Where can you meet Father Christmas near Waterlooville in 2026?
Keydell Nurseries in Horndean has Santa visits from 23 November, Fareham has a free Meet Santa on 21 November, and Santa arrives at Waterlooville's switch-on on 28 November.
Keydell Nurseries in Horndean runs pre-booked Santa visits from 23 November, Fareham has a free Meet Santa on Saturday 21 November, Santa visits the Waterlooville lights switch-on on 28 November, and Friends Fighting Cancer in Cosham has a grotto on 19 December. Breakfast with Santa events at Havant, Waterlooville and Port Solent are listed in guides. Book ahead where required.
Santa visits at a glance
We opened and read every source below on 3 November 2026. Where we could only find a listing guide, not the venue's own page, we say so. Most grottos need booking, and dates and prices can change, so check with the venue.
Keydell Nurseries, Horndean
Keydell Nurseries on Havant Road, Horndean, says tickets must be booked in advance and none are sold in store. Its Santa page shows a regular Santa visit from 23 November to 17 December, Golden Ticket days from 18 to 23 December and a Christmas Eve visit on 24 December. A regular visit includes the Woodland Walk display and a choice of toy from Santa's toy shop. The page does not state a year, so confirm the dates when you book. A booking can have up to four adults and six children, with at least one child, and only assistance dogs are allowed. The separate Woodland Walk page shows £8 per person in November and £9.90 in December (£26 and £31.50 for a group of four), but also does not state a year. There is also a "Santa Paws" dog visit with Santa, which Keydell lists on its Christmas page.
Waterlooville lights switch-on, Saturday 28 November
The organiser's page promises a special visit from Santa as part of the day, which merges the Christmas market into the early-evening lights switch-on. No times are given.
Fareham, Saturday 21 November
Fareham Borough Council lists a free Meet Santa in the West Street pedestrianised area at various times between 1.30pm and 5pm, and says Santa appears at the 5.15pm switch-on finale.
Friends Fighting Cancer Santa's Grotto, Cosham
The Friends Fighting Cancer events page lists a Santa's Grotto on Saturday 19 December from 9am to 3pm at the FFC Shop, 48B High Street, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3AG. It says every child gets a free gift and the opportunity to meet Santa. It does not state a price or whether booking is needed.
Listed in guides, not confirmed with the venue
The What the Redhead Said guide to Father Christmas in Hampshire, updated 28 October 2026, lists these local options with dates only. It gives no prices for them, and we did not open the venues' own pages.
Havant Garden Centre (Dobbies), Havant: Paws and Claus 4 to 11 December, Breakfast with Santa 13 to 24 December and Toddler Breakfast 14 to 18 December, plus quiet grotto dates in December. The guide's Paws and Claus entry names another garden centre, so check the venue.
Ember Woodpecker, Waterlooville: Breakfast with Santa on 12 and 13 December.
Hayling Island Winter Wonderland: selected dates from 29 November to 24 December.
Harvester Port Solent, Staunton Arms and Great Salterns, Portsmouth: Breakfast with Santa 5 to 24 December, from £12.99 per child.
Toby Carvery, Hilsea: Breakfast with Santa 5 to 24 December.
Stewarts Abbey Garden Centre, Titchfield: Santa's Winter Wonderland 21 November to 24 December.
Rookesbury Park, Wickham: 28 and 29 November, 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm, with no pre-booking needed.
Rake Garden Centre, Petersfield: Breakfast with Santa on 13 and 20 December.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, A Christmas Ship: 5 and 6 December.
Not found for 2026
We could not find a 2026 listing for the Waterlooville Library grotto. A Visit Hampshire listing for an earlier year's library grotto is marked as passed, so do not rely on it. Check the library or Hampshire County Council for 2026.
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