Experiencing Santa magic at Harrods Christmas Grotto 2015

Last year we went to Harrods Christmas Grotto, and ever since I have thought this could become one of our little family traditions. We loved the Santa's Grotto at Harrods. All those little activities while waiting, beautiful decorations, the friendly and oh-so-authentic Santa, all in that just a tad bit luxurious atmosphere that is Harrods. Our daughter loved it and so did we.


harrods christmas grotto 2015 window

Understandably, I was really looking forward to the Harrods Christmas Grotto this year. Last year my daughter was just one, so she didn't really understand much about that old bearded bloke that was asking her questions about her favourite gifts. Now that she was bigger, how she would interact with Father Christmas? Would she be afraid of him? Would she find him funny? Would she try to chat with him or hide behind my back? I imagined a blissful scene where she would play in the decorated Grotto, chatting away with Santa and gracefully accepting a little gift from him. 

Now, what could go wrong with a two year old toddler? (OK, all you parents over there will know, a lot!). Before we get to that though, let me take you to the little Christmas world of Harrods for a moment.

harrods christmas grotto 2015 mouse bringing gifts

harrods christmas grotto 2015 toy display

harrods christmas grotto 2015 mouse carrying gifts


This year the theme was Santa's toy workshop - you know, where all the elves gather and prepare all the toys for Christmas gifts? Except in this toy workshop it seemed to be mostly the little mice doing the work.

So many little toys, so many teddy bears, and so many little things to look and admire. Cute little things everywhere, and cute toys to play with! You could throw some Christmas gift packages in bags to be delivered to North Pole, Lapland or Harrods. You could play a floor piano, just like Tom Hanks in Big. You could check if you were naughty or nice, in a little barometer. And the best of all in my daughter's opinion, was a little car to sit in.


harrods christmas grotto 2015 throwing gifts activity

harrods christmas grotto 2015 walk-on piano keyboard activity

harrods christmas grotto 2015 big harrods teddy bear

harrods christmas grotto 2015 giant toys toyshop


harrods christmas grotto 2015 toy car

harrods christmas grotto 2015 waiting area for santa

She loved that car. So we stayed. We stayed there, mock-driving a little convertible until there was no other child in the toy workshop. Until Santa came calling. And unleash the fury of a nap-skipping two-year old when she is taken away from her favourite toy.

'Nuff said.



As we went to see Santa she started bawling her eyes out. "Oh dear, oh dear" said the Santa, trying to calm her down. The wooden doubledecker we tried to placate her with thrown on the floor. Her refusing to sit with us, and screaming on the floor, looking away with tears in her eyes. So that's our Christmas picture with Santa for this year! We had to buy it, it was just far too funny not to have it.


harrods christmas grotto 2015 toddler tantrum funny santa family picture

Let's hope for a better experience next year.

P.S. We did enjoy it, I thought it was beautifully decorated, and had a fun theme. Santa I am sure would have been great too, he looked and sounded the part, as far as we could hear between toddler screeches... But I think we will have to do another try at a Grotto this Christmas!

Have you been to Santa's Grottos and how did it go?




Comments

  1. Wow this event looks so picturesque and beautiful. I did the same to my folks when I saw Father Christmas last year at Marwell and completely freaked out! I didn't like the look of his face. Love the fact that you guys are posing for the photo and she's a grumpy pants. Great, honest photo x #CityTripper Sharing this... x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha they can be a bit scary sometimes! Santa's I mean, especially if you are just few feet high ;) I bet your parents remember that event fondly, ha ha! I hope you won't get scared in the future :)

      Delete
  2. This does look fabulous, so many extras before the big event - what a shame they seemed even better than the big man! But I love that photo, definitely a better story than politely sitting on his knee and smiling... #citytripping

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah the decor is great and there's lots to do so you won't get bored waiting for Santa. A shame this time she preferred the wait rather than Santa, as they are very good at Harrods, very authentic and very much in character :) maybe next year!

      Delete
  3. That photo is brilliant! I bet this is one experience you will both remember! Becky x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha we sure will and we've got the picture to remind us! An the blog post too :D I'm planning on framing he pics and putting them up at Christmas time!

      Delete
  4. Haha, love it! She's like "I'm just sitting here (= I'm not going anywhere)" in that first picture with the car. :D And the one with Santa, precious! Pretty girl! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha I know. She just get going back to that car after each of the other activities... Luckily none of the other kids were that bothered by the car, otherwise there would probably have been a toddler fight :D

      Delete
  5. We went to Santa's grotto at Harrods last Monday. We thoroughly enjoyed it too:) Your photo is hilarious, definitely one to show your daughter when she is older! #citytripping

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha I will ship it out every Christmas from now until her late teens :D I hope we will have better success next year :) glad you had fun, it's a really good Grotto!

      Delete
  6. Oh, you just can't predict what they are going to do! It's a visit to remember for sure. The Harrods experience looks amazing. Incredibly magical! My daughter went with her preschool so I didn't get to see what she saw so thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures. I think next year your daughter will really appreciate it! Thanks for linking up to #citytripping x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha didn't I learn that the hard way! :D

      It was a really wonderful experience, and hopefully we will be able to do it with a bit better end result next year :) Great that your daughter's pre-school took them there - they must have had such a ball! Thanks for hosting!

      Delete
  7. We tried to take our toddler to see santa on Saturday but he wouldn't go anywhere near him so I think we best wait until next year. The Harrods grotto looks incredible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww bless, what a bummer! I hope he will be a bit better next year when he is a bit older! :) Harrods was lovely, would definitely recommend it.

      Delete
  8. Looks amazing!! :) Wow what a medical place to visit at Christmas time! Would love to go one year. Jess xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really was - I think it must be pretty much the best grotto in London! :)

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thanks for commenting!

I love comments and I always try to reply within a couple of days. Do check back for my reply, especially if you wanted to know something specific. Or if you check the notify me box, you'll get follow-up comments to your inbox :)

Popular Posts