Christmas Grotto

Name: Santa's Grotto: An Immersive Adventure in London
Start: 2025-11-07
End: 2025-12-24
Location: FUJIFILM House of Photography

Santa's Grotto returns to the FUJIFILM House of Photography in Covent Garden from 14 November to 24 December 2026, our third year of hosting it.

It's a family day out in the middle of London: a 30-minute session with Santa, the elves and a floor full of Christmas things to do, a short walk from the West End lights. Whether your family calls him Santa or Father Christmas, he'll be waiting to say hello. This is the biggest year of changes yet, and one no other grotto in London can match. As you'd expect from a house of photography, a printed photo of your child with Santa now comes with every ticket. We've also added Sensory Sessions for families who'd prefer a quieter visit, and we're open later through the week.

Santa's diary is filling up, so book your Santa's Grotto tickets

Tickets

From £37

Date

14th November until 24th December

30 Minute Experience

What's Included

3 minutes with Santa Claus, access to the experience and a gift for the children

Location

The FUJIFILM House of Photography - first floor

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What's included with every ticket

Tickets are £37 per child, and each child's ticket admits up to two adults free of charge. That buys a 30-minute session, which includes three minutes with Santa, a 6x4 print to bring home with you, a teddy for every child, and the run of the activities on the first floor.

Every family now leaves with a photo in hand. Our photographers make the photos inside the Grotto room, and your 6x4 print is yours to walk out with on the day. If you'd like more copies, a larger size or a photo gift, you can print in store during your visit or afterwards.

We cap each session at six families. That keeps the room quiet enough for children to hear what Santa is saying, and it means there's no long queue to stand in. You can read more about our in-store printing if you want to turn the day into a photo book or a gift.

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Sensory Santa's Grotto

New for 2026, our Sensory Santa's Grotto.

Photo by FUJIFILM House of Photography, Covent Garden

8-9 Long Acre, WC2E 9LH
14 Nov – 24 Dec · 30-minute experience

Choose Sensory Santa's Grotto

We're open later this year

We've extended our hours this year, so a grotto visit doesn't have to happen mid-afternoon. Thursday to Saturday we're open from 10am until 8pm, with last entry at 7.30pm. Monday to Wednesday we're open from 10am until 7pm, with last entry at 6.30pm. On Sundays we run from 12pm to 6pm, with last entry at 5.30pm.

Last week of December we have extensive hours up until 8.30pm, check our calendar! The evening slots work well after school and after work. Book a late session and you can walk straight out into Covent Garden afterwards.

What else is there to do?

Your session runs a full 30 minutes, and there's plenty to enjoy either side of the time with Santa. The floor is set up for children to write their letters to Santa. There are craft games, colouring books and photo spots around the space.

Photography is encouraged everywhere apart from inside the Grotto room itself, where our team makes the photos for you. Stay tuned to this page to learn more about the products you can buy during your Grotto Session! From frames to bubbles, the perfect gifts for the whole family will come in convenient packages.

Planning your visit

You'll find Santa's Grotto on the first floor at 8-9 Long Acre, in the middle of Covent Garden. Covent Garden and Leicester Square are the nearest tubes, and the building is wheelchair accessible with a lift. There's more on getting here and what else is in the building on our visit page.

We’d always recommend booking ahead rather than turning up on the day, so pick your slot before you travel. You can book up to five children per booking. Anyone under 16 needs a child ticket, and the adult supervising the group needs to be 18 or over.

Our gift vouchers also make an easy Christmas present for the photographer in the family. They can be spent on photography courses, walks, workshops and experience days through the year, so they’re a good reason to come back and see us after the festive season.

Terms & Conditions

Images shown are from previous Grotto editions. The structure and design may differ for the Grotto 2025 edition.

How to book your visit

A quick guide to help you book your visit to meet Santa and explore our winter wonderland.

Step 1.

Select the date that you want to visit.

Step 2.

Choose the time slot. Each session lasts 30 minutes.

Step 3.

Select the drop down menu to choose how many children you would like to buy tickets for. Each booking permits two adults free of charge.

Book your session now

FAQs

How much are Santa's Grotto tickets in London?

Tickets to Santa's Grotto at the FUJIFILM House of Photography are £37 per child. Up to two adults come in free with each child's ticket.

Is a photo included in the ticket?

Yes. Every ticket includes a 6x4 print of your child with Santa, made by our photographers and handed to you on the day. You can print more photos in store if you'd like extra copies.

What is a sensory session?

A Sensory Session is a grotto visit with the music off, the lighting dimmed and no flashing effects, plus quiet tactile toys and a calm corner with cushions. There are two dates in 2026, Saturday 21 November and Tuesday 15 December, and any family can book one.

How long does the visit last?

Each session lasts 30 minutes, and that includes three minutes with Santa. The rest of the time is yours to spend on the activities.

Do I need to book in advance?

We’d strongly recommend it. Sessions can fill up, especially at weekends and in the evenings, so booking ahead is the surest way to get the slot you want. You can book up to five children in one booking.

Where is Santa's Grotto?

Santa's Grotto is on the first floor at 8-9 Long Acre, Covent Garden, London. The nearest tubes are Covent Garden and Leicester Square, and the building is wheelchair accessible with a lift.

What are the opening hours?

We're open until 8pm Thursday to Saturday, until 7pm Monday to Wednesday, and from 12pm to 6pm on Sundays. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Extended hours last week leading up to Christmas from Thursday 17 December.

Book your visit

Santa's Grotto runs from 14th November to 24th December. Don't leave it to Christmas Eve, book your visit now. You can also see the rest of what's on at the House of Photography, or get in touch with any questions.