Reindeer Lodge
ENTRY
from £38.50
SETTING
Outdoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
A woodland Christmas experience with real reindeer herds, a grotto visit, a lit-up trail and a toy workshop with the elves.
This is a proper festive event rather than a quick zoo trip. You walk the lakeside and woodland trail to see the reindeer in their paddocks with talks laid on, then there's story time, stage shows in the Elven theatre, and a Toy Workshop where the kids help the elves build toys. Santa's Grotto visit is included in the ticket, with a gift for each child, and if you fancy paying a bit more there's a 360-degree VR sleigh ride on top. The whole thing is booked to run about two and a half hours.
The ticket price is the thing to brace for: £38.50 for a standard adult, £16 for under 3s, and everyone needs a ticket including babies. There's no getting round it by turning up on the day either, it's pre-booked timed slots only and they mean it about arriving on time, not early and not late. Once you've booked, that's it too, no cancellations, refunds or changes, so double check the date and time before you pay.
Food is sorted on site with hot meals, jacket potatoes from £6, kids meals and mulled wine for the grown-ups, plus marshmallow toasting if you want the full effect. Parking is free for up to three hours per booking, one car per ticket, though there's nowhere for large vehicles. It's an outdoor hillside site with some steeper slopes, and the paths are level in most places but the pea gravel areas are easier with wide tyres if you're pushing a buggy or using a wheelchair.
Worth knowing before you commit: there are no discounted rates for disabled visitors, carers or Blue Light staff, everyone pays the standard price, and the artificial snow and smoke effects might not suit anyone with respiratory sensitivities. Dogs are welcome on a short lead as long as they can stay calm around the reindeer, which is a nice touch if you don't fancy leaving the dog at home for the day.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Open to all ages, though the grotto and toy workshop suit young children best
- Booking
- Timed slot booking required. Early and late time slots offer lower prices
- Parking
- Free onsite parking up to 3 hours for 1 car per booking
- How long to allow
- 2½ hours
- Food
- Multiple food outlets including hot meals, jacket potatoes (from £6), kids meals, festive drinks, mulled wine, marshmallow toasting
- Wheelchairs
- Ramped access with 850mm+ doorways
- Dogs
- Allowed on short, secure lead under strict control
- Arrive as close to your booked time as possible, not early and not late
- Groups are capped at 8 people per grotto visit, so bigger parties need more than one booking
- Artificial snow and smoke effects are used, which may bother anyone with respiratory sensitivities
- It's a hillside woodland site, so expect some steeper slopes underfoot
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£38.50 for a standard adult ticket and £16 for under 3s. The VR Sleigh Ride is £6 extra per person if you want it.
Do we need to book in advance?
Booking is essential, it's timed slots only and walk-ups aren't allowed. Tickets per slot are limited so it's worth sorting early.
Can I change or cancel my booking?
No cancellations, refunds or amendments once you've booked, so make sure the date and time definitely work before paying.
How long does a visit take?
The whole experience runs at around two and a half hours from your booked entry time.
Do babies and toddlers need a ticket?
Under 3s need their own ticket at £16, which still includes the grotto gift and all the same activities.
What's included in the ticket?
Entry to the trail and reindeer paddocks, story time, stage shows, the Toy Workshop, Christmas Town and Santa's Grotto with a gift. Extras like the VR ride, crafts, marshmallow toasting and food are paid separately on the day.
Is there parking?
Free onsite parking for up to three hours, one car per booking. There's no space for large vehicles though.
What food is available?
Hot meals, jacket potatoes from £6, kids meals, mulled wine and marshmallow toasting are all on site.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs and buggies?
Paths are level with ramped access and wide doorways, but it's a hillside site with some steeper slopes and pea gravel patches that are easier with wide or off-road tyres.
Are there discounts for disabled visitors or carers?
Everyone needs a standard price ticket, there are no concession, carer or Blue Light rates available.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are allowed on a short, secure lead as long as they stay calm around the reindeer.
Do I have to visit the grotto?
It's included in your ticket, but if you'd rather skip the theatre shows, toy making or Santa, you can let staff know and head out through the gift shop instead.
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