Whippersnappers Winter Wonderland is an annual immersive theatre event for all the family!
If you have children aged 3 to 7 years we recommend this Winter Wonderland event as it is suitable for the whole family.
Visiting with a child under 3? Our ‘Santa Meet and Greet event’ is tailored to suit babies & toddlers only. For more information about our baby & toddler only event click here.
If you have any questions, you can visit our FAQ page here.
🎄 2026 DATES 🎄
✨ Sunday 29th November – Wednesday 23rd December ✨
💫 About us: 💫
Whippersnappers are a community arts organisation who have been running their winter Wonderland immersive grotto in Dulwich Park since 2012 🎄✨ Each year Father Christmas and his Elves help Whippersnappers raise money for the upkeep of their Park Keepers Lodge and to support the activities they deliver for children with SEND throughout the year.
We pride ourselves on being a diverse organisation and can guarantee you an alternative Santa’s grotto experience with occasional outside the box ideas – to keep each year fresh and new. Themes change each year, so don’t expect the same storyline every time you come. Last year we celebrated Christmas in Space he Elves No.1 radio station & meeting Hans the magic toy maker in the cinema. This year we’re taking a ride on Santa’s Express and preparing for the Bauble City Christmas Festival.
Our theatre and arts department put lots of love and time into creating this special event for you, and we hope you have the best time when you visit us – we also hope the event will help us raise money to support the work that we do in the community!
✨🎄 What to expect from your experience – 2026: 🎄✨
On the edge of Dulwich Park by College Gate stands the old Victorian Park keeper’s Lodge. A Magical ‘Gingerbread House’ where each year Father Christmas and his Elves climb down the chimney and entertain children with their Winter Wonderland Experience.
You will go on an immersive journey through our festive Park Keepers Lodge. Split into small groups guests will be led through a series of immersive activities with 15 minutes in each area – before finally meeting the Big Man in red himself upstairs.
☕️🌳✨Arrival Woodlands Café & Santa’s Sleigh: ☕️🌳✨
On arrival, guests will be greeted by Santa’s elves at the Woodland Café for a cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine for the grown-ups & enjoy a mince pie or shortbread in the Wyld Woods. Take it in turns to climb into Santa’s sleigh and take your own festive Sleigh photographs before being led through the garden gate where your festive immersive theatre event will begin.
🎞🍿🎥 Santa’s Express 🎬🍿🎞
Climb aboard Santa’s Express and take a train journey to meet the Big Man in Red
🎨🧵Elves Craft Studio: 🧵🎨
Stop off at Reindeer Green, meet our Mystical Elves, and take part in some crafty activities.
🎄🤶🏼🥄 Mrs Claus kitchen: 🎄🤶🏼🥄
Next, an invitation to visit traditional Mrs Claus’s kitchen, where the children will get busy decorating their very own Gingerbread biscuit and spend some quality time with Mrs Claus.
🎄🧚♀️ Santa’s Waiting Room & Meeting Father Christmas: 🎄🧚♀️
Following Santa’s Sooty Footsteps upstairs to the Wonderland Waiting Room the children meet Star Frost our Christmas Tree Fairy who gets busy painting faces with her fairy dust. Children can write or draw a Christmas Wish for Santa and play a few Victorian pantry games. Santa’s Elf will ring his bell to call each child and their family into Santa’s Grotto when it is time to meet the man himself.
🎅🏽🎄 Meeting Father Christmas: 🎅🏽🎄
Meeting the big man in red the children greet and share their wishes with Santa. Santa’s helper will help take a family photo of you all together on your chosen phone or camera (so make sure these are charged and carried with you). With special Santa words of wisdom, each child will receive a personalised gift and be wished a very merry Christmas from Father Christmas himself.
🛍 Toy shop & Collecting Gingerbread; 🛍
Finally, it’s downstairs to our Christmas toy shop, clutching Santa’s present to pick up the children’s Gingerbread they decorated with Mrs Claus. We have a special Whippersnappers Toy shop for your Christmas shopping needs. The toy shop will be open throughout the run, so if you have to pop back in secret another day you can come to visit our toy shop during any of our December opening hours.
⏰ Timings ⏰
Your Whippersnappers Winter Wonderland experience will last approximately one hour and fifteen minutes but please allow for the time to be extended to one hour and forty-five minutes as timing depends on whether you visit Santa first or last within your allocated slot.
✨🎄 Ticket includes: 🎄✨
- ✨ Complimentary refreshments upon arrival – Mulled Wine or Hot Chocolate with a Mince Pie or Shortbread biscuit
- ✨ A photo opportunity in Santa’s sleigh
- ✨ Craft Christmas Experience in the yurt
- ✨ Santa’s express experience in the cabin – including popcorn
- ✨ Decorate & take home your own Gingerbread with Mrs Claus
- ✨ Face-painting with Christmas Tree Fairy
- ✨ A visit to the man himself, Father Christmas aka Santa Claus
- ✨ A personalised age-appropriate present from Santa
- ✨ A digital family photo with Santa on your mobile phone
✨🎄 MORE INFO: 🎄✨
Location: Whippersnappers College Lodge, Old College Gate, Dulwich Park, College Road, London, SE21 7BQ
Ticket: £29.50 – Child / £18.50 – Adult
(all children must be accompanied by an adult with an adult ticket).
Duration: 1h15 to 1h45
Payment: Online bookings only
Contact us: info@whippersnappers.org
Suitable age: Our winter wonderland is suitable for the whole family. The recommended age is 3 – 7 years with older & younger siblings. If you have a child under 3 years only, we recommend our ‘Santa meet and greet’ which is a baby & toddler only event.
Carer Tickets: If you are planning to attend with a disabled child who requires a carer, please book it through our booking system or contact cburghard@whippersnappers.org
Carer tickets are subject to proof of eligibility (carer ID card, blue badge, DLA or PIP).
Group sizes: Each experience is split into small groups with limited availability. For this reason, all adults and children require paid tickets. Only babes in arms under 12 months go free. If your child is sitting in a seat & taking part in the activities, they will need a paid-for ticket. For more info you can visit our FAQ page here.
Cancellation Policy: Any bookings cancelled after the 23rd November are non-refundable. Booking changes before the 23rd November can be transferred or cancelled with a 20% admin charge.
Booking tickets: This is a very popular event which will likely sell out, so we recommend booking tickets well in advance to avoid disappointment.
For any question, please visit our FAQ page here.
🎄🎅🏽✨ We can’t wait to get festive with you at our Winter Wonderland 2026! 🎄🎅🏽✨
