Santa land - Earls Court London in December

moneysavingnorman

I do agree the ride doesn't seem that long, however, if you don't mind me asking, what did your kids think to it? The only reason i ask is that they're obviously a lot smaller than we are, and as such i'd say that they might enjoy the ride slightly more and also to them it might feel bigger and longer. Not saying it does, just something that occured to me.

I'm not trying to make the show sound bigger and better than it is, but it is designed and aimed for children and maybe we should be asking our kids what they thought of the show before slating it?

black-saturn

tpapworth wrote:

Apparently they've now increased the numbers of Santas to 12

This is in a way disappointing. Do the children there realise there is more than one Santa available? If they do isnt it kind of spoiling the whole Father Christmas myth?

tpapworth

moneysavingnorman wrote:

I do agree the ride doesn't seem that long, however, if you don't mind me asking, what did your kids think to it? The only reason i ask is that they're obviously a lot smaller than we are, and as such i'd say that they might enjoy the ride slightly more and also to them it might feel bigger and longer. Not saying it does, just something that occured to me.

I'm not trying to make the show sound bigger and better than it is, but it is designed and aimed for children and maybe we should be asking our kids what they thought of the show before slating it?

My kids did enjoy it - but they're only 3 and 4 so you're right everything will seem bigger and longer for them. However I just didn't feel the event justified the ticket price which is more than I would have paid for a day at Chessington, and which would have had ten times the number of rides.
I just feel Santa Land could have been so magical but didn't achieve its potential.

john01727

tpapworth wrote:

My kids did enjoy it - but they're only 3 and 4 so you're right everything will seem bigger and longer for them. However I just didn't feel the event justified the ticket price which is more than I would have paid for a day at Chessington, and which would have had ten times the number of rides.
I just feel Santa Land could have been so magical but didn't achieve its potential.

Went yesterday (Friday) at 4pm after booking tickets for 2 adults and a 2.5 year old, so I had no choice but to go.

The place was nearly empty and only had 2 queue for 1 ride (The snow slide for about 10mins).

Santa Grotto was OK but been to a lot better ones for a lot less money. Santa did ask if I wanted to take a picture even though the elves tell you not to as you go in.

The fairground rides was pretty average.

But saying that my daughter loved it and wanted to go back (even though she went to Willows Farm in London Colney nr St Albans and she enjoyed that just as much and the Groto and present was excellent and cost only £25 for all 3 of us).

The main complaint is that it could of been so much better and the ticket prices were way too high. Not sure why 85% of the market stalls were selling goods which had nothing to do with christmas.

Thankfully it wasn't too full, as if we had to queue, it would of been a terrible day out. Next time I won't buy tickets beforehand and will wait and see if the event is any good by reading some reviews first.

:xmassign:

black-saturn

I think the ticket price reflects the fact that it's in London. Everything costs more money there. If the ticket price had been in line with other national prices would you be happy with it?

moneysavingnorman

john01727 wrote:

Not sure why 85% of the market stalls were selling goods which had nothing to do with christmas.
:xmassign:

I don't know about you but when i do my christmas shopping I tend to buy things for throughout the year, not christmas themed objects....

skylight

I too went yesterday.

Okay - so we all enjoyed the day - the 2 youngest loved it - and the way the Santas are laid out, even the eldest 2 didn't realise there was more than 1!

The fair rides were enjoyable athough only a 6/7 and we spent about 2 1/2hrs there.

It was a nice place to go and a lovely day out, but for £100 ticket price for my family (which took me several weeks to save for it) I was a bit disappointed - not exactly value for money.

Was really excited when I read about it.

But I do agree, it had the possibility of being spectacular. But at the end of the day, its the kids that need to be impressed!

john01727

black-saturn wrote:

I think the ticket price reflects the fact that it's in London. Everything costs more money there. If the ticket price had been in line with other national prices would you be happy with it?

I paid the price as I belived the advert (navie or what!) I was hoping for something spectacular and this wasn't. If the advert said something like "Adults wouldn't be impressed with the show/event but the children would love it", then that would of been a more accurate description....

For what's on offer, the prices should of been this

Mon - Fri
Over 12's £15
Children 3 - 12 £12.50
Under 3's free unless they want to visit Santa, then it's £5

Weekends
50% extra on all tickets

Then I think everybody would of been happy including Santa Land as they would of had a lot more people buying their £4.99 Roast Turkey rolls and £3.50 Hot dogs during the week when it's half empty.

purplepurple

So... folks help me out here.... I've spent £74 on tickets.... is it worth spending the £50 odd it's going to cost by train to get there? We've got tickets for tomorrow, I was hoping that a Monday would be quieter.... but don't know whether to cut our losses and save the £50 or just go anyway because we've spent a fortune on the tickets! I've got a 3 year old and a 5 year old.....

Pavanne

Hiya. I'm going along to Santaland this Thursday with my friend and her family and my 6 month old son. After reading these posts I'm a little worried we won't enjoy it.

I am a self confessed Christmas-a-holic (if there is such a thing) and love EVERYTHING about Christmas. With that in mind, do you think I will enjoy it?

What sort of things can you buy in the market? Are they handcrafted, or unusual items, or more the sort of stuff you'd find in a normal street market (fake jeans, socks, etc)?

Are there any Christmassy samples to try out?

I'm eager for information ahead of my visit so I know what to expect.