SANTA’S GROTTO£5per child
A SEPARATE LITTLE ADVENTURESanta’s Grotto
Santa’s Grotto
in Bishop Auckland
Big wishes. A Santa moment. Make your Christmas Town visit extra special by adding a Grotto Pass to your Golden Pass.
Book Your Pass 
3 to 6 December 2026 Bishop Auckland Market Place
Unlimited Attractions Pass £5 to £10.
£5 Thursday · £7.50 Friday · £10 Saturday & Sunday
Bishop Auckland Christmas Town returns to the Market Place from 3 to 6 December 2026. Gather your favourite people for festive rides, sparkling lights and Christmas cheer in County Durham.
Discover Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town in County Durham. Explore the Christmas market, visit Santa’s Grotto and enjoy festive rides, roaming entertainment and the Giant Tipis.Explore Bishop Auckland’s Christmas market, Santa’s Grotto, festive rides and Giant Tipis.
INCLUDED WITH YOUR GOLDEN PASSSee Bishop Auckland from above
As many times as you like
All the attractions, as many times as you like.
Looking for family Christmas events in the North East? Add your Passes to your basket and we’ll do the rest.
Change of plans? No problem, book now and change your day by 19 November. Just give us a quick call. Terms apply.
We expect Passes to sell out. The only way to be sure you’ve secured yours is to book in advance.
Take your time. There’s a whole town to enjoy, from the first festive wander to one last look at the lights.
Exploring Christmas markets in Bishop Auckland? Wander our Christmas market, find something delicious and enjoy the lights. Christmas Town is free to enter.
At 2024's Christmas Town, one ride cost £5. Imagine how quickly that stacks up...
Enjoy all the attractions as many times as you like during your booked day’s opening hours.
There’s no extra charge for another go.
£5 per ride is an illustrative comparison, not an individual ride price offered at Christmas Town 2026.
You do not need a Pass simply to visit the market and enjoy the atmosphere. Anyone using the included attractions needs a Golden Pass. Children aged 8 and under must ride the Twister and Ferris Wheel with an accompanying adult, who also needs a Golden Pass.
Everyone entering Santa’s Grotto needs a Golden Pass and the appropriate Grotto Pass, except children aged 2 and under accompanying their family without receiving a gift.
Santa’s Grotto is an add-on to your Golden Pass, priced at £5 per child. Choose Grotto Passes when booking. A Golden Pass is required for each person entering, alongside their Grotto Pass.
Accompanying adults and older siblings who are not receiving a gift need an Adult Grotto Pass at £2 each, in addition to their Golden Pass. Children aged 2 and under may accompany their family without either Pass if they are not receiving a gift.
You can visit the Grotto at any time during its opening hours on the date of your Pass. Please allow plenty of time for the queue so your party can visit before the Grotto closes.
All children and adults in your booking party will enter the Grotto and see Santa together.
Children aged 3 and over can enjoy all the attractions. Children aged 8 and under must ride the Twister and Ferris Wheel with an accompanying adult. Please follow the ride operators’ instructions.
Children aged 2 and under can accompany their family into the Grotto without a Pass, but will not receive a gift. To enjoy their own Grotto visit and receive a gift, they will need a Golden Pass and a £5 child Grotto Pass.
The Tipis are open ’til late. Under-18s are not permitted after 8pm.
3 TO 6 DECEMBER 2026 · BISHOP AUCKLANDPlanning your Christmas events in Bishop Auckland? Make Christmas Town 2026 part of your festive calendar. Pick your day, gather your people and book your Passes.
Book Your Pass
