Spend Christmas in Gatwick

Open on weekends from 30th November until Christmas, Tilgate Park’s Magical Christmas is well worth a visit. The walled garden becomes an enchanting winter wonderland! There’s two chances to meet Santa - either in his grotto or at storytime - there’s rides, tasty festive treats, theatre shows and games and impromptu performances from local groups. Check out the wreath-making workshops on selected dates too!

Head to the famous South of England Showground to their wonderful Christmas Fair in Ardingley, held on 23rd and 24th November and be prepared to shop until you drop!  Pick up the perfect presents from artisan producers, and food and drink from independent and local vendors. But that’s not all there is – have a go on the funfair, take part in the elves’ workshops, listen to live music and you may even get to see the big man in red himself.

Open from 23rd November to 24th December, Tulley’s Farm is the place to head for festive fun. The Christmas Santa Experience is set within courtyards and beautiful woodland grounds of Tulleys Farm. You can head straight to the magical ice skating rink to get your skates on, or there’s a wonderful Santa Experience. Decorate gingerbread, go elf hunting, visit the magical forest, make a bear in the workshop, watch a show at the 3D cinema, or why not have a go on Santa’s sleigh. There’s also a Christmas circus and a Christmas market - it’s all going on!

If you’re a Shaun the Sheep fan you must head to Winkworth Arboretum for its Find the Flock event. There’s a Christmas trail with 12 larger-than-life Shauns to find, each uniquely designed and a piece of art in its own right. There are also children’s games, a carousel and winter treats galore! It’s open from 23rd November to 19th January so there’s plenty of time to plan a visit. 

Visit Dorking town centre on Sunday 1st December to get the festive month off to the most Christmassy of starts with the DorKingdom Fairytale Christmas Festival! Meet Santa and some much-loved panto stars, watch live entertainment, visit the funfair, shop for festive goodies and enjoy a treat or two from local cafes and restaurants. 

You can expect a magical experience when you visit Christmas at Hatchlands across the month of December. This year’s theme is the carol ‘I Saw Three Ships', so there’s plenty of nautical touches around the spectacularly decorated house, along with lots of family activities on the festive parkland trail. Make sure you take a selfie in Santa’s sleigh, meet the donkeys, visit Father Christmas and enjoy some delicious festive food and drink.

Everyone loves a panto (oh yes they do!). This year’s offering at Parkwood Theatre in Crawley is Jack and the Beanstalk – and it features famous Mitchell Brother Steve McFadden as the baddie everyone loves to boo! Running from 13th December to 5th January, it’s family fun guaranteed!

Hop aboard the Santa Express trailer, so the elves can transport you to the workshops – and you will also get to meet Santa in his grotto! He’ll give visitors a special magic coin so they can choose their very own present to take home. That’s not all the Christmas fun at Bocketts Farm though – you can make reindeer food, complete the Christmas trail, make Christmas crafts, meet lots of farm animals, have fun in the playground and soft play – and even toast marshmallows on the fire. Magical! 

Painshill Park is running a 12 Days of Christmas Trail, which is well worth a visit. Running from 30th November to 5th January, visitors need to find all the Christmas gifts to reveal the Christmas carol. It’s festive-themed fun for visitors of all ages, and a good opportunity to build up an appetite for a tasty festive treat or two!