16 Places To Meet Santa Around Wycombe

Plus street food night, a new history walk, the New Mozart Orchestra in performance, and a Christmas sound bath...

Author

Wycombe Pulse
November 28, 2024

Good morning, Wycombe!

It’s the Wycombe Pulse. The local newsletter that can’t get its head around the fact that it’s December next week.

But there’s not only Christmas fun happening this week, there’s plenty more to enjoy:

  • A new guided history walk around town 🚶🏻‍♂️

  • Meet the amazing horses of The Horse Trust at their Neddy Noel 🐴

  • A festive sound bath in the historic Guildhall 🔔

We’ve also rounded up all the best places to meet Father Christmas for good girls and boys, festive markets, live music, a film night and more.

This Week’s Highlights

Christmas Events 🎄

Where to Meet Father Christmas in Wycombe 🎅🏻

  • Santa’s Enchanted Pop-Up Grotto - under the Guildhall on Saturdays in December - enjoy a chat, a special gift and a photo opportunity with Santa. Tickets are just £7 if booked in advance and £8 on the day. All proceeds go directly to Wycombe Food Hub.

  • Santa Steam Specials - on the Princes Risborough to Chinnor Railway on various dates. A magical steam train ride from Risborough to the North Pole, featuring the Elves and ending up at the North Pole’s grotto where you can chat with Santa and receive a present.

  • Christmas Cracker - at Odds Farm Park from 29th November to 24th December. The farm park is all dressed up for Christmas and has plenty of festive frivolities available, alongside a personal visit to meet Father Christmas.

  • Hearing Dogs Christmas Market - at The Grange, Saunderton on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December. Santa is holing up in his Grotto at The Grange’s annual Christmas market. Tickets are an additional £5 add-on per child when you’re buying entrance tickets.

  • Brickies Big Christmas Market - at the Bricklayers Arms on Saturday 30th November from 1-5pm. Lots of stalls, mulled wine and cider, and of course Santa!

  • Santa’s Grotto at the Hellfire Caves - from 1st to 3rd, 5th-10th, 13th-16th, and 18th-23rd December. Follow a magical trail led by elves as you walk through the underground caves. Each child will get a present from Father Christmas and photo booth photos, and there’ll also be festive refreshments. Tickets are £15 for children.

  • Santa’s Tea Party - at John Lewis, various days and times. Expect a special Christmas story session, complete with snacks, hot chocolate and a special gift.

  • Christmas on the Heath - in Flackwell Heath on Saturday 30th November from 3-6pm. Father Christmas will be hanging out in his grotto during the Christmas Market and you’re welcome to visit!

  • Christmas Bazaar at Chiltern Wood School on Saturday 30th November from 2-6pm - Santa’s Grotto alongside rides and much more!

  • Christmas Café and Grotto at The Woodland Pre-School on Saturday 30th November from 2-4pm - plus enjoy homemade cakes, a Christmas raffle and more.

  • Neddy Noel 2024 - at The Horse Trust on Sunday 1st December from 1-4pm. As well as meeting the amazing horses, ponies and donkeys who call The Horse Trust home, you can also visit Father Christmas and take home a gift (£5 per child).

  • Stories with Father Christmas - at West Wycombe Festive Fayre on Friday 6th December. Join Santa in his workshop for a festive story read. Tickets are £7.75 per child and include a gift.

  • Festive Weekend - at Chiltern Open Air Museum on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December from 10am-4pm. Alongside recreations of wartime and Tudor Christmases, an artisan craft market and more, you can meet Father Christmas in one of COAM’s historic buildings.

  • Santa’s Breakfast Visit - at The Green Man in Prestwood on Sunday 14th December at 9am. Tickets are £7 and include breakfast alongside Father Christmas and a gift from the man himself.

  • Children’s Christmas Party - at Loudwater Centre on Sunday 15th December from 12-3pm. Entry to see Santa in his grotto is included with every child’s ticket (£5) and you’ll also get a disco, dance performances, face painting and much more.

  • Breakfast with Santa - at Spindle & Thread from Friday 20th to Tuesday 24th December from 9.30-11am. It’s £12 per person and includes a hot buffet breakfast and a visit to Santa’s Grotto where kids will receive a selection box and small gift. They also have a SEN breakfast with Santa this Sunday 1st December.

Markets 🛍️

(Even) More Christmas Events

Entertainment

Something a Little Different…

  • Light up a Life at All Saints Parish Church on Saturday 30th November at 2pm - organised by Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care, the service will allow you to light a candle or dedicate a star in memory of a loved one. It will include readings, carols and switching on the Christmas tree lights 🕯️

  • Fundraiser Film Event for Palestine at the United Reform Church, Marlow on Friday 29th November from 6.30pm - the Marlow Palestine Solidarity invite you to a charity film night, with all proceeds donated to UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) 🇵🇸

Sports and Activities

Want to try something new..?

Anna’s Dance Fitness - Anna runs weekly ballet, tap and jazz classes in High Wycombe and Flackwell Heath. The classes are fun and relaxed, and include warm-ups and working on a dance routine to chart music and musicals over the course of a few weeks.

Business News

Taco Bell is opening a branch in the Eden Centre, in the space next to Osaka where Bill’s used to be, on the 9th December. I know I’m not the only one jonesing for a Crunchwrap…

Community Notes

Volunteer with Earthwatch Europe for a Tiny Forest Planting Day at Desborough Recreation Ground on Tuesday 3rd December. This will be a dense, fast-growing, native woodland made up of 600 trees, planted in a tennis court-sized plot.

Speaking of volunteering, the Chiltern Rangers are looking for people to join their Green Thursday sessions - this is a great starting point if you’ve never volunteered with the Rangers before or aren’t sure where to start. There are conservation tasks for all abilities and ages, and the sessions take place every Thursday from 10am-1pm with pick-up from the Lido car park.

The Chiltern Society are also looking for volunteers as they expand their supporter base into the South Chilterns area. The 60-year old Society’s mission is to “care for the Chilterns” through conservation, access/rights of way, heritage and planning. You can view their vacancies here.

Where in Wycombe Am I?

In honour of Wicked coming out last week, where might you find this Yellow (not) Brick Road?

Last week’s answer: I was at the Dashwood Mausoleum on West Wycombe Hill, built in 1765 and the final resting place of various members of the Dashwood family. The striking structure was apparently inspired by the Arch of Constantine in Rome, which Sir Francis Dashwood had encountered during his Grand Tour. The heart of Paul Whitehead, a close companion of Dashwood, was placed in an urn in the mausoleum after his death in 1775, and was passed around by tourists until it was stolen in 1829. Ghost spottings of Whitehead have proliferated ever since…

Weather in Wycombe

So long, Storm Bert! Still pretty chilly though.

Friday

🌤️ 9°C - 💨 11 mph - ☂️ 10% chance

Saturday

🌤️ 13°C - 💨 6 mph - ☂️ 10% chance

Sunday

🌤️ 13°C - 💨 8 mph - ☂️ 60% chance

We hope you've enjoyed this week's edition of the Pulse!

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Until next Thursday...

Steph

Publisher and Editor, Wycombe Pulse

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