Does everyone need a ticket?
Yes. Everyone visiting the estate needs a Christmas Experience Entry ticket, including adults, children and members. Babies and toddlers under the age of two Christmas Experience Entry ticket are free but still bookable.

Do I need a separate ticket for Santa?
Yes. A Santa visit is a separate ticket that is added to your Christmas Experience Entry ticket. When you book your children's Santa visit, you will then be directed to add your Christmas Experience Entry tickets to your basket so that everyone in your party has the right ticket for the day. (Everyone attending needs these, including children with Santa tickets)

What's the difference between Santa's North Pole and Santa's Cabin?
Santa's North Pole is a fuller journey through the snow filled woodland where children meet the elves, Mrs Claus and ends with meeting Santa in his cosy cabin. It runs evenings, weekends and school holidays and is suitable for all ages.

Santa's Cabin is a slower, gentler visit designed for pre-schoolers, where you meet Santa in his woodland cabin during weekday daytimes in term time.

Is there an age limit for Santa?
There is no upper age limit. Anyone who believes is welcome. Santa's Cabin is designed for pre-schoolers and works best for children aged five and under.

Do babies require a ticket?
Babies and toddlers age two and under are free for Christmas Experience Entry, but do need their own free ticket when booking.

Babes in arms do not need a ticket when accompanying a sibling when visiting Santa, however they can't take part in the activities with Mrs Claus and they won't receive a gift from Santa. If you would like your little one to receive a gift from Santa, please book them a Santa ticket. 

What are the add-ons?
Two optional add-ons can be added to any ticket at the basket stage. Elf Crafts is a hands-on activity available when the Elf Village is open. The Magic Show is a 30-minute live show available Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays only.

What time should I arrive? 
If you have booked a Santa visit, please arrive at the estate at least 40 minutes before your Santa time. Your booking confirmation will tell you exactly what time to arrive by. Estate Entry only tickets are timed by entry time rather than Santa time, so please arrive within your booked slot. 

What happens if I'm late? 
We understand that sometimes things don’t go to plan. If you arrive after your Estate Entry time but before your Santa visit, you may still be able to enjoy your Santa moment if you can reach the welcome point promptly. If you arrive after your Santa visit has started, we’re unable to move your booking or offer a refund, but we’ll do our best to let you join the experience from wherever it has reached.

How long does the whole experience take? 
Most families spend two to three hours on site. The Santa visit itself is around 30 to 35 minutes for the North Pole and around 15 to 20 minutes for the Cabin. The 12 Days Walk takes around 45 minutes to an hour. The rest of the estate is yours to wander for as long as you like. 

Can I bring my dog? 
Dogs are allowed on the grounds, gardens and the cafe as long as they are on leads and well behaved. Dogs are not permitted in the hall, Wildlife World, North Pole and Elf Village.

The Christmas Experience runs from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.

Santa visits, elf crafts & magic shows are only available in the lead up to Christmas Day. Santa, Mrs Claus, elves or magic shows will not taker place between 24-27 November or after Christmas Day.

After Christmas

After Christmas you can enjoy the 12 Days of Christmas Woodland Walk, Fairy Dell, decorated hall, gardens, Wildlife World & Yurts.

The Christmas Experience will be closed on the 25 & 26 December 2026 and 1 January 2027.

Plan you visit with our opening and closing times 

Is the estate pram and wheelchair friendly? 
Most of the main paths are firm, wide and suitable for prams and wheelchairs. Some woodland paths are uneven and on a slight incline.

Buggies are welcome throughout the estate and on the 12 Days Walk. Due to limited space we're unable to allow pushchairs in the Hall and during Santa's North Pole sessions.

Due to the historic nature of the hall and its displays, larger motorised wheelchairs and scooters cannot navigate the visitor route, so these aids are not permitted. Light wheelchairs are available to borrow for use in the house. We have a covered buggy park next to the entrance of the house.

If helpful, we have a small number of electric scooters available on site that you can borrow, subject to availability.

Do you offer quieter visit times? 
Yes. We offer a designated quieter visit for families who have children with additional needs. Our relaxed visit with Santa and the Elves is on Thursday 3 Dec. On this date you can also explore the 12 Days of Christmas walk, Elf Village, decorated hall and formal gardens. Please book via our Relaxed Santa Visits page.

Is there an accessible toilet facilities? 
Yes, a radar key is needed to access the accessible toilets – this can be requested at the café. If you have your own radar key we would advise bringing that with you for easier access.

I have a Lotherton membership. Do I still need to book? 
Yes. All members must pre-book their visit for weekends and school holidays. During The Christmas Experience free admission is permitted to Lotherton members with an active membership on the date of the visit. To book log in to your Leeds Ticket Hub account associated to your membership before choosing your tickets so your member discount applies automatically. 

I have a Breeze Pass. Can I use it here? 
Yes. Log in to your Leeds Ticket Hub account using your account associated to your Breeze membership before choosing your tickets, and your discount will be applied automatically at the basket. 

I have a Max Card. Can I use it here? 
Yes. We offer free admission for max card holders and one carers. To book with a Max Card please call the ticketing team. Let the ticketing team know when booking that you have a MAX Card, this gives free entry to the card holder and 1 adult. The Santa ticket will then need to be purchased. Any extra adults and children will also need to purchase entry tickets. 

Will the event go ahead in bad weather? 
The event is a mainly outdoors and so please wrap up warm and wear suitable footwear as it can be muddy and wet. We aim to stay open in all weather. In the very rare event that we need to close the estate for safety reasons, we will share updates on our social media channels. Please keep an eye on social media on the day of your visit for any changes to the day. 

Can I get a refund or exchange? 
As it stated upon booking, tickets are non-refundable and non-transferrable once booked. If there is availablilty, and at least a weeks notice is given, we will try our best to exchange them for another available date. Please contact the Leeds Ticket Hub Team to discuss your booking. 

Food options during your visit
The Stables café is open during full opening times of the estate. This serves hot and cold drinks, meals and snacks.

The Courtyard Pizza Takeaway Kiosk will be open at weekends for delicious pizzas.

The Shepherd’s Hut will be open on weekends in front of the hall serving hot drinks and snacks.

The Yuletide Yurts will be open when the Elf Village is open and serving hot drinks, beverages and snacks.

Gingerbread decorating with Mrs Claus
Children booked to visit Santa's North Pole will meet Mrs Claus to decorate gingerbread. The gingerbread that we use is vegan. Here are the specific ingredients:
Wheat Flour (Wheat flour, Fortified with Calcium carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamine), Sugar, Margarine (Vegetable oils (RSPO sourced rapeseed and palm in various proportions), water, Salt, Emulsifier(polyglycerol esters of fatty acids) Colours (curcumin,annatto,flavouring),Ground Ginger (1%), partially inverted Syrup, Bicarbonate soda. 
We do also offer a gluten free gingerbread option.