Where to see Santa in Solihull this Christmas: a show at The Core from £11.50, Santa breakfasts in Meriden, a woodland train grotto and Touchwood's grotto.
Four places in and around Solihull have published a Santa visit for Christmas 2026 so far, from a children’s show at The Core to a woodland train ride just over the border at Fillongley. Touchwood, the grotto most Solihull families know, has not announced its 2026 dates yet. Last year it opened on 22 November at £5 a child. Here is what is booked, what it costs, and what is still to come.
The quick answer
- Santa’s Best Ever Christmas, The Core Studio: 18 to 24 December, child £11.50, adult £12.50, family of four £46, plus a fee. Every child gets a present.
- Heart of England, Fillongley: Santa’s grotto and train ride, 5 to 24 December, from £5.
- Manor Hotel, Meriden: Party with the Grinch 13 December, Afternoon Tea with Santa 21 December, Breakfast with Santa 23 December.
- Touchwood grotto: 2026 not announced. In 2025 it ran 22 November to 24 December in Jubilee Walk, £5 in November and £7 in December.
Santa’s Best Ever Christmas, The Core
This is a new interactive Christmas musical from Honalee Media in the Studio at The Core, Homer Road, B91 3RG, with the voice of children’s TV presenter Chris Jarvis as Dasher the Reindeer (he does not appear in person). Every child receives a wrapped present from Father Christmas. Recommended for ages 2 to 8.
| Date | Performances |
|---|---|
| Friday 18 December | 4pm |
| Saturday 19 to Wednesday 23 December | 10am, 1pm and 3pm each day |
| Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve) | 10am and 12.30pm |
Tickets are £12.50, £11.50 for a child aged 1 or over, or £46 for a family of four, plus a transaction fee. Box office 0121 704 6962 (The Core Theatre).
The Core’s pantomime, Peter Pan, opens on 4 December; dates and the separate relaxed performance are on our Solihull pantomime page.
Santa at the Manor Hotel, Meriden
The Manor Hotel on Main Road, Meriden, CV7 7NH, has three Santa sittings in December (Visit Solihull listings):
| Event | Date and time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Party with the Grinch | Sunday 13 December, arrive 12 noon, ends 4.30pm | £38 adult, £22 child 4 to 12, £11 under 3 |
| Afternoon Tea with Santa | Monday 21 December, tables 1pm to 4pm, 90 minutes | £30 adult, £20 child 4 to 12, £10 under 3 |
| Breakfast with Santa | Wednesday 23 December, 9.30am to 11.30am | £20 adult, £15 child 4 to 12, £10 under 3 |
The Grinch party includes a two-course festive meal, a children’s disco and a visit from both the Grinch and Santa. The breakfast and afternoon tea each include a visit from Santa and an activity pack.
Santa’s grotto and train ride, Heart of England
The Heart of England Conference and Events Centre, Meriden Road, Fillongley, CV7 8DX, is just over the borough boundary in Warwickshire, a short drive from Meriden. Its Christmas experience runs every day from Saturday 5 December to Christmas Eve, from £5 (Visit Solihull listing).
Visits are booked by time slot. You start in a marquee with games, a North Pole post office and reindeer food making, then take a Christmas train through the lit woods to Santa’s Workshop. There is also a virtual reality sleigh ride and a soft play area for infants. Every child gets a small gift. The visit itself takes 20 to 30 minutes; arrive 45 minutes to an hour before your slot, a full hour for the last slot of the day. It runs whatever the weather and the woods get muddy, so wear boots.
Touchwood: waiting for 2026
Touchwood has not yet announced its 2026 grotto, and its own events page carries nothing festive. Last year, according to its listing on Visit Solihull, Santa was in Jubilee Walk from 22 November to 24 December 2025. Tickets were £5 a child in November and £7 in December, with sensory friendly sessions on 29 November and 6, 13 and 20 December. Cancellations were not refunded but could be rescheduled, and unused ticket money went to the charity Little Hearts Matter (Visit Solihull, 2025 listing). That listing was published on 6 November last year, so expect the 2026 details in early November.
Still to be confirmed
- Touchwood’s 2026 grotto dates, prices and sensory sessions. Expected early November.
- Christmas events at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens, which has listed nothing after November yet.
Town centre Christmas plans, including the Jingle Bell Jog on 13 December and the Festive Feast market from 15 to 22 December, are on our Solihull Christmas lights page. Parking is on our parking in Solihull guide.
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