Choose Your Preferred Date and Time
Tickets are on sale, you now have the opportunity to select your preferred date and times for The Grotto's magical 2025 season in Trafford Centre Manchester.
Experience the Wonder of The Grotto
Don't miss out on the mesmerising magic of The Grotto's 2025 season. Secure your place now by signing up for the waitlist!
Whispering Winter Sessions
To ensure the ‘Dear Santa’ experience is a joy for every child, including those with Special Educational Needs and Autistic Spectrum Disorder, we’re introducing ‘Whispering Winter’ sessions.
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The Grotto is Back!
The Grotto at The Trafford Centre is making a grand return! After a magical season that captivated so many, we’re inviting you to be part of our next enchanting journey in 2025. We’re pulling out all of the stops to make the 2025 experience even more mesmerising. The magic awaits - secure your place in the wonder of The Grotto’s 2025 season now!
Ticket Pricing
Child: £27 pp | Adult: £9.50 pp
Babies (Under 12 months): FREE (no gift will be given with this ticket) [A baby can attend for free with the purchase of 1 child ticket + 1 adult ticket. If there are no other children in the booking, a baby would be considered as the child to meet the minimum requirement]
Carer: FREE
Each booking carries a small yuletide service fee at checkout and is sealed with North Pole magic, making it non-refundable.
Minimum Booking: 1 Adult & 1 Child
Maximum Per Booking: 5 Guest In Total
Babies (Under 12 months): FREE (no gift will be given with this ticket) [A baby can attend for free with the purchase of 1 child ticket + 1 adult ticket. If there are no other children in the booking, a baby would be considered as the child to meet the minimum requirement]
Carer: FREE
Each booking carries a small yuletide service fee at checkout and is sealed with North Pole magic, making it non-refundable.
Minimum Booking: 1 Adult & 1 Child
Maximum Per Booking: 5 Guest In Total
Booking Slots
The time slot of your chosen booking at The Grotto is a 10 minute window for entry. To begin your journey, each child must be accompanied by at least one festive elder, with no more than five Christmas explorers in one group. To ensure a seamless passage to the wonderland that awaits, kindly arrive 5 minutes before your designated booking slot.
Experience the Magic
of The Grotto
You’ve arrived at The Grotto on a truly special day! The Cheer Task Force has been assembled, and YOU are the newest recruits! Christmas cheer levels are running low, but there’s still hope... and it starts with your family.
Step into a magical journey through Gingerbread Lane, the Enchanted Forest, the Merry Makers Studio, Santa’s Study and finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for… a personal visit with Father Christmas himself.
Laughter, wonder, and joy power everything at The Grotto. Let’s raise the Cheer-o-Meter together and bring the spirit of Christmas to life!
Step into a magical journey through Gingerbread Lane, the Enchanted Forest, the Merry Makers Studio, Santa’s Study and finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for… a personal visit with Father Christmas himself.
Laughter, wonder, and joy power everything at The Grotto. Let’s raise the Cheer-o-Meter together and bring the spirit of Christmas to life!
Scroll to move through the experience
The anticipation builds
Welcome to the Grotto
Upon arrival at The Grotto, your first steps lead you to the ticket office, where our welcoming team hands you your very own Santa letter. With your heart fluttering with excitement and the anticipation of what lies ahead, you’re on the threshold of stepping into a wonderland. The magical journey begins, inviting you to immerse yourself in the enchanting wonders of The Grotto.
The journey begins
Gingerbread Lane
Step into Gingerbread Lane, a sweet and sparkling world where this year’s all-new adventure begins. Here you’ll meet Cinnamon, one of Santa’s friendliest elves, who welcomes your family into the start of your journey to join Santa’s brand new Cheer Task Force. Your little ones will write a heartfelt letter to Santa and get creative with festive colouring in. It’s a joyful moment to slow down, get creative, and write down your Christmas wishes to Santa.
Keep the magic flowing
Enchanted Forest
March into the twinkling Enchanted Forest, where laughter leads the way! Keep the cheer-o-meter buzzing as you wind through snow-dusted trees and giggle your way to the next magical mission.
Unleash the Festive Fun
The Merry Makers Studio
Welcome to the Merry Makers Studio – where festive fun and belly laughs bring the magic to life! Led by the wonderfully wacky Giggleberry, families become part of the elite Cheer Task Force. Complete joy-filled challenges, laugh into magical cheer tubes, and hunt for colourful treasures to fuel the Cheer-o-Meter. Your giggles power the magic… and unlock the door to Santa’s top-secret study!
The Final Mission
Santa's Study
In Santa’s Study, you’ll meet Chestnut, the Keeper of the List, who’s here for one final, very important task: sealing your child’s letter to Santa with the magical Seal of Cheer. With a festive chant and an official enchanted stamp, little ones send their wishes straight to the North Pole through the Magic Mailbox. Then, with a fun photo mission using their coloured card, families search the study and strike their best-ever Cheer Task Force pose!
Believe the Magic
Santa's Grotto
The moment you’ve been waiting for... it’s time to enter Santa’s cosy cabin for your meet and greet opportunity. Thankfully, your family’s hard work has paid off and Santa received the letters by special delivery. It’s time to read through your letter with Santa and his Head Elf, Jingle, before having a professional photo taken and receive your Christmas gift in this special moment.
Cherish the Memories
Gift Shop
At the end of your journey through The Grotto, step into our charming Gift Shop - the perfect place to wrap up your magical experience. Here, you’ll have the chance to view and purchase your professionally taken photo with Santa, available in a selection of beautiful formats.
Choose from a curated range of keepsakes including festive photo baubles, snow globes, glitter frames, classic photo frames, and wooden hanging decorations. Each item is designed to help you treasure the memory of your visit for years to come.
Choose from a curated range of keepsakes including festive photo baubles, snow globes, glitter frames, classic photo frames, and wooden hanging decorations. Each item is designed to help you treasure the memory of your visit for years to come.
Experience the Magic
of The Grotto
You’ve arrived at The Grotto on a truly special day! The Cheer Task Force has been assembled, and YOU are the newest recruits! Christmas cheer levels are running low, but there’s still hope, and it starts with your family. Step into a magical journey through Gingerbread Lane, the Enchanted Forest, the Merry Makers Studio, Santa’s Study and finally, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, a personal visit with Father Christmas himself. Laughter, wonder, and joy power everything at The Grotto. Let’s raise the Cheer-o-Meter together and bring the spirit of Christmas to life!
Scroll to move through the experience
The anticipation builds
Welcome To The Grotto
Upon arrival at The Grotto, your first steps lead you to the ticket office, where our welcoming team hands you your very own Santa letter. With your heart fluttering with excitement and the anticipation of what lies ahead, you’re on the threshold of stepping into a wonderland. The magical journey begins, inviting you to immerse yourself in the enchanting wonders of The Grotto.
The journey begins
Gingerbread Lane
Step into Gingerbread Lane, a sweet and sparkling world where this year’s all-new adventure begins. Here you’ll meet Cinnamon, one of Santa’s friendliest elves, who welcomes your family into the start of your journey to join Santa’s brand new Cheer Task Force. Your little ones will write a heartfelt letter to Santa and get creative with festive colouring in. It’s a joyful moment to slow down, get creative, and write down your Christmas wishes to Santa.
Keep the magic flowing
The Enchanted Forest
March into the twinkling Enchanted Forest, where laughter leads the way! Keep the Cheer-o-Meter buzzing as you wind through snow-dusted trees and giggle your way to the next magical mission.
Unleash the Festive Fun
The Merry Makers Studio
Welcome to the Merry Makers Studio, where festive fun and belly laughs bring the magic to life! Led by the wonderfully wacky Giggleberry, families become part of the elite Cheer Task Force. Complete joy-filled challenges, laugh into magical cheer tubes, and hunt for colourful treasures to fuel the Cheer-o-Meter. Your giggles power the magic… and unlock the door to Santa’s top-secret study!
The Final Mission
Santa's Study
In Santa’s Study, you’ll meet Chestnut, the Keeper of the List, who’s here for one final, very important task: sealing your child’s letter to Santa with the magical Seal of Cheer. With a festive chant and an official enchanted stamp, little ones send their wishes straight to the North Pole through the Magic Mailbox. Then, with a fun photo mission using their coloured card, families search the study and strike their best-ever Cheer Task Force pose!
Believe the Magic
Santa's Grotto
The moment you’ve been waiting for... it’s time to enter Santa’s cosy cabin for your meet and greet opportunity. Thankfully, your family’s hard work has paid off and Santa received the letters by special delivery. It’s time to read through your letter with Santa and his Head Elf, Jingle, before having a professional photo taken and receive your Christmas gift in this special moment
Cherish the Memories
Gift Shop
At the end of your journey through The Grotto, step into our charming Gift Shop - the perfect place to wrap up your magical experience. Here, you’ll have the chance to view and purchase your professionally taken photo with Santa, available in a selection of beautiful formats.
Choose from a curated range of keepsakes including festive photo baubles, snow globes, glitter frames, classic photo frames, and wooden hanging decorations. Each item is designed to help you treasure the memory of your visit for years to come.
Choose from a curated range of keepsakes including festive photo baubles, snow globes, glitter frames, classic photo frames, and wooden hanging decorations. Each item is designed to help you treasure the memory of your visit for years to come.
Photo Gallery
Take a glimpse into the wonder of the Grotto and the magic that awaits.
Location: Manchester - Trafford Centre
The Grotto makes its enchanting return to Manchester, nestled within the prestigious Trafford Centre. This magical experience can be found in a new location, outside The Great Hall, in the previous Frankie & Benny’s space. This event promises to be a dazzling spectacle, offering an unparalleled Christmas experience right in the bustling centre of the city’s festive celebrations.
Location: Manchester - Trafford Centre
