Santa’s Grotto, Smith’s Garden Centre, Denham, Uxbridge

This year I took the Ryan and Thomas to see Santa’s Grotto at Smith’s Garden Centre, in Uxbridge.

This Santa’s Grotto books out early, and now that we’ve visited I can see why, because it’s a fantastic experience, especially for children who still love the magic of Christmas, which at five Ryan certainly does.

As we entered Santa’s Grotto at Smith’s Garden Centre, we were surrounded by fairy lights, Christmas trees, and decorations.

We waited for about 10 minutes to enter the Grotto, whilst we waited we were introduced to Emily Elf, who was Santa’s helper for the day and who would take Ryan, Thomas, and myself around the Grotto.

The first thing Emily Elf asked Ryan, was if he was excited to see Santa, which he certainly was. Ryan kept bouncing around as she spoke to him, and playing with his sleeve, which meant as well as being excited, he was also a little nervous.

Once we were able to enter the Grotto Emily Elf lead Ryan to a table where he could write a letter to Santa. Emily Elf helped Ryan to spell out what he wanted Santa to get him, which was a Nintendo Switch and Pokemon Ball (no pressure Santa!), and then Emily Elf put the letter in a letterbox, which sucked the letter up into a chute.

Ryan was then taken into the Elves workshop, where the Elves make the toys and where Santa can take a seat by a fire for a break when he’s tired.

It was here where Emily Elf asked Ryan if he could remember to put some extra cookies out for her and her Elf friends on Christmas Eve, as they’ve been so busy making toys that they need a treat. Ryan eagerly agreed.

Then it was time for the main attraction, Santa.

Ryan, Thomas, and myself went into the room where Santa was waiting, which was a beautifully lit room, with a train track, two reindeer, another Elf, and a chute where presents for Ryan and Thomas came down from.

This was Thomas’ first visit to Santa, and he wasn’t too impressed. However, because of Covid neither boys were able to sit on Santa’s lap, instead they viewed Santa from behind a fence, which was a good thing because poor Santa would have had his ears blasted if Thomas had to get close to him.

Santa asked Ryan what he wanted for Christmas, and again he said a Nintendo Switch, and Pokemon Ball, which he’s also asked his Aunty for, so he has all his bases covered.

Then Santa asked Ryan what Thomas wanted for Christmas, and Ryan said that mummy said Thomas wasn’t going to get anything!

After their chat we left Santa and saw his other animal helpers in the North Pole, the best part of this was a massive sleeping polar bear.

This was all of our first times visiting a Grotto, and we loved it.

The level of detail and the interactions between Ryan, Emily Elf, and Santa will be something that Ryan remembers for a long time.

Santa’s Grotto at Smith’s Garden Centre is located at 95 Oxford Road, Denham, Uxbridge, UB9 4DE. For more information on Santa’s Grotto at Smith’s Garden Centre please visit their website.

Related posts:
12 ways to get ready for Christmas early
25 family Christmas tradition ideas
Christmas advent calendar filler ideas for toddlers

Do you have any Grotto recommendations?