Tickets are £30 per person, £27 for Family Members, and under 1s go free, with a £3 booking fee per transaction. The grotto runs from 14 November through to 24 December, so you've got a good window to fit it in before Christmas.