On Sunday, we had two very excited kids on our way to see Santa’s Grotto at Museum of London. Thank you BritMums for the invitation. 😊 Oh the anticipation!
We’ve never been inside the museum before. It’s funny isn’t it. We used to live in London and we’ve never steep foot inside! Things we take for granted.
Anyhow, our queue was at 12noon, we arrived promptly and was greeted by the lovely Leon, our Media Officer. Unfortunately, we were meant to meet our friends there but they were running late, but Leno assured us that they’d be taken care of when they arrived and report themselves at the reception.
We were lead downstairs straight to Santa’s Grotto with a few more families in our group. Not too big only 3 others more. All-in-all, about 7 – 8 kids per group. They told us that the Grotto has opened the day before and it has completely sold out!
Just as we arrived, we talked through a life size a Victorian Street setting with festive decorations and the sound of Victorian carols being sung in the distance. This gives such an exciting vibes and the children just couldn’t wait to see Santa.
As we entered the Grotto, the kids were asked to sit next to Santa. E&E were the nearest and so they got to sit next to him. Santa was very friendly and chatty. He asked E&E and all the other children; if they have been good or naughty; if they have written a letter to Santa’s yet; if they are going to leave something for Santa’s when his comes around at night whilst they are fast asleep for him and his reindeers.
Evelyn was so mesmerised by the whole experience and was so in awe that she just sat there and kept smiling at Santa. She just couldn’t speak! lol! Then Ethan braved in and answered the questions for her.
After their little chit chat occasions, Santa gave them each children a present all wrapped up neat and tidy. They of course wanted to open it there and then, but I told them to wait for Christmas Day.
I took my own camera there for the purpose of this post, but you can also take home a professional photograph up-close with Santa for additional costs of £8.
Our friends arrived just as we were finished, we lead them to Santa Grotto. Lucky E&E, they went to see Santa twice!! But I told them as they already had their presents, they are not allowed another. They listen and behaved rather well – surprised, surprised. I wondered why??
Here is our friends and it was the little one’s first time – I must say he is so brave! I remembered when E&E meet Santa for the first time – they were absolutely terrified! lol! I guess it must be the magic in the Victorian Santa’s Grotto friendly atmosphere.
After visiting Santa, we were invited to have lunch at the London Wall Bar and Kitchen, which is just right next door to the museum. As, we were one of the first there, the kids had plenty of choices for seatings. It was very clean and modern. The pizza on offer were looking so succulent and tasty! Evelyn loves pizza and she ate plenty! These pizza has to be one of the best pizza we’ve ever eaten! They were delicious!
As it was awesomely such a rainy day, we decided to go back to the museum and do some more exploring within the museum. The kids wanted to go straight to the lower ground floor to explore the digital area at the “Capital Concerns”. I’m not too sure what they were doing to be honest but they seem to be having a ball! lol!
As well as that, Ethan had his a victorian collage photo taken, where he dressed up and they gave you a digital tool to take the photo with a green screen. It was interesting from my perspective to learn something new.
Next to it was the Red Room – well, we called it the Red Room because it has lots of red lights in it, but this room explains the functionality of a today’s modern city. We learn about how much much pollutions it produces approximately with the population growth of the city; and what are the composition within a city, etc. Coming from an Architectural Studies background, I found this most fascinating.
We spent the whole afternoon there and left the museum at around 3:45pm. We could have easily spent more time as there was another big section of the museum that we haven’t yet to explore, plus there was many other family events going organised by the museum but Evelyn was getting rather tired and we decided to called it a day.
We went to drop off our friend home before we returned to ours and soon after we received this text from them: “Thank you for taking Y today, he said he had an amazing time and saw real Father Christmas “
We really enjoyed our time there. Thank you so much Britmums for the invitation and Museum of London for your hospitality. You can also visit Santa’s Grotto until 23 December on selected dates.
The lovely Daisy from Dais Like These visited the grotto on the same day as us and her kids also had a lovely time, check out her review.
Have you been to visit Santa this year yet? Where do you usually go to see him? Do tell us in the comment.
Thank you for reading.
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Useful Information
- Address: 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN
- Entrance fees: FREE, Santa Grotto £10 – booking essential
- Website: https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/museumoflondon/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MuseumofLondon
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumoflondon/
- YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/MuseumOfLondon/
*We were given free entrances to Santa Grotto’s. All photos images and words are honest and of my own.
This post is linked with: #bloggersbest
Oh my goodness! That photo of your daughter giggling with Santa is so precious! Looks like an amazing set up for meeting and getting up close with the big guy. #ExplorerKids
lol! I know! Evelyn is hilariously funny! lol!
What a gorgeous day out! Sounds brilliant and your kids obviously had a lovely lovely time. #ExplorerKids
All of the kids enjoyed their day so much. x
What a truly magical day out! We’ve never been to the Museum of London so it’s one we’ll have to add to the list! #ExplorerKids
Yes! Do add it. It is great fun! x
What a wonderful way to spend the day. Your children look thrilled to be meeting the big man himself! #ExplorerKids
Oh yes! They certainly did. 🙂 x
Such magic and special memories made right there and Christmas memories should be the best ones. Lovely images and I love the Museum of London anyway as so educational and fun.
Yes, I was impressed with the amount of educational things exhibit there. It was such a fun day out.
Aww Su this all looks like you had such a fantastic day out and it’s not a bad price with a present included. I love the photo of the kids sat next to Santa it just captures the moment perfectly. The museum looks fab too! LOVE pizza so you’ve sold it! Thanks for the info and tips! Mandyxxxx #explorerkids
Everything about the day was just perfect. Santa, food, things to do for the kids. It was such a fun day out. Thanks for the lovely comments. 🙂 x
What a lovely experience for the kids! We like the idea of the victorian collage photo and dressing up. Sounds like it had real period charm xx #ExplorerKids
I really like that too. I like it when technology blends with old ideas. 🙂 x
I love the Museum of London, didn’t realise Father Christmas was there too, he really gets around! #ExplorerKids
Haha! Oh yes he is indeed! 🙂 You should come and check him out! 😉 xx
How lovely. Both my children are terrified of Santa.
Aww… bless them… Evelyn only begins to warm to him when he gives out the presents last year. lol!
Your children look enchanted to be meeting Santa #ExplorerKids
Oh yes, they defiantly did. 🙂 x
Wow looks fantastic – yes we have been
Thank you.
Very nostalgic.
It’s lovely isn’t it.
I cant wait to see my girls faces this year when we meet santa, my youngest daughter was born on 28th Dec last year, so she missed seeing him last year, this will be her first Christmas <3
Aww… bless her. I hope she will cope okay. E&E were terrified if him on their first occasion. lol 🙂 xx
That looks like a fabulous day out. I have 4 year old twin boys who would love this. I will have to look into taking them next year.
It was such a fun day out. Yes, do – I would recommend it. 🙂 x
Looks amazing there and love the photos. An idea for me to take my son next year 🙂 We went to Paradise Wildlife Park to see Santa which was really nice too
Thank you very much. Oh Wow! Paradise Wildlife Park would have been magical too! Perhaps, next year we will go there too. 🙂 xx
I’ve never been to the Museum of London either… As you know we visited LaplandUK so we saw Santa there. Looks like a lovely Victorian style grotto. Sarah #ExplorerKids
It was lovely! Lapland UK is gorgeous too! x
Looks like a fab day out and the kids look like they really enjoyed themselves
We had such a great time there. 🙂 x
Looks like such a fun day out!
It was great! x
That looks very nice. We are going to see Father Christmas at the zoo next week, on my son’s birthday
Thank you very much. Oh Wow! How exciting! Happy Birthday to your little one too! 🙂 xx
Some fantastic photos there, looks like you all had a lovely day out.
Thank you so much Jayne. I do try. We had a great day out. Thank you. x
Awww this looks truly magical 🙂 xx
Thank you. It was lovely seeng kids with Santa. xx
Lovely to kids and parents enjoying themselves, make the most of your time withem whilst they are young, they seem to grow up real quick these days.
Aww… Thanks John. Making memories is out task at hands. 🙂
What a lovely day out you had, lovely photos – captured the magic of Christmas and family x
Thank you so much. We had so much fun! x
The children have seen santa at Cumbria zoo, however our tradition is to take them on the steam trains to see santa actually on the train, its a beautiful journey accross the north yorkshire moors, and the children get a lovely present, chosen by age and sex. It becomes even more magical if it snows or just drops to freezing as the steam from the trains freezes on the trees and its a winter wonderland. We have gone on this journey every year for 30 years and its never the same.
Yes! We usually do that as well, but ours was a mini steam train. I bet it feels magical for the grown-ups on the real steam train. Sound such a wonderful tradition! Thank you so much for sharing with us. x
This looks so much fun, what a great start to the Christmas festivities
It really was quite lovely. We would definitely go again! 🙂 x
What a wonderful place to celebrate the magic of Christmas
Just wish I lived nearer
It really was lovely. Thank you for reading. x
looks good fun
Thank you. It was a good day out.
What lovely photos. Looks like the kids had a magical time. Such a nice way to start christmas
We had a great day. The kids loved seeing Santa. 🙂 x
Not yet, super excited though
Hope you’ll have a great time where ever you will be going to. 🙂 x