The Father Christmas Experience at Underfall Yard

The Father Christmas Experience at Underfall Yard 2026 - A brand-new festive adventure in a magical new home!
This Christmas, discover Father Christmas's secret workshop hidden inside Underfall Yard- Bristol's historic working boatyard.Much more than a traditional grotto, the Father Christmas Experience is a magical 20 - minute interactive adventure, brought to life by professional actors and filled with festive fun and surprises. Followed by festive fun in the Underfall Yard Cafe.
All is not quite as it should be in Father Christmas's secret workshop and the elves may need a little help!
Join us on a special Christmas adventure through Underfall Yard and help make sure everything is ready for the most important night of the year.Every child will enjoy a warm and personal meeting with Father Christmas, with time to talk to him, take your own photographs and receive a carefully chosen Christmas gift. Even the grownups aren't forgotten with a special treat of their own awaiting in the cafe.When and Where
The Father Christmas Experience takes place at:
Underfall Yard
Cumberland Road
Bristol
Bs1 6xg
On selected dates throughout December 2026.What's Included?A 20-minute interactive Christmas adventure led by professional actors
A warm and personal meeting with Father Christmas
A carefully chosen gift for every child
Opportunities to take your own photographs
A small seasonal treat for the grown-ups
Festival fun in the Underfall Yard CafeBooking
To book, select your preferred date and time from the Father Christmas Experience events listed below.Accessibility and Family Support
The Experience is designed to be enjoyed by all ages, although it is especially suitable for children aged 2-11.
Each session is for groups of up to 12 children, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Financial support is available for families who may not otherwise be able to attend. Please contact us directly for further information.
Those wishing to "Pay It Forward" and support another family can do so when booking. Any donations not used to fund places will be passed on to The Lord Mayor of Bristol's Children Appeal.
Free tickets are available for carers. Simply contact us with details of your Carer's Card to arrange this.For accessibility queries, or if you are having difficulty booking the correct number of tickets, please contact us through Facebook or email elf@visitfatherchristmasbristol.co.uk.Every ticket sold helps support Underfall Yard and local actors and creative professionals from across the South West.
Thank you for helping us keep the magic alive.What Families Say
The Father Christmas Experience previously took place at Ashton Court Mansion. Here are just some of the lovely comments from families who joined us there:"This was such a magical family Christmas event! We loved it!" - Debs"My son loved his gift. He was grinning from ear to ear when Father Christmas appeared." - Dave"That was BRILLIANT!" - Maggie"A magical experience. It was great to be in the Mansion and experience the whole event, watching the children receive their presents." - Paulo"It worked a treat!" - Anji"My grandkids absolutely love this experience and it never fails to bring a smile." - Brian"What a wonderful start to our Christmas celebrations we laughed and cried because of the children's reactions. And the adults' too!" - Jenny"I went to the Father Christmas Experience with my three grandchildren. All I can say is that it was BRILLIANT! The children thoroughly enjoyed it and so did I." -Stephen"I've taken the children to a variety of Father Christmas experiences over the years on boats, steam trains, in Spiegeltents and even abroad but never once has every child been treated like an individual and given so much dedicated time and attention. We could even take our own photos, which was a novelty in itself!" - KristinaThe Father Christmas Experience is filled with fun, surprises and magical memories that bring families back year after year.
If you would like to arrange a bespoke Father Christmas visit for your family or group, please get in touch - we would love to make it happen!For news and updates, visit us on Facebook or follow @fatherchristmasbristol on Instagram.