Christmas at Lakeside Shopping Centre brings The Santa Express from Friday 27th November to Christmas Eve 2026. Families check in at Jingle Bell Junction and board a train carriage, where interactive windows, surround sound and motion effects carry you past snow-capped hills and crystal caverns. At Candy Cane Lane, children decorate a gingerbread biscuit before meeting Santa in his cosy cabin to share their Christmas wishes and receive an early Christmas gift.

Price
Child: £18
Adult: £6
Carer: Free, one per paying child who needs care - book online, then email proof of entitlement for a refund
Babies - under 12 months: Free when with a full-paying sibling and not needing a present; otherwise book a full child price with a gift
Photographs and photo gifts: additional cost
Booking fees apply.

Dates & Times
27th November to 24th December 2026, on selected dates
27th to 29th November, 2nd to 6th December and 9th to 24th December
Sessions run every 10 minutes and times vary by day - choose your slot on the booking page.

Location
The Santa Express experience at Lakeside is on the ground floor of the Central Atrium at the shopping centre.

Accessibility
Fully accessible. Inclusive Relaxed Sessions, with a more relaxed approach to noise and lighting effects, run on Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th and Wednesday 9th December.

Additional Information
The gingerbread biscuit contains wheat and may contain egg, milk, nuts and soya. If your child has a food allergy, note it in the Special Needs box when booking or tell a member of staff, as there is an alternative activity. Tickets are non-refundable.

Good To Know
Arrive about 10 minutes before your booked time. There is a buggy park outside the grotto. Free parking.

🎡 Make a Day of It
Head out to The Quay for free entry to The Christmas Destination @ Lakeside and Ice Skating at The Christmas Destination, Lakeside.

📍 Visiting Lakeside Shopping Centre?
Check out our full guide to Lakeside Shopping Centre for visitor info - opening times, parking, accessibility and more.

⭐ Ready to book? Click on the Website link above to go directly to The Santa Express booking page.

🔗 More Like This
Love a bit of festive magic? Explore more Christmas Experiences in Kent, Santa's Grottos in Kent and our Christmas in Kent 2026: All Our Festive Guides feature. See our Seasonal listings for lots more Winter and festive adventures and activities.

Facilities
Disabled Access • Buggy Park • Toilets • Free Parking

See Kent, Know Kent
🌹 Discover this part of North Kent with our guide to Dartford & Gravesend, under our Area Guides in Kent menu, or browse the sections below to plan your perfect time in the Garden of England.

🏛️ Things to do in Kent: Explore our listings for more attractions and activities.
🎭 What's On in Kent: Check our events menu for the latest updates.
💡 Ideas & Inspiration: Don't miss our features and themed articles.
🦒 Top Guides to Kent: Uncover our tips to top attractions, best festivals, adventure activities, animal experiences and much more in the Garden of England.
❄️ Seasonal Spotlight: From Easter and school holiday adventures to Halloween and festive family fun.
📧 Sign up for the Free See Kent E-Newsletter.