With Christmas fast approaching, Santa is bound to be getting busy, but he’s promised to make some special stop-offs in his hectic festive schedule and help make family visits to the National Trust extra magical this December.

Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, many of the National Trust’s houses and gardens will be helping Santa with amazing locations for his grottos; from atmospheric woods and ancient forests to castle towers and historic courtyards, these enchanting grottos will fill the whole family with Christmas cheer.

Here are the National Trust’s top twenty grottos to meet Santa this Christmas:

Castle Ward, Co. Down
Santa’s house, 30 November, 1- 4, 7-11, 14-18 & 21-22 December 10am – 4pm
Santa welcomes families to Castle Ward for an extra special festive season. Sitting by a log fire, he will tell all good girls and boys a wonderful story about Christmas while Mrs Claus serves warm mince pies and mulled punch. After visiting the elves’ workshop, Santa will also give each child a beautiful gift to take home.
Adult £7, Child £15 (including NT members).
Booking is essential for this event, please call 028 4488 1204

Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire
Christmas at Clumber, 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18 December 10am – 5.00pm
Come and experience a magical and enchanting Clumber Christmas. There will be children's activities throughout the day, with the chance to visit Father Christmas in his special grotto. With a festive treat every weekend, join us for the magical lantern lit trail (3-4), musical Christmas with the choirs (10-11) or a festive food fayre (17-18). Normal admission charges apply, plus £4 per child to include a quality gift.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01909 544917.

Cragside, Northumberland
Secret Santa, 3-4 December 11am – 3pm
Meet Santa in his magical forest grotto and set off on a secret trail Santa has set for all the family to enjoy.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £10 per child visiting Santa.
Booking is essential for this event, please call 01669 620 333.

Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
An Edwardian Christmas, 3-4 & 10-11 December, 11.00am – 4.00pm
Experience Christmas of a bygone era at Kedleston Hall as the ground floor is decorated in an Edwardian style. Santa will be in his Grotto and his reindeer will be making a special visit to Kedleston each weekend, allowing Children a magical opportunity to pet them as well as receive a special gift from Santa. There will also be festive craft activities, and the opportunity to listen to Christmas stories.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £1.50 per child.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01332 842191

Nostell Priory and Parkland, West Yorkshire
Santa’s grotto, 3-4 & 10-11 December, 11.00am – 3.30pm.
Come and say hello to Santa in his grotto: he’s in his winter wonderland for a few days, so don't miss the chance to tell him how good you've been this year. The house will also be all dressed up for Christmas, with trails and tinsel, spiced wine and stories.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £6 per child.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01924 863892

Killerton, Devon
Father Christmas visits Killerton, 3, 10 & 17 December 2.30pm – 4.00pm.
Father Christmas parks his sledge on the Killerton drive, and gets everyone in the festive spirit. Killerton's Father Christmas is dressed in green as he traditionally was in the Victorian era. He'll be waiting to meet all the girls and boys by a roaring log fire in the music room.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £2 per child, including a special gift.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01392 881345.

Hatfield Forest, Essex
Father Christmas trail, 3-4 & 10-11 December, 10.30am – 2.30pm.
Follow the self-led trail through the forest, collecting items along the way. At the end of the 45 minutes magical trail, meet Father Christmas and receive a gift. Afterwards go into the classroom to make a festive craft using the items found on the trail.
Free entry for accompanying adults, £6.80 per child.
Car park charge applies to non National Trust members.
Booking is essential for this event, please call 01279 870678.

Tyntesfield, North Somerset
Father Christmas weekends, 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18 December, 10.00am – 4.00pm, last tickets issued at 3.15pm.
Come and meet Father Christmas in his magical grotto. His elves have been working hard all year and he has lots of presents for good girls and boys. Enjoy festive fun around the estate with winter wonderland bingo, seasonal favourites in the restaurant and great gift inspirations in the shop.
Normal garden admission charges apply for adults, plus £4 per child to see Father Christmas.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01275 461900.

Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire
A Vernon family Christmas, 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18 December 11am – 4.00pm.
Come and join the Vernon family for a traditional family Christmas. Enjoy festive 'make and take' activities and a visit from Father Christmas.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £3 per child to visit Father Christmas and 50p per make and take activity.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01527 821214.

Hughenden Manor, Buckinghamshire
Santa’s grotto, 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18 December, 11.00am – 3.00pm
Visit Father Christmas in his grotto at Hughenden and take home a gift. There’s also the chance to see the manor decorated especially for Christmas, take part in fun activities for all the family and find inspiring gift ideas in the shop.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £6 per child visiting Santa.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01494 755573.

Wallington, Northumberland
Santa at Wallington, 3-4, 10-11 & 17- 18 December, 10.30am – 3.30pm.
Come and meet Santa in his cosy grotto at Wallington and receive a special gift. Soak up the Christmas atmosphere in the house and admire the beautiful decorations and enjoy carol singing and seasonal music. There’s also the chance to make festive crafts, follow a Christmas trail and hear stories with Mrs Santa.
Normal admission charges apply plus £6 per child. There is also a small charge for other activities.
Booking is essential for this event, please call 01670 773600. Bookings will be taken from 1 November.

Upton House and Gardens, Warwickshire
Visit Father Christmas, 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18 December, 12.00pm – 3.00pm
Father Christmas will be in his magical grotto in the house to welcome children and give each child a Christmas gift. There’s also the chance to enjoy the Christmas celebrations for the servants of Lord and Lady Bearsted at Upton in the 1930s, including dancing demonstrations.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £3.50 per child visiting Father Christmas.
Booking on arrival. Places are limited and first come, first served.
For more information please call 01295 670266.

Sizergh Castle, Cumbria
Santa at Sizergh, 3-4, 10-11 & 17-18 December
Santa arrives at Sizergh to decide who has been naughty or nice this year. Also look out for the special Christmas show of Sleeping Beauty on the 10 &11 December and the big part weekend on the 17 & 18 December.
Normal admission charges apply, plus additional costs.
Booking is not required for Santa and the party weekend. Booking is essential for the Christmas performance of Sleeping Beauty.
For more information please call 015395 60951.

Mount Stewart, Co. Down
A traditional Christmas, 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 22-23 December 10am – 5pm
Come and visit Santa in his magical winter woodland. With crafts, a woodland trail, a present for children who visit Santa and refreshments for adults - the perfect way to get into the festive spirit.
Adult £6, Child £14.50
Booking is essential, please call 028 4278 8387.

Morden Hall Park, London
Festive fayre, 4, 10-11 December 10am – 4.00pm.
Celebrate Christmas with a Christmas market, entertainment, refreshments and a Santa's grotto in the charming park near Wimbledon.
Free entry, plus £7.50 per child visiting Santa.
Booking is required to see Santa in his grotto, tickets will be available from the 1 November.
Booking is not required for the rest of this event,
To book and for more information please call 020 8545 6850.

Lyme Park, Cheshire
Christmas in the Courtyard, 4, 11 & 18 December 11am – 1pm
A wonderful opportunity to meet Father Christmas on this magnicificent estate. There will also be festive family activities, local stalls and music to keep everyone entertained. The shop and restaurant will be open for seasonal treats.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £6 per child visiting Santa.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01663 762023.

Biddulph Grange Garden, Staffordshire<
10-11 & 17-18 December
Breakfast with Santa, 10am – 11am
Come and enjoy your breakfast in the tea-room with a special visit from Santa Claus. Child £5.50 (for breakfast event only).
Santa is hiding, 11.30am – 3.00pm.
Follow the fairy lights and find Santa in his grotto hidden in the garden.
Normal admission charges apply.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call: 01782 517999.

Lanhydrock, Cornwall
Father Christmas, 10-11 & 17-18 December, 12pm – 3pm.
Father Christmas and his elf will be at Lanhydrock to hear the wish lists of children and give a small gift to good boys and girls.
Admission charge of £2 per child
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call: 01208 265950.

Castle Drogo, Devon
Drogo Christmas, 10-11, 17-18 & 20- 23 December 11am – 4.00pm
Return to the 1930’s for this popular event with its wonderful Christmas atmosphere. See parts of the Castle traditionally decorated and visit Father Christmas in his fantastic grotto where children can receive a special present.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £2 per child visiting Santa.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01647 433306.

Montacute House, Somerset
Santa's grotto, 11 December 11am – 12pm
Come and meet Santa in his very special grotto at Montacute - a magnificent, glittering mansion, built in the late 16th century.
Normal admission charges apply, plus £ 4 per child.
Booking is not required for this event.
For more information please call 01935 823289.