We discovered the Christmas Wonderland at St John’s Plant Centre three years ago. Ethan loves flashing lights so we would take the children to see the Christmas decorations. We knew that their Christmas Wonderland included a Santa Express but last year was the first time we included it in our visit. The range of Christmas decorations at St John’s is amazing. They have a huge selection and they are arranged in colour. We have easily spent an hour looking at the decorations and all the Christmas trees available to purchase. Last week we took the Children to St John’s again to visit Santa on the Santa Express.
Christmas Wonderland at St John’s
The Santa Express
The Santa Express is £6 for children and £3 for adults. You board a little train made up of six carriages that takes you to the North Pole to visit Santa. On the way there you get to see lots of lovely displays of Christmas lights and trees. You will even spot Santa’s reindeer and his elves.
Ethan loves this train and last year squealed with delight when the train started it’s journey. I don’t think Little E remembered last years visit but she enjoyed this years.
The train stops to let the children have some time with Santa. Instead of a toy Santa gives each child a chocolate Santa.
I think for the price it’s a lovely way to visit Santa. I can imagine at the weekend it will get quite busy so I do think there could be quite a queue to visit Santa. It looks like St John’s does have two trains for the busy periods but we have visited after school. This has worked quite well for us and avoiding a long wait time.
The Musical Elves and Polar Bears
Christmas Wonderland at St John’s not only includes a Santa Express but there are musical elves and polar bears. The elves work by turning a handle, the elves spin and they play a festive tune. Our children would spend hours with these elves if we let them.
The polar bears are animatronic and they play a variety of songs whilst you shop.
The Christmas Carousel
I can’t remember if the Carousel was at St John’s last year. Perhaps Little E wasn’t aware of rides then but now she is and asks to go on them. The Carousel is £2 per child and our children did get to stay on there for quite a while. I do wonder if that was because there wasn’t anyone else waiting to go on.
Christmas Shopping
Not only does St John’s hold a huge selection of Christmas decorations but there is also a great selection of toys. I’m sure there is also a good selection of wrapping options too. There really is everything you need at the Christmas Wonderland.
We love visiting the Christmas Wonderland at the start of December. It really does start to get you in the festive mood.
Oh this looks amazing! Love the look on Ethan’s face x
Oh Wow! This looks amazing. I need to find something similar to this to take my little ones too!
That looks amazing and such a good price too!
Oh wow! What an adventure you all had 🙂 So many fab decorations! xx
Ooh this looks SO lovely! If we lived closer I would have loved to have taken Violet along, she’s only 9 months but loves Christmas lights and music, so I’m sure she’d love it.
Sadly, I heard today they have been closed down due to council permissions. I went last week with my 80 yr old mother, she loves it there. So sad they have to close, but I think traffic was a major issue. Let’s hope they can sort it out, or the rumours are untrue, one or the other! It’s too magical to be lost to us and I’m not a huge Christmas fan, so must have something special going for it if I’m going to miss it!
I saw today that they closed it. It is so sad. I read last year that they had issues with the traffic too. It’s such a shame that they couldn’t work together. It’s one of the best Christmas things around in the area :0(
This looks great! Looks like one of those places you can make into a tradition year after year!
This post made me feel so Christmassy! Fabulous for only £6 xx