When we visited the follies of Painshill Park, we heard you could meet Father Christmas in the Crystal Grotto.
It’s the latest of their follies to be restored and its quite extraordinary. Stalactites hang from the ceiling and the walls sparkle with crystals. Hundreds of thousands of them were used to re-create it.
The Crystal Grotto seemed a great location for POD to meet Father Christmas for the first time. Or so we thought. POD has continually believed all Father Christmas does is fish. When we asked what 
else he does, her response was “nothing, he just fishes”.
Taking her views into account, we headed for the Crystal Grotto with an open mind. Painshill Park is an elegant 18th century landscape garden – described as a magical wonderland with hidden surprises.
The route to the Crystal Grotto was fabulous and specifically designed for kids. POD was delighted when she saw an elf carrying a barrow load of presents – she loved pretending to be one too. Father Christmas signs were used to show the way and POD enjoyed chatting to them. One even got a cuddle!
The Chinese Bridge looked wonderful decorated with lights and we could see the Wishing Well tent over the other side of the Serpentine Lake. Once we crossed the bridge we could also spotted two reindeer made of lights and the path leading to the Wishing Well tent.
The Crystal Grotto itself looked even more incredible than usual with its fairy lights and Christmas tree. Father Christmas sat on a red leather chair surrounded by presents.
POD was so excited she ran round talking and pointing for a minute hardly able to take it all in. When she 
spotted the man himself, it was coupled with “look Mummy there’s Father Christmas”.
Having composed herself, when he asked what she’d like for Christmas she requested a scooter and a blue balloon. After receiving a present and capturing a photo, we were quickly moved on to make way for the next child.
We left via the usual entrance tunnel which looked amazing with its path all lit up. What an astonishing experience for POD, seeing Father Christmas for the first time in a Crystal Grotto.
aaahh I’m glad you had a lovely time! It’s our favourite place to see Santa, can’t believe I didn’t get round to it this year, it really is magical isn’t it?
Are you near Carshalton? We’ve got Reindeer at the Woodcote Nurseries which are free to see – there’s three or four of them too!
Wow Woodcote Nurseries sound fabulous. We’re in Guildford so I’m sure we’re not that far away. It was fabulous at the crystal grotto – would have loved more time to take photos!
it is lovely, we’re lucky having it so close. I’m thinking of maybe going to Bocketts Farm today to see Santa as you don’t need to pre-book so we might stand a chance, and that looks pretty fab too!
All my photos there come out blurry, I just have to keep going back 😉 My friend had a much better camera and got a lovely shot of H a couple of years ago, it’d have made a lovely Christmas Card!!
What a wonderful first meeting for Pod – it couldn’t have gone better! They seem to have outdone themselves creating such a wonderful winter wonderland for all to enjoy. Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
Thank you Fiona, it really was wonderful. She wasn’t 100% sure what to make of Father Christmas but did come round – she liked the tree and all the presents too 🙂
This looks so magical! What a lovely place to visit Father Christmas! 🙂 And POD is such a brave girl, she wasn’t even afraid of him 🙂 T burst into tears when she first met him. Hahaha. Ooh it’s almost her birthday, how exciting! Anyway, hope you guys have a lovely Christmas/Birthday and happy New Year as well, from my little family to yours 🙂
Thank you Dean, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas too! Not sure POD got the opportunity to be scared when she saw Father Christmas – it was all very quick! She still thinks he just fishes LOL 🙂
wow Charly this place looks amazing!! its stunning! xx
Thank you Jaime x
That Crystal Grotto looks amazing! Sadly my kids are a little old for Father Christmas visits now, enjoy it while you can!
Thank you Christine – hopefully she’ll really enjoy it this year 🙂
I loved the photos of the grotto before, but with the lights and the tree it looks even more magical. What a wonderful place for POD to meet Santa for the first time xx
It looked incredible Sara – wish I’d been able to take more photographs. The main part of the grotto looked amazing. Relieved POD enjoyed herself 🙂
Such stunning photos of the crystal grotto. Really a magical place for POD to meet Santa for the first time!
Thank you Kriss 🙂
POD doesn’t look massively impressed in every photo – the love him/terrified of him Santa dichotomy! Sounds as though she did really well, though. Gorgeous coat, btw!
POD has a wealth of facial expressions! She wasn’t very impressed that I took a photo of her with Father Christmas although I had to catch her beforehand! She never poses for photographs normally 🙂
The crystal grotto looks fantastic with the lights! Magical! What a memory to have!
Thank you Katie – I think it was a good introduction for her. At least she didn’t ask Father Christmas if he fishes!
Ahhh she looks so happy and not at all phased by Father Christmas (mine won’t go near him!) Happy festive photos – best wishes for Crimbo and PODs birthday to you oh lovely lady.
I am tending my tree well you’ll be glad to hear x
It was a great experience for her – she really wasn’t phased at all. That was the closest she got to him though! Have a wonderful Christmas too – glad the tree is doing well 🙂
Looks like a fab Grotto!
Sounds wonderful, truly magical #CountryKids
[…] This week we bring you a post about POD’s first visit to see Father Christmas – in a Crystal Grotto. […]
Wow, such an amazing grotto – looks magical x
Thank you Jocelyn, it really was fabulous 🙂
It sounds like a lovely experience. Hope you have a happy Christmas. Thanks for running such a lovely linky.
It was good fun Afra. Have a great Christmas too and thank you for joining 🙂
That really does look magical and very special. Definitely one to remember.
It was a great experience for POD and it looked beautiful 🙂
Wowee, must have been magical for her! When we went (about 4 years ago) I don’t remember seeing this but they did do it very well. I wonder if any other ‘visiting Father christmas’ experience will compare?! x
It was great Suzanne, you must go back and see what they’ve done. It re-opened in the Summer I think. It was a great experience for POD, she took it in her stride although enjoyed that initial run around!
It looks so amazing and you can see proper effort has gone into it. I never knew Santa fishes 🙂
Apparently all he does is fish according to POD! Hopefully she thinks otherwise when her presents appear 🙂
how magical! love her requests!!
Thank you Sarah – she got them too. A scooter and a blue balloon 🙂
That looks so beautiful! What an experience for POD’s first meeting with Father Christmas. Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and especially that POD have a lovely birthday.
Thank you Sarah – it looked wonderful. Would have loved to have taken more photographs. Lovely Christmas thanks and POD enjoyed her birthday too 🙂
So glad you all had so much fun visiting Santa especially being PODS first visit. The park sounds so lovely and magical too.
[…] our recent visit to see Father Christmas in a crystal grotto, POD did begin to believe he might do more than just fish. She wasn’t convinced […]