Santa's grotto in Exeter 2026: four to book, one free

Four places in and around Exeter have Santa in 2026, and they could not be more different: a grotto at the city-centre ice rink, a theme park upgrade, a farm grotto near Topsham, and a free sleigh in the shopping centre. Only the first has published its 2026 dates in full.

The quick answer

• Exeter’s Winter Wonderland grotto, Northernhay Gardens: weekends from 28 November, then daily 19 to 24 December, 10am to 7pm.
• Crealy: Santa Meet and Greet from £14 on top of a Christmas at Crealy ticket, on 5 to 6, 12 to 13 and 18 to 23 December. Tickets not on sale yet.
• Free: Princesshay’s Santa Sundays, no booking, if it repeats 2025. Darts Farm’s grotto is £15 per child; its 2026 dates are not on sale yet.

Checked against each organiser’s own page on 25 September 2026.

Compared

Exeter’s Winter Wonderland, Northernhay Gardens

The Winter Wonderland runs from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 at Northernhay Gardens, EX4 3SA, with an undercover real ice rink, a new light trail, a festive funfair, food stalls and Santa’s Grotto (Exeter’s Winter Wonderland).

The grotto itself opens on fewer days: 28 and 29 November, 5 and 6 December, 12 and 13 December, and every day from 19 to 24 December, from 10am to 7pm. It shuts at 4pm on Christmas Eve. You can book ahead or pay by cash or card on arrival (Exeter’s Winter Wonderland, Santa’s Grotto). Prices were not on either page when we checked.

Crealy Theme Park

Christmas at Crealy runs on 5 and 6 December, 12 and 13 December, and 18 to 23 December, 10am to 6pm. A day ticket is from £18 online and covers a Cinderella pantomime, the Snowflake Express train ride, Santa’s Post Office, a Sooty show and an evening light trail around the lake. Santa’s farewell parade ends each day (Crealy, Christmas at Crealy).

Meeting Santa is an upgrade, from £14 online, added at the end of the booking. Every child gets a present from Santa’s Toy Shop. Only children under 16 need a grotto ticket, up to two adults can go in with each child, and grotto slots must be booked online in advance. Annual pass holders do not need to pre-book park entry but still need to book Santa. Crealy says tickets are “coming soon”.

Darts Farm, Topsham

Darts Farm’s grotto costs £15 per child for a five-minute visit, with a gift from Santa the farm values at £10, letters to the North Pole, Christmas colouring and photo spots. Marshmallow toasting costs extra. You give the child’s name, age and Christmas wishes when booking. The farm donates to Exeter Leukaemia Fund, Devon Air Ambulance and FORCE Cancer Charity (Darts Farm, Santa’s Grotto).

The page says Santa is “back at Darts Farm this Christmas”, but its booking button still points to the 2025 grotto, and the farm’s online events shop does not list a 2026 grotto yet. Dates and slots are still to come.

Princesshay: free, no booking

In 2025 Princesshay ran Santa Sundays: Santa and his elf in a golden sleigh under the glass canopy on the four Sundays before Christmas, 10.30am to 4.30pm, with a photo and a keepsake for the tree. There was no booking, the queue closed at 4.30pm, and it paused briefly at lunchtime. Families were invited to give £2.50 to the charity partner, Vranch House (Princesshay, Santa Sundays).

Princesshay has not announced 2026. If it repeats the format, the four Sundays before Christmas this year are 29 November and 6, 13 and 20 December.

Still to be confirmed

• Winter Wonderland grotto prices
• Crealy ticket release, “coming soon”
• Darts Farm 2026 dates and booking
• Princesshay Santa Sundays 2026, expected with its Christmas programme in November

More Exeter Christmas: the Cathedral Christmas Market, Christmas at Exeter Cathedral and the pantomimes. Driving in? See parking in Exeter and Exeter roadworks.