TICKETS for Hamleys Santa’s Grotto went on sale yesterday, but families will have to act fast to avoid disappointment.

As one of the oldest and most famous toy stores in the world, tickets to Hamleys Santa’s Grotto in its flagship store on Regent Street are expected to sell out quickly, especially for weekend dates.

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The Santa’s Grotto at Hamleys is widely regarded as one of the best Christmas experiences in the country, with specialist family websites like Parent News and Secret London including it in their round-up of the country’s best.

Travel blogger Museum Mum also included it in her article on London’s best Christmas grotto experiences.

Tickets to the attraction went on sale yesterday (October 10, 2024), with potential visitors encouraged to head to the website promptly.

The “enchanting Christmas experience” will run from November 23, 2024 until December 24, 2024.

At the event, visitors can meet Father Christmas as well as his merry elves inside their enchanting elf workshop.

The experience starts at the Hamleys Regent Store entrance where one of Santa’s elves will greet visitors before being guided into the Christmas grotto.

While the festive experience has been designed for children aged between two and eight years old, the whole family can join the festive fun.

There are three ticket pricing structures for 2024:

• Entry for three people who visit between November 20 until December 15 costs £55, with additional guests costing £15 per person.
• Entry for three people who visit on November 25 and 26 and December 2, 3, 9 and 10 will cost £70, with additional guests costing £17.50 per person.
• Entry for three people who visit between December 21 until December 24 will cost £100, with additional guests stumping up £20 a pop.

Children will be given a treat to take away on the day

Families will be able to take their own photos, with the option to purchase an additional photo package also available.

One adult is required per booking, with each session able to accommodate up to six people.

Tickets are already on sale, here.

Previous visitors have raved about Santa’s Grotto at Hamleys with one person writing on TripAdvisor: “Santa was amazing as were the elves.

“The goodie bag from Santa was very generous, there was ample time with Santa, the elves did loads of entertaining, and the biscuit decorating was a nice activity.”

Located on Regent Street, Oxford Circus is the nearest tube station to Hamleys.

The Victoria Line directly links Oxford Circus to stations like London Kings Cross and London Victoria.

Earlier this month, Sun reporter Laura McGuire tested all the Christmas toys at Hamley – here’s what she thought.

In the meantime, here is Butlin’s ‘ultimate Christmas holiday weekend’ launching this year.

And here are some affordable December city breaks you can still book.

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BRITISH Airways has axed flights around the world cancelling hundreds of trips after it was hit by engine issues.

The flag-carrier grounded aircraft after finding maintenance issues with some of its Rolls-Royce jet engines.

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New routes to Malaysia have been canned, while the frequency of flights to Qatar has been halved.

Some services have also been suspended between Gatwick and JFK in New York.

Thousands of flyers will have been affected by the changes and hundreds of craft halted.

The airline has already scrapped 11 routes because of the issue, the Telegraph reports.

BA said the issue is with the Trent 1000 engines used on its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets.

There is excessive wear and tear on them and Rolls-Royce has been unable to supply enough replacement engines and parts.

BA has grounded five planes or 15 per cent of the fleet.

Boeing 777s have been used to pick up the slack, but those too also need to be repaired every so often.

The launch of a Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur route will now be delayed from November to April 2025.

One of the two daily trips to Doha has been canned, while flights between Gatwick and JFK will be suspended for winter from December.

A BA spokesperson said: “We’ve taken this action because we do not believe the issue will be solved quickly, and we want to offer our customers the certainty they deserve

“We’ve apologised to those affected and are able to offer the vast majority a flight the same day with British Airways or one of our partner airlines.

“We continue to work closely with Rolls-Royce to ensure the company is aware of the impact its issues are having on our schedule and customers, and seek reassurance of a prompt and reliable solution.”

BA has contacted customers whose flights have been cancelled and offered alternative travel arrangements.

They said: “Unfortunately, Rolls-Royce, our engine supplier for our fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft, is experiencing challenges,” it said.

“We’re not the only airline experiencing this issue and are doing all we can to work with Rolls-Royce to resolve the situation.”

A Rolls-Royce spokesman said: “We continue to work with British Airways and all of our customers to minimise the impact of the limited availability of spares due to the current supply chain constraints.

“Unfortunately, this is an issue affecting the whole aerospace industry.”

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AS the leaves begin to turn and a chill creeps into the air, the country is transforming into a playground of eerie delights.

From pumpkin patches to haunted castles, this year’s Halloween attractions promise thrills and chills for all ages.

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Whether you are seeking family-friendly fun or scream-your-lungs-out scares, Jacob Lewis has found the best bewitching Halloween events across the country.

Budget-friendly boos

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FOR those watching their wallets, Pembrokeshire’s Milford Water-front offers a free Halloween trail from October 28 to November 3.

To make it a full getaway, Hotel Ty Milford Waterfront is offering a “kids stay free” deal when sharing a family room, with prices from £116 per night.

See milford waterfront.co.uk.

In Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, history meets mystery with the Ghostly And Macabre guided walking tour.

Running every Friday from Halloween until March, the 90-minute journey through the town’s darkened streets uncovers centuries of grim history.

Tickets £7.50 for adults and £4 for children (aged 14 and over).

See visit-burystedmunds.co.uk.

Or head to Derby for a free event that begins family-friendly but, as night falls, sees the atmosphere shift to an adults-only March Of The Vampires.

Go to visit derby.co.uk.

Grownup goose bumps

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EXTREME scare experience PrimEvil at ROARR! in Norfolk is not for the faint of heart.

Running between October 17 and November 2, the fully immersive event features five terrifying haunts, including Werehouse 51: Toxic Mutation, and roaming street actors.

Other attrac-tions include high ropes courses and zombie archery. Tickets from £28 at primevil-scare.com.

Ghost hunters will find their perfect Halloween treat at Hever Castle in Kent.

This year, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn invites brave souls on an after-dark tour, delving into the castle’s most unfortunate owners and their gruesome fates.

The experience begins with a glass of prosecco (or a non-alcoholic alter-native) at the Moat Cafe, setting the stage for a truly haunting night.

Strictly for over-16s.

Tickets from £35.26 at hevercastle.co.uk.

Pumpkin picking

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DODDINGTON Hall in Lincolnshire is the UK’s best pumpkin patch, according to an in-depth ranking by Outdoor Toys.

The free-entry wonderland boasts 30 varieties of pumpkins, squashes and gourds.

See doddingtonhall.com.

In second place was Tapnell Farm on the Isle of Wight, offering a pumpkin trail and plenty of spooky photo opportunities.

Tickets, £14.50, tapnellfarm.com.

Or check out Millets Farm Centre in Oxfordshire, which secured third spot, thanks to its low £2 entry fee and annual Halloween Spook-tacular that includes pumpkin-picking, a Halloween circus and a spooky disco.

See milletsfarmcentre.com.

For a dog-friendly adventure, head to Cotswold Farm Park.

But as night falls, the patch transforms with live music and UV pumpkin displays.

Tickets from £10.95 at cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk.

Scary mazes

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HAILED as one of Europe’s most- haunted cities, York delivers an immersive experience at its Hallowscream fright nights at York Maze.

The award-winning attraction features five horror mazes, more than 100 live actors and extra-jumpy scare zones.

Strictly over-16s.

Tickets from £28 at yorkmazehallowscream.co.uk.

In Blackburn, Scare Kingdom Scream Park is pushing the boundaries of fear.

Running on select nights to November 9, it boasts 80 scare actors across 130 themed spaces around five scare mazes promising pulse-pounding adventures.

Minimum age of 13 (accompanied by an adult).

With tickets starting at £27.79, this one is an intense experience that’s not for the faint-hearted.

For details, see scarekingdom.com.

Family-friendly frights

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DRAYTON MANOR in Staffordshire has transformed into a Spooktacular Halloween wonderland until November 3.

Included with regular admission, visitors can enjoy the Carnival of Spooks walk-through and daily shows.

Tickets from £27.50 at draytonmanor.co.uk.

The Halloween in the City festival returns to Manchester on October 26 and 27, when the city centre will be overrun by giant inflatable monsters, including eight-metre-long Leech.

As darkness falls, buildings across the city will glow an eerie green, while thousands of pumpkin lanterns line the streets.

See visitmanchester.com.

Warwick Castle is also joining the Halloween fun with ghostly inhabitants taking over the grounds.

Families can enjoy quizzes, discos, songs and sorcery.

Tickets from £22.

For more details, see warwick-castle.com.

Thrilling trails

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FOR those who prefer their scares with a side of natural beauty, Moors Valley Country Park in Dorset is debuting a Halloween illuminated trail.

Running from October 25 to November 3, the after-dark adventure winds through the forest, revealing hidden surprises including a secret cemetery, ghostly undertakers and tree demons.

With thunderstorms, wicked witches and giant spiders along the way, it is a multi-sensory experience that blends the beauty of nature with Halloween theatrics.

Tickets from £12 at moors-valley.co.uk.

Just outside Port Talbot, Margam Country Park is launching Fright Nights – a spine-tingling experience that draws on the location’s haunted history.

The trail begins in the ruins of the gardens where visitors encounter 7ft Cistercian monks before venturing into a forest rumoured to be home to the ghost of a murdered gamekeeper.

The journey continues into the 19th-century castle, considered one of the UK’s most haunted places.

With two scare levels available – one for younger visitors and a more intense version for those 15 and up – it’s a customisable fright fest for those with different terror thresholds.

Tickets from £12.50 at www.margamcountrypark.co.uk.

Photo by The Grand Hyatt

The Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen is more than just a hotel, it’s a portal to a world of relaxation, luxury, and vibrant culture. Nestled on the pristine shores of the Mexican Caribbean, this beachfront oasis seamlessly blends modern sophistication with the laid-back charm of Playa del Carmen. Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway, a family adventure, or a solo retreat, the Grand Hyatt offers an unforgettable experience with its impressive amenities, prime beachfront location, and proximity to the bustling Avenida Quinta shopping district.  

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Photo by Lavinia Lumezanu

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