Lotherton Hall, Leeds – The Christmas Experience 2023

Here are all the details of the Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience for 2023.  If you scroll down you will see our review and video from a previous year.

 

Get set to step into Christmas as Yorkshire family attraction, Lotherton, reveals new activities as part of its sell-out Christmas Experience and launches its sought-after tickets. 

 

Yorkshire is set to experience an early wave of Christmas cheer this month as popular family attraction, Lotherton, reveals that seasonal sensations Santa and Mrs Claus will return this festive season, along with a new look Elf Village and North Pole.

 

Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience Review

 

From 25 November 2023 to 7 January 2024, families will make memories to last a lifetime as they enjoy a magical day out at the Edwardian stately home just outside of Leeds, embarking on adventures with fairies, elves and Father Christmas himself. 

 

After a record-breaking start to the festivities last year, Santa’s diary is expected to fill up fast when tickets go on sale on Friday 15 September 2023.

 

Getting set to once again be the best festive day out in Yorkshire, Mr & Mrs Claus are dusting off their suits and boots, while the elves are busy preparing the festive fairydust and Christmas crafts to enchant and entertain tiny tots and big kids alike. 

 

Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience Review

 

And this year promises exceptional value and more magic than ever before, with returning favourites and new additions.

 

Santa and his most trusted elves will take up residence in a truly magical new look snow-filled North Pole. Little ones can adventure through the winter wonderland to find Dizzy Bells in the elf workshop and collect a very special Christmas key for Christmas Eve, they can then visit Pippin McJingles at the mysterious wishing well, before seeing the main man himself. 

 

Santa will be waiting to greet boys and girls, where he will hear their yuletide wishes and give them a special early Christmas present before the big day. Pre-school children will also have the opportunity to visit Santa in his cabin during the day.

 

Visitors can catch a glimpse of Christmas past in the Hall, being transported back in time to explore the lives of the Gascogine family from the late 1700’s and marvel at the festive finery of an Edwardian Christmas. And family favourite, Mrs Claus will return to the hallowed Hall’s kitchens for dashings of festive fun decorating freshly baked gingerbread, all liberally sprinkled with Christmas cheer. 

 

Venturing outside, festive revellers will quite literally step into Christmas on the mesmerising woodland walk around the Estate’s stunning grounds. Exploring the winding paths filled with twinkling lights and enchanting larger than life installations of Christmas traditions, families will celebrate pulling a giant cracker, racing reindeer, and playing hide and seek amongst towering presents! Tread carefully and they may even hear the fairies giggling and whispering in the enchanted festive Fairy Dell. 

 

No Christmas would be complete without some mischief with the cheeky elves, who will take up residence in the enchanting Elf Village in Lotherton’s stunning grounds. 

 

Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience Review

 

Little ones can take part in Christmas crafts and make their own reindeer food to take home and sprinkle on Christmas Eve, or be enthralled by a magic show in the Yuletide Yurts while grown ups enjoy a festive tipple.

 

The Christmas Experience will open on 25 November 2023 and is run by Lotherton and Breeze. There are a number of visit options available, including after school sessions and the chance for pre-school children to visit Santa in his cabin during the day. 

 

Tickets are available now from just £4.75, early booking is essential as spaces are limited and strictly on a pre-booking only, time-slotted system.

 

Fly to www.thechristmasexperience.co.uk faster than the reindeer do on Christmas Eve to find out more and book a magical adventure this Christmas.

 

Opening times:

 

The Christmas Experience opening times unless otherwise specified:

 

Monday – Thursday – 9.00am – 7pm, last entry 5.30pm

Friday – Sunday – 9.00am – 8pm, last entry 6.30pm unless otherwise specified

 

Santa visits & Mrs Claus visits available via pre-booked slots only, Elf Crafts booking preferred but can be purchased on the day.  

 

The Christmas Experience and the House will be closed on 25 & 26 December 2023 and 1st January 2024.

 

Santa and Mrs Claus’ last day at Lotherton is 24 December after which they leave to prepare for Santa’s very important journey around the world on Christmas Eve.

 

Prices: Full details can be found on the website https://thechristmasexperience.co.uk/pricing/ 

 

Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience Review

 

When we visited Lotherton Hall Christmas Experience we loved it!  It reminded us rather of Lapland UK but of course, being in Yorkshire it was a fraction of the cost!  The activities are payable separately, so you can then choose whether you would like to ice skate too or see Santa. 

 

 

The house and gardens are beautifully decorated with lots and lots of Christmas trees and thousands of lights!  

 

Lotherton Hall The Christmas Experience Leeds

 

We had a quick wander around the house as we were only there for the evening and we wanted to try all the outside delights.

 

Lotherton Hall The Christmas Experience Leeds Lotherton Hall The Christmas Experience Leeds

 

Lotherton Hall The Christmas Experience, Leeds

 

Lotherton Hall The Christmas Experience Leeds

 

Next we headed to The Elf Village where there are market stalls around a central seating area with tables.  It’s beautifully lit with fairy lights as you can see.

 

The Elf Village at Lotherton

 

There are food and drink stalls here so you can have a relax and something to eat.  I’ve taken a photo so you can see what is available and what the prices are like.

 

Food Prices at Lotherton Christmas Experience

 

There were also crafts for the children to do here and face painting (you will need to pay extra for these).  Then there were lots of stalls selling Christmas decorations and homewares like these cushions.  The stallholders were very friendly and I promised to include their photos!

 

 

Just beyond the Elf Village you will find the brand new Ice Skating Rink.  It has lovely lights around it and you can stand watching the skaters.  There are penguins to hire for the less able skaters.

 

Ice skating rink at Lotherton

 

After our skating the kids were hungry and we were in need of a drink so we headed back to the cafe.  There is lots of inside seating as well as lovely outside seating complete with tealights and cosy blankets.  

 

 

It’s always nice to have a nosy at what is available and prices ahead of time, so here that is.

 

Lotherton Cafe Menu

 

After our pit stop it was time to visit Santa in his North Pole workshop.  You approach through this lovely wintry wonderland (top tip, hang back if you want a photo alone here, or take advantage later on while waiting to see Santa himself, head back slightly for the best photos!).

 

Santa's North Pole Workshop

 

Your first adventure in the North Pole is a lovely immersive workshop where the children make a personalised ‘Santa Stop Here’ plaque that they then get to take home.

 

Santa's North Pole Workshop

 

After this they are taken to write their Christmas wishes before meeting Santa.  While we were waiting we coaxed this cheeky elf into having their photo taken with us!

 

 

Then it was time to visit Father Christmas himself! I must say I do get to see Santa a lot and he was really on very good form at Lotherton.  You can see how smiley and engaged the girls are!

 

Father Christmas at Lotherton

 

He chatted to them and made them laugh before inviting us all in for a photo, and finally giving them (a very good) gift each!  The girls were thrilled!  (Here is another great photo opp – get them to stand with their present before you leave).

 

 

As we were heading away from the North Pole and outside the cafe, there is a snow blower that gave the girls some fabulous entertainment!

 

 

A perfect photo would have been completely in front of the lovely snowy scene, but they were far too excited to help me out with a perfect photo at this point!  Hopefully you will have better luck with your children!  

There are lots of other things at Lotherton that we just didn’t have time for, like the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ woodland, the Enchanted Fairy Dell, the Edwardian Selfie Studio and weekend events of family magic shows. There is plenty for a fabulous family Christmas day out.  Take your camera and have a lovely time!

 

We were invited to attend the press night opening of Lotherton Christmas Experience.  As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

 

Also have a look at our big round up of Ice Skating and Christmas events in Yorkshire.   We also have a round up of Christmas events in Manchester and Cheshire if you are in West Yorkshire.