I decided to bring on the festivities a little early this year with a visit to the popular Cockfields Farm.
We got to meet Santa and his wonderful helpers and to try out the farm's all new Christmas Experience.
My niece Darcie couldn’t contain her excitement. We visited last year, but this time, with her little friend Archie joining the adventure, she was even giddier - jumping on the spot, talking excitedly about Santa and telling baby Archie he shouldn’t be scared. Trying to convince herself with that one.
Entering the reception and cafe area, we were greeted by cheery smiley elves and given passports to be stamped at every stop on the journey. We were all set for our North Pole adventure.
First we visited the elves’ workshop and learnt the all important lessons in being an elf. We were taught a special elf Christmas song and laughed and danced with professor Sugarplum.
Next we made our way through the enchanted forest to Mrs Claus’ kitchen, here we got to meet the excitable Mary Berry and Mrs Claus.
The children got to decorate their own gingerbread men, and then they all sat in front of Mrs Claus armchair for a Christmas story.
Next we visited Elf Town and here children excitedly ran around peering into windows of little properties - the elf on a shelf nursery, a look at Whoville.
Darcie was excited to be invited in to the post office by another friendly elf to write a letter to Santa, she waited to get it stamped, before posting it in the post box so it made its way to Santa in time for Christmas.
Grown ups were offered a mulled wine and a mince pie at ‘Elfbucks’, and in another part of Elf Town the children got the opportunity to make their own reindeer food with important instructions that they should leave by their houses on Christmas Eve so Rudolph and crew know where to stop.
In Elf Town there was also a build your own teddy bear shop, children got to choose their favourite teddy bear and stuffed them and placed a heart inside them to bring them to life. Archie was smitten with his teddy bear dinosaur and Darcie enjoyed choosing her pink spotted doggy teddy.
And then it was time to meet Santa himself. We were taken by another elf to his home and Santa invited us in to meet him.
Although Darcie and Archie were a little timid, Santa was brilliant and spent lots of time talking to the children, and joined us for a group picture before he gave them both a shiny gold coin to spend in his toy shop.
Then before we left, we popped in to the petting farm, to meet the reindeer, billy goats and to see Darcey the donkey!
See the gallery below for more images from the Cockfields Farm Christmas Experience
The whole experience lasts a couple of hours, and the elves are amazing - so helpful and attentive every step of the way and making sure the children have the most magical time, it’s the perfect pre-Christmas family trip.
Visits to the Ashton farm can be booked on November 30, every weekend in December and on Christmas Eve.
Christmas 2019
Tickets cost £34.95 for children, including the bear to take home, the Santa visit and the gift from his Toy Shop. For under ones it's £6.95. Adult tickets cost £16.95. Book online here.
