This morning I talked to BBC London’s Vanessa Feltz about visiting Santa, on the back of news 
that Hamleys is charging £45 (!) for children to visit the fat man, spend an hour in a room with him along with 14 other kids, and have some food (sandwiches, fruit, a sweet treat – they get a package they can take away if they don’t eat it there).
Needless to say, the response from Vanessa’s listeners was less than positive. “Not in the spirit of Christmas” many said, along with observations that £45 can buy a lot of children’s gifts or a lot of sherry for yourself.
Our children always visit Santa at least once in the run-up to December 25th, but it’s not something I meticulously plan. Often, we’ll see a Santa’s grotto at the local shopping centre, at a garden centre or at some kind of holiday function and take advantage of the opportunity.
Really, we all know the Santa is there mostly to get us to stick around and spend our money. What most listeners seemed riled away (as well as Vanessa, herself) was that visitors would be spending money there, so milking them for the Santa’s visit was a step too far.
Tell us your threshold for spending on a Father Christmas visit in our Quick Poll below.
PS. Vanessa, quit prodding me about what my children want from the big guy this year. I know for a fact Santa will not be bringing them a rabbit!
Image: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
About Jennifer Howze
Jennifer Howze is the Creative Director and co-founder of BritMums. She blogs about family travel at Jenography.net, tweets at @JHowze and Instagrams at @JHowze. Previously, she wrote the Alpha Mummy blog at The Times and as a journalist has contributed to The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, The Wall Street Journal, Travel & Leisure, Budget Travel, CNN.com, Allure, SELF and Premiere, among others. She won The Maggie Award from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America for a health article in Seventeen magazine.
Angela
Tuesday 29th of November 2011
I was passing through the Broadmarsh Centre in Nottingham today with my daughter, and saw that we could see Father Christmas for free there. We had as long as we wanted to chat to him, as no-one else was waiting, and even got a chocolate lolly and antler hat. Of course, they wanted us to have a paid photo, but they were fine when we said no. Overall, one thrilled 3-year-old!
Jennifer Howze
Saturday 3rd of December 2011
Angela - I'd love to see the antler hat. I find the best Santa experiences are like that, no waiting, with a few treats.
HonieBuk
Tuesday 29th of November 2011
I know a lovely place to go and see Santa and met lots of other lovely Mums (and Dads).
Every December NCT Chorley & Leyland Branch hold a Children's Christmas Party.
We have lots of fabulous home cooked and shop bought goodies at our table all with a Christmas theme, there ar games to play and lots of space to run around or relax with a cuppa while the children play.
Santa always arrives with a huge sack of toys for all of the good little boys & girls (each parcel containing 2 Bloomsbury Books/or similar books for toddlers or an age appropriate toy for babies) - no tat in sight!
Tickets are just £5.00 per child/ adults free and it's a great value, fun filled afternoon.
Venue: Buckshaw Community Centre, nr Chorley, Lancashire Date: Sunday, 18th December 2011 Time: 2.30 - 4.40
Contact: @HonieBuk on Twitter
ChorleyandLeyland@nct.org.uk Charity No. 801395
AngelaC
Tuesday 22nd of November 2011
I think Trafford Centre is better in the fact that you'd be watching a 4D show at the same time as getting a present per child to bring home. A family of 4 cost £12.00, although you'll need to fork out for sms text and/ postage, unless you go there early to queue for a later appointment.
Hamleys is just being ridiculous.