visit santa in southampton

The magic of Christmas

What’s on….

Santa will be visiting the market, make sure you come and see him.

Southampton Christmas Market

S&D Leisure are delighted to welcome you to the enchanting world of Southampton Christmas Market, an exciting mix of entertainment, food, drink, and shopping.

Step into Christmas with our festive wonderland. Soak up the atmosphere as you browse an array of traditional wooden chalets featuring unique crafts and gifts to deliciously tempting food and drink. With something for all the family this festive wonderland is a must-visit destination during the holiday season.

Southampton Christmas Market also features a variety of thrilling rides and attractions. Get onboard the vintage carousel, see a bird’s eye view from the UK’s tallest Ferris wheel, or test your nerve on the thrilling AtmosFear whirling riders up to 80ft into the sky.

For little ones, take a trip into the Christmas Fun House with smaller children’s rides and visit Santa’s Workshop on the southern side of the Bargate.

An amazing Light Spectacular

New for 2023.

S&D Leisure will be bringing an amazing new light show to the Southampton Christmas Market.

An impressive light projection show will illuminate the historic Bargate every evening from 17 November to Christmas Eve.

Make sure you don’t miss the impressive display running every 30 minutes, between 5pm and 9:30pm each night.

Give back this Christmas

Helping local people in crisis.

Help us help local people, donate food this Christmas

Food banks are one of the most popular ways to donate food to people in need and one of the most relied-upon charity services.

S & D Leisure are delighted to be supporting Southampton City Mission as our nominated charity for the 2023 Southampton Christmas Market

Please donate to the food bank & bring items with you to the Christmas Market collection point.

Southampton Christmas Market promises an unforgettable experience, so wrap up warm, bring your loved ones, and enjoy a magical time here in the heart of Southampton.

Southampton Christmas Market Open daily 10.00 -22.00*

Thursday 16 November 2023 to Tuesday 2 January 2024

*Closed Christmas Day

Above Bar St & Guildhall Square, Southampton SO14 7FP

See you soon

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You are here: Events > Meet Santa in John Lewis & Partners’ Grotto Southampton

Meet Santa in John Lewis & Partners’ Grotto Southampton

Type: christmas.

Tel: 01306 886989

Can you crack the code and unlock the door to meet Santa?

Work your way through our interactive grotto (with the help of Santa's mischievous little helpers). Complete your mission and you’ll meet Santa, have your photo taken and receive a very special gift.

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Tripadvisor, map & directions, opening times.

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Southampton Christmas Market is back for 2022!

Southampton city council has confirmed the christmas market is back on in southampton this year through the support of s&d leisure.

In just three short weeks since the announcement that the German Christmas Market would not be returning, we can now confirm a new Christmas Market will be opening in Southampton from 17 November 2022.

Councillor Satvir Kaur, Leader of Southampton City Council, said:

“Since the sudden and disappointing news from Wela Märkets, we’ve been working hard with partners to save Christmas in Southampton. I’m excited S&D Leisure, who have a strong track-record in delivering Christmas in places like Manchester and Bournemouth, will be in Southampton city centre during this year’s festive period. It means that small businesses that were hoping to trade can still do so, and we can still offer an exciting mix of entertainment, food, drink and shopping for visitors and local residents alike.

“This alongside the official Christmas light switch-on outside the Marlands; the ice-rink at West Quay; visiting Santa in Tudor House and the Bavarian Wünderland in Guildhall Square; there is plenty to delight all ages and backgrounds from near and far this Christmas in Southampton.”   

Despite being up against time and with most suppliers and contractors already booked for the festive period, S&D Leisure have stepped up and will deliver a variety of Christmas traders, festive bars with live music, visits from Santa plus many delicious food choices.

Managing Director, Stanley Reeves, commented:

“We are pleased to be stepping in to provide a Christmas market in Southampton this year and we will do our best at such late notice. Although we know it will be a challenge, our brilliant team is working hard to bring extra sparkle to Southampton with lots to see and celebrate this season.”

Visitors to Southampton Christmas Market can also expect a traditional horse carousel and other children's rides. The bars will offer festive Glühwein, tasty hot chocolates and hot mulled cider. Traders will be selling mouth-watering treats such as crêpes, German sausages, cheeses and other Christmassy nibbles as well as gifts and goodies for loved ones. Entertainment will be adding to the party atmosphere Thursdays to Sundays in the main bar’s covered area.

S&D Leisure are well known for presenting outdoor events including Summer Live in Bournemouth Square, Manchester Christmas Market and the Bournemouth Christmas Market before the current organisers.

Alongside the opening of the Christmas market on 17 November, Southampton’s Countdown to Christmas free event, organised by GO! Southampton , will be taking place from 4pm to 7pm and feature a roaming theatre with snow lions and winter wonderland birds to runaway presents and live on-street music.

The festive fun doesn’t stop there though. At Guildhall Square, the Bavarian Wünderland will also open in November with a range of traders plus live entertainment, games, food and drink and more!

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without Santa, and he’s making an appearance at Tudor House & Gardens . You can book your visit and find out more about all that’s going on at Tudor House this Christmas online.

You can also get festive at Southampton City Art Gallery and SeaCity Museum with Christmas activities for all the family, from wreath making to fun history talks – book at WeGotTickets .

And there are shows and performances by cultural partners with many discounted tickets to ensure that families can enjoy the show together:

• Down The Rabbit Hole – MAST Mayflower Studies, 9-24 December
• Goldilocks and The Three Bears – Mayflower Theatre, 10-31 December
• Alice: A Musical Adventure in Wonderland – MAST Mayflower Studios, 17-31 December
• Snow White Adult Panto – The Stage Door, 23 November-23 December
• Merry F-ing Christmas – MAST Mayflower Studios, 2 December

Christmas shopping in Southampton will be as spectacular as ever and Westquay will also have its popular ice rink, Westquay On Ice , for that really traditional Christmas feel. After your skate session, why not enjoy a festive cocktail or warming hot chocolate at Southampton’s alpine ski lodge ? Cosy up in one of their mini chalets with family and friends.

Explore the city at Christmas with Visit Southampton’s free family walking trail, The Great Elf Investigation, and take advantage of the offers and discounts available through the SO card which is free for residents to use.

Find out more about what’s on offer in Southampton this Christmas online at Visit Southampton .

Santa's grottos in Hampshire and places for children to meet Father Christmas 2021

Where you can meet Santa this Christmas this year and how to book tickets

• 04:30, 31 OCT 2021

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Christmas events get booked up months in advance, especially visits to to see Santa.

With less than two months to go until the winter holidays, HampshireLive has made a list of places where you can take your children to meet Father Christmas.

From shopping centres to animal parks, festive hot spots are dotted across the county in the run up to December 25.

READ MORE: The magical Christmas steam train trip in Hampshire you’ll want to go on

With many events cancelled last year as a result of the Covid pandemic, it's worth booking early to avoid disappointment.

While most events will not have actual 'grottos' to go inside, families should expect a few changes to the conventional meet and greet event as attractions continue to follow health and safety advice to prevent the spread of the virus.

We've included some wonderful sites just outside the area if you're planning a fun family day out a bit further afield.

Longdown Activity Farm

Once again, Father Christmas will be returning on his tractor sleigh to settle into his comfy chair in his Festive Lodge at Longdown Activity Farm.

The farm will be open from 10am to 4pm for guests to enjoy a full schedule of animal activities, and then pop into see Father Christmas.

Dates: November 26-29, December 3-6, December 10-13 and December 17-23.

Price: There is no additional charge to our usual admissions to see Father Christmas in his Festive Lodge.

Book: Visit longdownfarm.co.uk

Address: Deerleap Lane, Ashurst, Southampton, SO40 7EH.

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Finkley Down

On arrival to the farm, children will collect their Christmas Passport which allows them to take part in activities such as making reindeer food and decorating a treat.

They will also collect a letter to send to Father Christmas via the Intergalactic Post Box using a special golden ball. Each child will go up individually to meet Father Christmas

The time selected on a booking is the time the Christmas Journey starts at Mother Christmas’ Kitchen. Guests should arrive at the farm at least 15 minutes before.

Dates: Selected dates from December 4 to 24.

Price: Adult £12.95 and child (including Christmas Passport) £32.95. Tickets include all-day entry to the farm from 9.50am.

Book: Visit finkleydownfarm.co.uk/events/magical-christmas .

Address: North Way, Andover, SP11 6NF.

Tapnell Farm Park

The park's award-winning Christmas event returns for 2021 with new characters and adventures, plus a chance to meet Santa.

The all weather experience is 45-minutes long and is led by a team of trained elves who will fully immerse guests in the wonderment of Christmas. There will be storytelling and interactive puzzles to solve, plus lots of amazing scenery too.

Dates: Selected dates from December 2 to 23.

Price: Adult £17, child £25 (age 2-16) and under 2 £7. Child entry includes a gift. Includes farm park entry.

Book: Visit tapnellfarm.com

Address: Newport Road, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, PO41 0YJ.

Standen House and Garden

This Christmas younger visitors can join a storytelling session in a woodland grotto at this National Trust site. After a walk through the wintery garden, boys and girls can settle down in the grotto and enjoy a Christmas story, and after meet Santa and receive a small present and a cup of hot chocolate.

Dates: Four sessions per day, 9-10am, 10-11am, 11.30-12.30pm and 12.30-1.30pm.

Price: Child £10. This ticket is not valid for entry to the property, so all attending will need to purchase a standard entry ticket on the day, unless you are a National Trust member. Only children visiting Santa need an event ticket.

Book: Call 0344 2491895 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk .

Address: West Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, RH19 4NE.

Paultons Park

Christmas at Paultons will feature magical illuminations, Peppa and George in their seasonal outfits, Christmas characters, a Christmas show featuring Father Christmas and of course, selected rides and attractions.

Price: £33.50 each. Children under 1m tall go free. Christmas events are included in a standard Paultons admission ticket.

Dates: Selected dates from December 4 to 23.

Book: Visit paultonspark.co.uk/christmas .

Address: Ower, Romsey, The New Forest, SO51 6AL.

• Marwell Zoo

Father Christmas will be making some special appearances at the zoo on weekends and select dates in December.

He will settle into his comfy chair at festive scenes outside Café Graze and inside the zoo gift shop ready to say hello and receive children's Christmas letters.

It will not be a traditional grotto or meet and greet event, however guests are welcome to take photographs.

Price: Adult £19 and children £15.50 (under 2 free). Christmas events are included in a standard Marwell Zoo admission ticket.

Dates: December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 23.

Book: Visit marwell.org.uk.

Address: Thompsons Lane, Winchester, SO21 1JH.

Youngsters can meet Santa among the shimmering lights, get nose-to-nose with cuddly huskies in an Ice Cave, stroll through a twinkling Tunnel of Lights, and marvel at a spectacular 24ft Christmas tree at the animal park, whilst mums and dads enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie.

Families will need to book Santa tickets online in advance.

Price: Visits to Santa cost £17.50 per person, this includes a personal meeting with him, photo opportunity and a Christmas gift. Entry into the Park is not included in your Santa ticket and you will need to buy separate entry tickets for your admission to Drusillas.

Dates: Selected dates from November 20 to December 23.

Book: Visit drusillas.co.uk .

Address: Alfriston Road, East Sussex, BN26 5QS.

Enjoy the magic of the festive season by visiting Father Christmas in his woodland grotto.

Board the Santa Train at Longleat Central Station and be whisked away on a winter adventure to the North Pole Halt to meet the man himself.

Adults can enjoy a delicious hot chocolate and festive mince pie while children will receive a special Christmas gift.

Price: £6 adult and £19.95 child.

Dates: November 6 to December 24.

Book: Visit longleat.co.uk/ticket/santa-train-ticket .

Address: Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW.

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Santa's Grottos in Southampton for 2024

View all Santa's Grottos in Southampton for 2024. As Christmas approaches get into the festive spirit with a visit to a local Santa's Grotto! Check out our growing list of grottos in Southampton below.

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Advertise your Grotto or Santa Experience for free!

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Christmas Markets In Hampshire 2023

You’re spoiled for choice for Christmas markets in Hampshire to visit and enjoy this year. With plenty of stalls offering Christmas gifts, seasonal and local foods. As well as Santa’s Grottos, ice rinks and plenty more entertainment on offer.

Winchester Christmas Market

Dates: 2023 TBC

Times: Sunday – Wednesday: 10.00am – 6.30pm./  Thursday – Saturday: 10.00am – 8.00pm

Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is recognised as one of the best in Europe. The Christmas Market is inspired by traditional German Christmas markets and attracts more than 400,000 visitors each year. 

There will be over 100 chalet stalls for 2022 across the Inner and Outer Close, Paddock, Craft Village, and the Food Court. 

As well as tempting stalls, there is an ice rink in the centre of the market. The ice rink will open on (2022 TBA). It will be open from 10am – 9.00pm (last session starts at 8.00pm) on most days.

A planned procession is in place for (2022 date TBA), with live music and a spectacular finale.

More information

Southampton Christmas Market

Times: 10am – 8pm

The interactive Flying Santa Show is one of the main attractions at Southampton Christmas market. The only flying Santa in the UK. The show takes place twice daily and afterwards every child receives a small gift from Santa. 

Beaulieu Festive Fayre

You’ll find everything from delicious artisan food and drink to seasonal gifts. As well as gourmet street food and live music, all set in the heart of the Beaulieu visitor attraction. 

A ticket to The Artisan Collective Fair includes admission to the Beaulieu attraction including the National Motor Museum, Palace House, Little Beaulieu, The World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey and its wonderful grounds and gardens. 

Portsmouth Indoor Christmas Market

Date: 2023 TBC

Over 100 independent businesses from all over Hampshire and beyond will showcase their products at Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth this Christmas!

Petersfield Christmas Festival

Time: 10am – 4pm

A festive day in the centre of Petersfield alongside the Hampshire Farmers Market. Traditionally there are over 100 stalls, family entertainment, Father Christmas and much more. 

Hawk Conservatory Trust

Dates: 23rd, 24th, 25th November 2023

Enjoy the run up to Christmas, come and enjoy this delightful, festive shopping experience. Shop from local craftspeople and businesses and find personalised presents, Christmas decorations, handcrafted treats, beautiful homeware and much more.

Chawton House Christmas Fayre

Whether you’re just starting your Christmas shopping or looking for those final few festive gifts, you can explore a variety of stalls- all run by small, independent businesses- in the historic setting of Edward Austen Knight’s Chawton House.

Portsmouth Christmas Market

Times: 10am – 6pm (late night shopping on Thursdays)

More information coming soon

Milestones Christmas Market

Leisure Park, Churchill Way West, Basingstoke, RG22 6PG

Dates: 2nd – 3rd December 2023

At the Milestones Christmas Market, there’s fun for all the family to enjoy, including a chance to meet Father Christmas.

Where to see Santa in Hampshire

Best Christmas events in Hampshire

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Url: https://www.johnlewispartnership.media/pressrelease/johnlewis/details/18060

New ‘Mission: Meet Santa’ experience this Christmas

• Download PDF

Can you Cracker the Code?  - New ‘Mission: Meet Santa’ experience to launch at John Lewis

• 35 John Lewis stores to offer magical Santa experiences for the whole family
• For the first time, children are invited to become 'secret santa agents' in new Mission: Meet Santa experience
• Santa’s Tea Parties are back by popular demand and relaxed grotto sessions available to book online this week

From November 22nd, John Lewis will be offering customers the chance to meet Santa and create a cherishable Christmas moment for the whole family, even your four legged friends. Early tickets have already been released to My John Lewis members and Santa visits are proving to be as popular a tradition as ever, with sales up +37% compared to last year.

Customers can choose from three unique experiences:

Brand new for 2023: Santa's Grotto - Mission: Meet Santa (£20) For the first time, families can book in for a special ‘Mission: Meet Santa’ experience, children are invited to become 'Secret Santa agents’ and with the help of Santa’s elves are tasked with cracking the code needed to unlock the door and meet the man himself.  Once their mission is completed they'll meet Santa and leave with a grotto exclusive plush elf toy . 

Santa’s Tea Party (£15) Back by popular demand! Kids can join Santa for a special Christmas storytime session, complete with a gingerbread snack, choice of drinks and a grotto exclusive plush toy Elf for each child. 

Santa Paws Experience (£20) Following a hurry of hounds last year, we are excited to launch pre-booked tickets to Santa Paws for the first time. Four legged friends can meet Santa and enjoy a special gift from pet brand Rosewood.  In 2022, customers were able to bring their cute companions to the Grotto, with Santa even having a visit from a pet budgie.  Relaxed Grotto Experiences available too. We are also committed to making our experiences accessible to as many customers as possible and for the first time will be offering relaxed sessions for those who need or prefer a calmer experience, with reduced noise and lighting. They will be running in nine stores and can be selected when booking grotto tickets online now.

Visit here to find out more about each of the Santa experiences and book tickets. Further images can be downloaded here .

ENDS Notes to Editors For further information, please contact: Florence Bretherton - [email protected]

Santa's Grotto - Mission: Meet Santa 

• On arrival at the grotto kids will be welcomed by one of Santa's mischievous little helpers. They'll explain the mission, which involves working their way through interactive stations to find three hidden letters, spelling out an important code word. This code is then transmitted to the North Pole through our ‘Christmas is Calling’ telephone box. Once they have cracked the code they will unlock the door to meet Santa, before having their photo taken and receiving a grotto-exclusive plush toy Elf.
• Price: £20 per child (includes a plush toy worth £10) plus a £2 booking fee. £2 per adult plus a 20p booking fee. Professional photos available to purchase separately.
• Available at;  John Lewis Cambridge, Cheadle, Cribbs Causeway, High Wycombe, Liverpool, Oxford Street, Peter Jones, Southampton and Welwyn. Plus, Meet Santa in our Milton Keynes Grotto.

Santa’s Tea Party

• Group sessions of up to 20 kids: Customers will join Santa for a special Christmas storytime and each child will receive a grotto exclusive plush toy Elf. Children will be offered a festive gingerbread snack and can also choose from hot chocolate or a juice carton. Adults will have a choice of tea or coffee, with a slice of festive cake (to be selected on the day). All drinks and snacks are included in the ticket price.
• Price: £15 per child (includes a plush toy worth £10) plus a £1.50 booking fee. £5 per adult (includes a hot drink and slice of cake) plus a 50p booking fee. 
• Available at John Lewis Bluewater, Brent Cross, Canary Wharf, Cardiff, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Chichester, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Horsham, Ipswich, Kingston, Leeds, Leicester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Poole, Reading, Solihull, Stratford, Trafford and White City.

Santa Paws Experience

• Customers can come and explore our grotto with their four-legged friend. They can get a professional photo taken with Santa before receiving a dog-friendly gift worth the price of the ticket. 
• Price: £20 per dog (includes a Rosewood gift worth £20) plus a £2 booking fee. Professional photos available to purchase separately.
• Available at John Lewis Cambridge, Cheadle, Cribbs Causeway, High Wycombe, Liverpool, Oxford Street, Peter Jones, Southampton and Welwyn.

Relaxed Grotto Experiences can be booked at the shops with Grottos: Oxford Street* Peter Jones, Liverpool, Welwyn, Cheadle, High Wycombe, Cambridge, Southampton*, Cribbs

Florence Bretherton- [email protected]

About the John Lewis Partnership The John Lewis Partnership owns and operates two of Britain's best-loved retail brands - John Lewis and Waitrose. Started as a radical experiment over a century ago, the Partnership is now the largest employee-owned business in the UK, with over 74,000 employees who are all Partners in the business. The Partnership is purpose-driven, existing to create a fairer and more sustainable future for our Partners, customers, suppliers and communities. Our Purpose not only inspires our principles, drives our decisions and acts as our guide to be a force for good, it steers us to do things differently and better - all in service of creating a happier world for everyone and everything we touch.

John Lewis operates 34 shops plus one outlet across the UK as well as johnlewis.com . Waitrose has 331 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 59 convenience branches, and another 27 shops at Welcome Break locations. The retailer's omnichannel business includes the online grocery service, Waitrose.com , as well as specialist online shops, including waitrosecellar.com for wine and waitroseflorist.com for plants and flowers. 

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Where to see santa in upper southampton township this christmas season, santa back in upper southampton township for christmas: where to see him.

Dino Ciliberti , Patch Staff

UPPER SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, PA — Santa Claus will be back in Upper Southampton Township this holiday season after a couple of years of COVID-19 restrictions that made it difficult for kids to crawl up on his lap and make their case that they’ve been good boys and girls over the last year.

Visits and pictures with Santa are at the heart of many families’ holiday traditions, but the coronavirus pandemic gave them a lump of coal. Malls and other places took social distancing measures in both 2020 and 2021 to help contain the spread of the virus, moving Santa meet-ups largely online.

Virtual visits are still an option in many places, but there’s nothing quite like seeing jolly old St. Nick live and in person. In Upper Southampton Township, kids have several chances:

Find out what's happening in Upper Southampton with free, real-time updates from Patch.

Santa Fire Truck Tour

• Southampton Fire Company No. 1 will have Santa and the Grinch coming to town on a fire truck on Saturday, Dec. 17. Listen for the sirens starting around 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Santa's helpers will be handing out candy canes and doggie treats.

Breakfast With Santa

• The Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast will hold a Breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. The event takes place at the hotel on 2400 Old Lincoln Hwy. in Trevose. The cost is $25 per person and reservations are required. For more information, call 267-525-4011.

Neshaminy Mall

• Santa has set up shop at the Neshaminy Mall. Mall officials even suggest parking off Rockhill Drive as the best parking lot and using the Food Court Entrance to avoid the holiday shoppers and get better direct access to Saint Nick. Click the Santa link to select a time to see Santa.

Sesame Place

• Sesame Place will hold Santa's 'Twas The Night Celebration at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24, at 100 Sesame Rd. in Langhorne. Prices vary. The amusement park has launched its "A Very Furry Christmas Celebration." For more details, visit Sesame Place .

Feeney's Garden Center

• Santa's visiting from the North Pole! Come take pictures with Santa starting Dec. 5. Post your pictures with the hashtag #feeneysfortheholidays and tag us for a chance to be featured on our page. Santa's visiting hours are Dec. 5-23, Monday through Friday, from 5-7 p.m. Santa will be preparing his sleigh on Dec. 22 and will not be in attendance that day. Donations go to the Ronald McDonald House. For more information, visit Feeney's Garden Center's Facebook page .

Bolton Mansion

• Santa Claus and The Grinch are coming to town, or to the Bolton Mansion . Their arrival takes place Dec.-4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and may feature different activities, food trucks, and vendors each day so be sure to check the event description periodically. The event begins with Santa arriving via fire truck and then there will be photo opportunities with Santa and The Grinch, food trucks, children's activities, vendors/crafters, a DJ and a visit of the Holiday House.

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2024 Christmas Events in Hampshire

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Christmas 2024 is set to be one of the best yet in Hampshire with a Santa-sized sledge full of festive treats and events happening across the county.

Hampshire's top family attractions have a cracking range of Christmas events for all the family to enjoy over the holiday period, previous years have included:

• Cosmic Christmas at Winchester Science Centre
• Christmas at Paultons Park!
• Steam Illuminations at The Watercress Line
• Light up Sir Harold Hillier Gardens at Christmas
• Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market
• Enlightened Winter Light Trail at Staunton Country Farm
• Southampton Ice Rink at Westquay  

Click here to see a full list of 2024 Christmas events

Visit Father Christmas in Hampshire

Wondering where to see Father Christmas in Hampshire? Santa Claus is coming to towns across the county with so many festive days out to look forward to and plenty of merry opportunities to meet the man himself.

Take your little ones on a magical day out to see Father Christmas in Hampshire. Help Santa deliver Christmas presents to astronauts in space, spot him on the Beaulieu River, see his enchanting owls flying in the winter skies, or become an honorary elf in his toy workshop.

Winter illumination displays in Hampshire

Discover light-up magic in Hampshire this winter with after-dark illumination trails and light show extravaganzas. See millions of twinkling lights and hear seasonal sounds fill the air with full immersive festive fun.

24 festive things to do this Christmas in Hampshire

There are past favourites and new Christmas delights aplenty this festive season in Hampshire, with light trails, Christmas markets, ice skating, and more Christmas events than treats under the tree.

Christmas gifts from Hampshire

Looking for unique gifts that are guaranteed to fill the recipient with festive joy? Hampshire has just the ticket. Read our carefully curated Christmas gift guide to incredible experiences in Hampshire. And best of all, you can purchase them online and have them delivered to your inbox straight away!  

Christmas markets in Hampshire

Discover where Hampshire's Christmas markets are and buy special gifts for your loved ones, spend time shopping with friends and family and feel the Christmas magic in the air! See the events list below for further information. 

Enjoy at winter short break in Hampshire

Make a break of it whilst enjoying those festive events and stay in the county for a few days. Hampshire has a great range of places to stay for visitors. If you're looking for hotels in Hampshire, you'll find everything from top quality luxury to country house charm. The county also has a superb choice of self catering , holiday cottages , and bed and breakfast accommodation .

See our guide to accommodation in Hampshire

What’s on this winter in Hampshire

Looking for inspiration for what to do in Hampshire this winter? Look no further than our ultimate guide to what's on this winter – from the top attractions and events to visit and fantastic festive celebrations in the cities to the best winter retreats and cosy pubs and restaurants.

See our guide to Winter in Hampshire

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Leeds and Southampton seek immediate return to Premier League in soccer’s richest one-off game

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One club has a U.S. ownership group that contains a couple of major-winning golfers.

The other is run by a Serbian media mogul .

Both are seeking a return to the Premier League after just one season away.

The Championship playoff final between Leeds and Southampton is hardly one for the romantics but still retains an interesting narrative, not least because it remains the richest one-off match in soccer.

A guaranteed revenue uplift of 140 million pounds ($180 million) is on offer, according to soccer finance experts at Deloitte, for the winner of Sunday’s game at Wembley Stadium. Picking that winner is anyone’s guess.

The teams were separated by just three points by the end of the regular season — Leeds finished in third place and Southampton was fourth — before delivering dominant home wins in the second legs of the playoff semifinals to advance.

Leeds might be the favorite because, aside from being the bigger club historically as a three-time English champion, it has a promotion specialist for a manager in Daniel Farke and a squad filled with players who were at the club in the Premier League in the 2022-23 season. The 4-0 thrashing of Norwich in the playoff semifinals showed the levels it can reach.

Yet, the team from Yorkshire finished the regular season badly, winning only one of its last six games to allow Ipswich to snatch the second automatic promotion spot behind Leicester.

Southampton will also gain confidence from having beaten Leeds in both of their meetings this season, the second coming at Leeds in the final round of games on May 4.

And then there’s this stat: Leeds has failed to win promotion via the playoffs in its five previous attempts.

It’s why the San Francisco-based 49ers Enterprises ownership group, which took full control of Leeds last July and whose shareholders include American golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, will be wary.

“It’s not a normal game,” said Leeds left back Junior Firpo, who joined the club from Barcelona in 2021. “It’s not every day you can play in a final. It doesn’t matter if it’s a playoff final or whatever.

“It’s a final. It’s 90 minutes. It will be a nervy game, a difficult game I think, but if I have to pick one team in the final, I pick us.”

The money on offer heightens the stakes.

The $180 million figure from Deloitte’s sports business group takes into account the projected increases in matchday, broadcast and commercial revenue that comes with playing in the Premier League. Deloitte said the figure could rise to more than 300 million pounds ($380 million) if the winner on Sunday survives its first season back in the Premier League.

It would be a third promotion to the Premier League for Farke, who led Norwich to the Championship title in 2019 and 2021.

His opposite number at Southampton is Russell Martin, a former Scotland international who only took over as manager in June last year after a playing career that included a season under Farke at Norwich.

Martin has got Southampton playing a possession-based, easy-on-the-eye style and has proved to be a shrewd appointment by Sport Republic, an investment firm in the sports and entertainment industry fronted by Dragan Solak — the founder of eastern European telecommunications giant United Group.

Solak bought a majority share of Southampton in January 2022, only for the club to be relegated from the Premier League in the first full season under his ownership. It ended an 11-year run in the top division that was notable for the academy players Southampton churned out, following in the footsteps of the likes of Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott.

Southampton is also the team of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has described himself as a “massive football fan” despite making embarrassing gaffes when speaking about the sport in public engagements in recent years.

Sunak, the leader of the Conservative party, called a national election this week that will determine who governs the U.K, so it remains to be seen if he has the time to attend his soccer team’s big day at Wembley.

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Soccer | All eyes on FA Cup final and Erik ten Hag’s…

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Soccer | All eyes on FA Cup final and Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United

Saturday’s showdown with manchester city might be the manager’s ultimate audition for new owner jim ratcliffe.

Where manager Erik ten Hag fits into that picture is uncertain.

Ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City, he avoided ongoing speculation about his position.

“I am just focusing on the job I have to do and that is, first, win the game on Saturday, and then we are in the project and keep going in the project,” Ten Hag said Thursday.

If the Cup final ultimately determines his future, then it is the most testing of final auditions for the Dutchman in front of his new boss, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe became co-owner of the club this year against the backdrop of 11 years of decline, impatient supporters, and City’s increasing dominance of English soccer. He has wasted no time in getting to work.

Old Trafford could be upgraded. A new CEO has been hired, a technical director, too. A new sporting director is on the way. Ten Hag’s position is the last major call to make.

There has been no indication from the club that the former Ajax manager is at risk. But the FA Cup represents his last chance to salvage a season in which United suffered its lowest ever finish in the Premier League (eighth), lost 14 times, and will take a financial hit for missing out on European soccer unless Ten Hag’s team wins on Saturday.

Even victory might not be enough to save his job after such a troubled campaign and his failure to meet Ratcliffe’s stated target of Champions League qualification.

“I came here to win trophies. Saturday I have the next opportunity,” Ten Hag said. “Then we will see where we are in the project and the things that we have to change.”

There has been a theme to Ratcliffe’s changes so far.

New CEO Omar Berrada was hired directly from City, where he was involved in the signing of Erling Haaland.

Technical director Jason Wilcox came from Southampton, but previously headed up City’s academy which has produced stars like Phil Foden and Cole Palmer.

Wilcox will assess how culpable Ten Hag is, whether he’s been hampered by working within a failing structure that has seen United spend billions of pounds on underperforming players for more than a decade.

Ten Hag delivered the English League Cup in his first season in charge. His United lost last year’s FA Cup final to City, 2-1. Victory and revenge for Ten Hag at Wembley on Saturday would not erase all the doubts hanging over his head, but it would be a start.

“It is never easy, but we will go for it and have to believe it – as we did last season – and often against good opponents we play our best football,” Ten Hag said. “I expect the same on Saturday.”

FA CUP FINAL

Who: Manchester City vs. Manchester United

When: Saturday, 7 a.m. PT

Where: Wembley Stadium, London

How to watch: ESPN+

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