Visit Father Christmas

Father Christmas is visiting Tudor House & Garden on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December, with slots running from 11.15am to 3pm across both days. It's one of those proper festive mornings for the smaller ones: they get to meet Father Christmas in the Banqueting Hall and walk away with a gift. The visit is run by Southampton Cultural Services, and you'll need to book your slot in advance rather than just turning up.

There's more to it than just the meeting, though. Each child's ticket includes a festive craft activity to get stuck into, and a trip to the café for a hot chocolate or juice and a festive biscuit. On top of that, you get admission to the museum for the day, so you can wander around the house and gardens before or after the session. If you've got a baby in arms, they can come along with a paying child free of charge, but they only get a gift if you buy a separate ticket for them. Each child can be accompanied by up to two adults, which is handy if you've got grandparents coming along for the visit.

It's £25 per child, and because it's a timed slot, you'll want to pick a time that works for you and book it early. The whole thing is held at Tudor House & Garden on Bugle Street, Southampton, SO14 2AD.