Hornsea Garden Centre's grotto opens 21 November and William's Den's on the 28th, with prices; Santa also visits the Pocklington, Hornsea and Driffield events.

The first Santa’s grotto in the East Riding to open this year is at Hornsea Garden Centre, on Saturday 21 November. William’s Den at North Cave follows on Saturday 28 November with the biggest ticketed Christmas day out in the district. In between, Santa turns up at the town Christmas events: Pocklington on Sunday 22 November, then Hornsea and Driffield on Friday 27th.

The quick answer

  • First to open: Hornsea Garden Centre, Sigglesthorne, 21 November to 24 December, child tickets £19.99 to £25.99 with two adults free.
  • Biggest day out: William’s Christmas Experience, North Cave, selected dates 28 November to 24 December, children £32.95 to £44.95, adults £19.95 to £29.95, plus 75p a ticket.
  • Free: Santa at the Hornsea Lions Shop on 27 November, with a gift for each child, and Santa and the reindeer at the Beverley Festival of Christmas on 13 December.
  • At the town Christmas events: Pocklington 22 November, Driffield 27 November, Howden 3 December.
  • Not announced yet: Sewerby Hall has not listed a Father Christmas visit.

Every date, in order

Date Where Price
21 Nov to 24 Dec Hornsea Garden Centre, Sigglesthorne £19.99 to £25.99 a child
Sun 22 Nov, 1pm to 5pm Pocklington Christmas festival, Little Beas Not published
Fri 27 Nov Hornsea Lions Shop Free
Fri 27 Nov, from 2pm Driffield Christmas market Not published
28 Nov to 24 Dec, selected dates William’s Den, North Cave £12.95 to £44.95
Thu 3 Dec, 4pm to 8pm Howden Shire Hall Not published
Sun 13 Dec, 10am to 4pm Beverley Festival of Christmas Free entry

Prices are the organisers’ own, read from their booking pages on 8 October. Where a price varies it depends on the date and time you pick, with weekends and the last days before Christmas at the top of the range.

Hornsea Garden Centre, Sigglesthorne

Hornsea Garden Centre, on Main Street, Sigglesthorne HU11 5QL, is a British Garden Centres branch, and it runs four kinds of grotto visit this year. All are group sessions apart from the quiet one, and every child ticket includes up to two adults; further adults pay £5. The prices are from the centre’s booking page.

Session Dates Child ticket
Santa’s Grotto Experience 21 November to 24 December £19.99 to £25.99
Baby and Toddler Grotto, ages 0 to 4 4 to 17 December £15.99 to £16.99
Quiet Grotto, for children with additional needs 5 to 21 December £19.99
Starlight Grotto, an evening visit with a bedtime story Dates not shown £19.99 to £25.99

The standard visit starts in the elves’ workshop with singing, dancing and crafts, then goes into the grotto to meet Father Christmas. Every child gets a ride on Santa’s Christmas Train and a gift with a personalised message. You can take your own photos; a photobooth costs extra on the day. The quiet sessions are one-to-one, with no queues and fewer visitors. For the evening Starlight visit the centre suggests children come in Christmas pyjamas with a teddy.

Sessions have limited places and the centre recommends booking ahead. It asks for each child’s age and a few details when you book, so Santa can prepare.

William’s Christmas Experience, North Cave

William’s Den, the adventure play park at Castle Farm, Wold Hill, North Cave HU15 2LS, turns into a whole-day Christmas event on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, and 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19 to 24 December. It opens 9.30am to 5.30pm, and 9.30am to 3pm on Christmas Eve.

The time you book is your slot with Father and Mother Christmas in the Woodland Lodge, where families meet them together and get a photo. The ticket also covers a new Christmas show, a token to swap for a toy in the Den’s toy shop, gingerbread decorating, marshmallow toasting, a letter to the North Pole, a Christmas tree trail, and all-day play indoors and out. Each participating child also gets a free return voucher for the play park. Adults get a mince pie and “a warming tipple”. Building a teddy and the giant snow globe photo cost extra on the day.

Ticket prices from the Den’s booking page, each plus a 75p booking fee:

Ticket Price
Child, 1 to 18 £32.95 to £44.95
Adult, 18 and over £19.95 to £29.95
Senior, 60 and over (proof needed) £15.95 to £25.95
Baby under 12 months, taking part £12.95 to £22.95
Baby under 12 months, not taking part Free

The Den says to allow at least four hours, and the last entry is 2pm (12.30pm on Christmas Eve). It also suggests booking a table in its pizzeria, because tables fill up.

Free and town-event grottos

Pocklington, Sunday 22 November

Pocklington’s Christmas festival runs from 1pm to 5pm, and the town council says Santa’s grotto will be at Little Beas all day, alongside the funfair on Railway Street and a stilt-walking elf. The lights go on during the Malton White Star Band’s 4pm to 5pm set. Town centre roads are closed from 7am to 6pm. (Pocklington Town Council)

Hornsea, Friday 27 November

The Hornsea District Lions open Santa’s grotto at the Lions Shop for the town’s Christmas lights switch-on. It is free: each child gets a gift, sweets and fruit, and the adults with them get a free hot drink. The Lions have not published a time. (Hornsea District Lions calendar)

Driffield, Friday 27 November

Driffield’s Festive Night and Christmas Market starts at 2pm, and the organisers say Father Christmas will be in Santa’s Grotto to meet children, with the funfair on Middle Street. (Discover Driffield)

Howden, Thursday 3 December

Howden Shire Hall’s Christmas late-night opening, 4pm to 8pm, has more than 30 stalls and “Santa will be in attendance in his magical grotto”, with the City of Hull brass band. (Visit Howden)

Beverley, Sunday 13 December

At the Beverley Festival of Christmas, Santa Claus leads the parade from Wednesday Market at 10am, down Toll Gavel to Saturday Market, where he and the reindeer stay until mid afternoon. Entry to the festival is free. (Visit East Yorkshire) Parking, the park and ride and road closures are on our Festival of Christmas page.

Not announced yet

  • Sewerby Hall and Gardens has not listed a Father Christmas visit for 2026. Its Fairytales at Christmas event starts on 21 November; we will add Santa if the hall announces him.
  • Bridlington. We could not find a 2026 grotto from a Bridlington organiser. The town’s switch-on is on Friday 27 November, see our Christmas lights page.

We will add other grottos as their organisers publish dates and prices. Running one? Email hello@eastridingtoday.co.uk and it will go on this page free.

Getting there

Car parks and charges in Beverley are on our parking in Beverley page, and road closures for the switch-ons and markets are on the roadworks and travel page. The other big Christmas days out are on our Christmas markets page, Christmas at Burton Agnes Hall and Burton Constable’s Winterlight.

Sources