Kentish Express Ashford & District - What's On
A magical experience
What could feel more Christmassy than a visit to a magical grotto? The traditional grotto at Penshurst Place aims to provide a chance for children to experience festive fun from bygone years and a taste of Christmas from a more innocent time.
Trees festooned with giant baubles lining the pathway will greet them on Lime Walk, leading up to Santa’s Toy Workshop, which can be found in the Old Stable.
Children can take part in Christmas crafts and activities including helping to decorate the tree, and quizzes, or have their face painted and making decorations and cards to take home. Christmas fairies will be on hand to entertain them and guide families as they tour Santa’s favourite spots around Penshurst Place.
There will be a behind-the-scenes peek at Santa’s Study, which will be in the Garden Tower, so little ones can see where Father Christmas works on his toy designs and gets everything ready in the run-up to his present deliveries. The tour then leads to a tiny blue door hidden underneath the historic house behind which is Father Christmas’s secret Penshurst office, full of cubby holes, magic doors and passageways leading to the Reindeer Stables, Toy Factory and Elves’ Workshop. Here, the man himself will be waiting in his sleigh to greet each child, before handing out a candy cane and small present.
The grotto experience is open on various dates from Saturday, November 24 to Saturday, December 22, but only tickets for weekdays are still available, as all others sold out in a matter of days. Tickets are £14.50, with up to two adults accompanying each child free but you better move quick, last year’s Narniathemed experience sold out inside a few days.
The gift shop and adventure playground will also be open. To buy tickets, go to penshurstplace.com
For other grottos across the county visit mykentfamily.co.uk