When it comes to creating festive family memories, Mother Shipton’s Christmas Experience over in Knaresborough is in a league of its own. After a few years away, we returned this year with our youngest and her friend and we were all enchanted. This much-loved outdoor attraction has mastered Christmas magic, offering a joyful, high-quality experience to captivate all members of the family.

A warm welcome

The Christmas cheer began when we were greeted by the jolly elves at the entrance, who gave a handy overview of the event and made sure we knew where we were going. After a leaf-kicking, stick-collecting stroll up to the Christmas village, we went straight to Santa’s tipi where we were warmly welcomed by another elf. Mother Shiptons’ festive tipis are incredible, like something straight from a Christmas fairytale (or magazine). The attention to detail is impressive, from revolving Christmas trees to lifelike reindeer, flying owls and beautiful garlands galore. From twinkling fairy lights to festive displays around every corner, the entire space is very Instagrammable, and we loved the dedicated photo opportunities too. As an outdoor attraction, Mother Shipton’s is open to the elements, but they’ve done a great job of creating warm spaces to retreat to. The tipi with sheepskin-covered benches, above the play area, was a lovely snug spot to unwind and enjoy a festive treat.

Meeting Santa

The staff at Mother Shipton’s played a huge role in making the day special. Every elf we encountered was brimming with festive energy, making the experience feel personal and joyful. Of course, the highlight for the kids was meeting Santa. If you’ve done the Santa thing before, you’ll know it can go either way, but this was excellent. Their Santa sorting system was seamless, with no queuing at all (but plenty of comfy seating and things to look at if we had needed to linger longer). Santa’s grotto itself was gorgeous and Santa himself was very authentic, huge beard and all. The encounter struck the perfect balance – not rushed, but not overly long – and the girls were thrilled with their gifts. Top tip: get them to decide on what they want to ask for for Christmas before you go in or you’ll be in there a while as they try to think of something…

Other festive activities

There’s more to Mother Shipton’s Christmas experience than just meeting Santa. We spent a couple of hours there in total, writing letters to Father Christmas and posting them in the mailbox, collecting reindeer food, hanging wishes on the magical wishing tree, listening to Christmas stories and even toasting giant marshmallows over a crackling fire.

The hands-on activities have been thoughtfully designed to keep little ones entertained, while also creating moments that parents can enjoy. It was so lovely to see so many children of all ages, many of them in their Christmas jumpers or festive dresses, thoroughly enjoying themselves. The other parents looked happy too, whether they were enjoying a Baileys hot chocolate or taking photos for the family album (for those who get around to printing them out…).

Festive food and drink

Our timeslot for meeting Santa was 12.30pm, so by the time we’d said farewell, the ‘ho ho hos’ were almost drowned out by the sound of rumbling tummies. There are a few food and drink options, although the focus is more on drinks and snacks than meals so bear that in mind if your crew is likely to need feeding. As well as the usual cakes and crisps, hot dogs, tomato soup and pasties are on offer, at surprisingly reasonable prices. Marshmallow toasting is just £1.50, too, so it won’t break the bank. There are lots of picnic tables, many of which are under cover, so you can refuel away from the elements.

Our verdict and top tips

Christmas at Mother Shipton’s is a gorgeous experience that we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend if you’re looking for a treat of a day out. You’ll create memories to cherish forever – even our 14-year-old, who didn’t come with us this time, was reminiscing fondly about when we took him years ago. Some slots are already sold out, so it’s worth booking as soon as possible if you’d like to get hold of tickets and secure your spot on the Nice List this year.

Top tips

• – Your visit with Santa is at the start of your time slot, so arrive 15 minutes early to make sure you’re on time.
• – We wanted to combine our visit with a wander around Knaresborough, so we parked at a different car park and walked (parking is very reasonably priced).
• – The terrain can be quite bumpy, so a hardy buggy or baby carrier is a good idea.
• – Wear sensible footwear!
• – Take a few coins if you’d like to hammer some into the coin trees (and who wouldn’t?!)
• – The adventure playground isn’t open during the Christmas event

Christmas at Mother Shipton’s – Selected dates in November and December

We were invited to Mother Shipton’s as guests, but our review is always genuine. We will never recommend anything that we haven’t truly enjoyed.