Squire's in Twickenham ran its grotto from 22 November to Christmas Eve at £10 a child. Carriage rides in Richmond Park from 5 December. Where to find Santa.

The nearest grotto to most of Richmond upon Thames is at Squire’s Garden Centre in Twickenham, which last year ran Father Christmas from 22 November to Christmas Eve at £10 a child with a gift included. Squire’s publishes its Christmas line-up in mid-October, and the 2026 version was not out when we checked on 25 September. What is already confirmed for this winter is the shire-horse carriage rides in Richmond Park from 5 December, Christmas at Kew from 13 November and Hampton Court’s Christmas Beast Ball from 28 November.

Everything below comes from the organisers’ own pages or listings, and the page will be updated when Squire’s announces its 2026 dates.

The quick answer

  • Squire’s Twickenham, Sixth Cross Road, TW2 5PA. Last year: grotto 22 November to 24 December on selected days, £10 per child including a gift, two adults free; Breakfast with Santa on Sunday mornings at 8.30am, £20 per child, £11 per adult. 2026 dates due in October.
  • Winter carriage rides in Richmond Park with Operation Centaur’s shire horses run 5 and 6, 12 and 13, 19 to 27 December and 31 December to 1 January from Holly Lodge, from 10.30am.
  • Christmas at Kew opens Friday 13 November; Hampton Court’s ice rink opens 20 November and its Christmas Beast Ball on 28 November.

Squire’s, Twickenham

Squire’s 2025 Christmas announcement, published on 15 October 2025, set out the line-up that ran across its centres including Twickenham:

Event 2025 dates 2025 price
Meet Santa in his Magical Grotto 22 November to 24 December, selected days £10 per child with wrapped gift and badge; two adults free, £1 per extra adult; £1 per ticket to the centre’s charity of the year. Quiet sessions available
Breakfast with Santa 23 November to 21 December, Sunday mornings at 8.30am £20 per child, £11 per adult
Christmas lunch 24 November to 23 December, daily 12pm to 2.30pm Two courses £25 (children £21), three courses £28

For 2026 the centre has already listed its Christmas lunch: 16 November to 23 December, 12pm to 2.30pm, two courses £28 (children £24), three courses £30 (children £26), with a £10 non-refundable deposit per person and advance booking essential. The grotto and breakfast dates are expected to follow in the same October announcement as last year, and tickets are sold through the Squire’s events page. The Twickenham centre is 200 metres from Fulwell station, with free parking.

Winter carriage rides in Richmond Park: from 5 December

Operation Centaur, the shire-horse team based at Holly Lodge in Richmond Park, runs rides around the park in a six-person horse-drawn Park Brake through December. The VisitRichmond listing gives the 2026 dates as 5 and 6 December, 12 and 13 December, 19 to 27 December, and 31 December to 1 January, starting at 10.30am, from Holly Lodge, TW10 5HS. Booking is through Operation Centaur, which also runs a Victorian-style charabanc in Bushy Park over the season. Prices are on the booking page. Richmond Park’s vehicle gates close at 4pm from 23 November, so plan an afternoon ride around that; see our Richmond Park in winter page.

Grottos at the fairs

The Vineyard Community and Richmond Foodbank Christmas Fair had a Santa’s grotto alongside its stalls last year, on Thursday 27 November 2025 from 3.30pm to 6.30pm at the Vineyard Community Centre. No 2026 date yet. Other fairs are on our Christmas markets page.

The big-ticket alternatives

  • Christmas at Kew, 13 November to 3 January, an after-dark light trail from Victoria, Elizabeth and Brentford gates, adults from £29.50 off-peak. Dark nights, parking and every price: our Christmas at Kew page.
  • Hampton Court Palace: the ice rink runs 20 November to 3 January, 10am to 8pm, and the Christmas Beast Ball, an “enchanted world” through the state apartments, runs 28 November to 3 January. Details on our Hampton Court Christmas page.
  • Jack and the Beanstalk at Richmond Theatre, 5 December to 3 January, with a relaxed performance on 30 December at 1pm: our pantomime page.
  • Bach to Baby Christmas family concerts at the Barn Church, Kew, on 15 November, 5 December and 19 December at 3pm, £18 per adult with up to two children free, per the VisitRichmond listing.

Still to be confirmed

  • Squire’s 2026 grotto and Breakfast with Santa dates and prices, expected mid-October.
  • The Vineyard fair date, usually early November.
  • Carriage ride prices for 2026 on Operation Centaur’s booking page.

Related: Christmas lights switch-on · Christmas markets · Richmond Park in winter · parking in Richmond