Drusillas opens Santa's cottage on 21 November at £19.50 a child, Winterland's grotto runs 15 to 24 December and Meads Magic is 27 November. Dates and prices.

The first chance to see Santa near Eastbourne this year is at Drusillas, from Saturday 21 November. In town, Meads Magic has a grotto on Friday 27 November, Little Chelsea brings Father Christmas on Friday 4 December, and Winterland at Sovereign Harbour opens its Santa’s Grotto from 15 December. Here is what each one costs and when, from the organisers’ own pages.

The quick answer

  • Drusillas, Alfriston: weekends from 21 November to 13 December, then every day from 14 to 23 December. £19.50 per child, with a gift, plus a Drusillas day ticket.
  • Meads Magic, Meads Street: Friday 27 November, 2.30pm to 7.30pm. Free entry to the street event, which has a Santa’s grotto.
  • Christmas in Little Chelsea: Friday 4 December, 3.45pm to 8.30pm. Free, with a chance to meet Father Christmas.
  • Winterland, Sovereign Harbour: the Grumpy Grotto from 1 to 14 December, then Santa’s Grotto from 15 to 24 December. Prices not published yet.
  • Blackberry Farm, Whitesmith: 5, 6, 12, 13 and 19 to 24 December. Farm entry included; the price shows only at booking.
  • The Beacon: no 2026 dates published.

Drusillas: Santa’s Christmas Cottage

Drusillas, the zoo park at Alfriston (BN26 5QS), runs Christmas at Drusillas from 21 November to 23 December 2026, with a 24ft Christmas tree, a singing reindeer trio and festive photo spots included in a normal day ticket.

Santa himself is an extra. Drusillas’ Christmas events page gives the dates to see him as weekends only from 21 November to 13 December, then every day from 14 to 23 December, and the price as £19.50 per person, which covers a one-to-one meeting with Santa, a photo opportunity and a gift.

The rules on its Santa visit information page are worth reading before you book:

  • The Santa ticket is an add-on, not a way in. Everyone in the party also needs a Drusillas day ticket (or membership), adults included.
  • The time on the ticket is a queuing time, not the moment you see Santa, and it is not your entry time to the park.
  • Under 2s going in with an older brother or sister and not wanting a gift go in free. An under 2 who wants a gift, or who is the only child, needs a ticket.
  • Santa’s Cottage takes up to four children per slot.
  • Tickets are non-refundable and the date cannot be changed.
  • The park is open 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm.

Meads Magic, Friday 27 November

Visit Eastbourne’s listing dates Meads Magic to Friday 27 November 2026, 2.30pm to 7.30pm, on Meads Street (BN20 7ZZ), with a Christmas market, entertainers, a Christmas parade and Santa’s grotto. Entrance to the street event is free. The listing does not say whether the grotto itself charges, or what times Santa is in. More on our Eastbourne Christmas markets page.

Christmas in Little Chelsea, Friday 4 December

On Grove Road and South Street (BN21 4QA), from 3.45pm to 8.30pm. Visit Eastbourne lists a chance to meet Father Christmas alongside stalls, a dog show, fairground stalls and a light show with fireworks at 8pm. Guide price: free entry.

Winterland at Sovereign Harbour

Winterland at The Waterfront has two grottos, both bookable on its ticket site:

  • The Grumpy Grotto, 1 to 14 December, with the first day’s sessions running from 11am to 8pm. It is a comic take for children and adults, with a grumpy Christmas character who has to be convinced that Christmas is not so bad. Do not book it expecting a traditional Santa.
  • Santa’s Grotto, 15 to 24 December, with the first day’s sessions running from 10am to 7pm. The traditional visit.

Both pages say capacity is limited and recommend booking ahead. Neither gives a price in its page text yet, and the price range in the site’s background data covers every Winterland ticket, so we have not quoted it. The ice rink, its prices and the funfair are on our Eastbourne ice rink page.

Blackberry Farm, Whitesmith

Blackberry Farm Park at Whitesmith (BN8 6JD), north of Eastbourne, runs a Christmas Experience with farm admission included. Children write a letter to Santa in a workshop, make reindeer food, hand the letter to Santa in his grotto and choose a present from the elf toy shelf, and there is a giant snow globe for a photo. The dates are 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 December 2026. The farm says early bird tickets are on sale, but neither its page nor its ticket page shows a price until you book.

The Beacon: not confirmed

The Santa Experience grotto inside The Beacon shopping centre, opposite Clarks, has a booking page, but everything on it is the 2023 event (“Saturday 2nd to 24th December”, from £10 a child plus a booking fee). Nothing for 2026 has been published. Some search results present that old page as this year’s. We will add The Beacon here if it confirms.

Getting there and parking

  • Drusillas is at Alfriston, BN26 5QS. Its day tickets are valid from 10am, with last entry at 4pm.
  • Meads Magic and Little Chelsea are town-centre street events. Our parking in Eastbourne page has the tariffs and the cheaper car parks within a short walk.
  • Sovereign Harbour is on the east side of town. Check our roadworks and travel page for current closures before you drive.

Frequently asked questions

When does Santa arrive in Eastbourne in 2026?

The first published date is Saturday 21 November, at Drusillas near Alfriston. In the town itself, the first is Meads Magic on Friday 27 November.

How much is the Drusillas Santa experience?

£19.50 per child, including a gift, according to Drusillas. You also need a Drusillas day ticket for everyone in the party, adults included.

Is there a free Santa’s grotto in Eastbourne?

The two street events, Meads Magic on 27 November and Christmas in Little Chelsea on 4 December, are free to get into. Neither listing says whether seeing Santa costs extra.

Is the Beacon Santa grotto on this year?

Not confirmed. The only booking page online is for the 2023 event.

Sources