Book your magical Christmas experience now!
Make Christmas extra special with a magical visit to Father Christmas at Milestones. Step into his beautifully decorated grotto, meet his elf and enjoy a special festive experience that the whole family will remember.
Your experience includes a special gift for every ticketed child, a personalised visit with Father Christmas and the chance to share a truly memorable Christmas moment together. Surrounded by stunning decorations and the festive atmosphere of Milestones all around you, it’s a Christmas experience to treasure.
New for 2026!
Your Meet Father Christmas visit now includes A Christmas Carol Experience*, giving you even more Christmas magic to enjoy together at Milestones.
*except on 5th & 6th December during our Christmas Market days when A Christmas Carol Experience will not be available. Find out more here
What to expect:
Your Christmas adventure begins the moment you arrive at Milestones.
On arrival at the Museum, you will be directed to Father Christmas’s beautifully decorated grotto, where you’ll be welcomed by one of his elves before meeting Father Christmas himself. You’ll have 10 minutes together, with a personalised visit created especially for your child.
Then the magic continues. After meeting Father Christmas, you’ll step into A Christmas Carol Experience - a spectacular journey through the world of Dickens, where Christmas Past, Present and Future come vividly to life around you.
A Christmas Carol Experience:
Your Father Christmas visit now comes with even more to discover. On most dates, your ticket also includes A Christmas Carol Experience - a spectacular new family Christmas experience transforming Milestones into the world of Dickens.
Meet extraordinary characters, encounter live scenes from Dickens’ story and explore a Christmas world filled with characters, live performance, atmosphere and surprises.
Christmas Market dates:
Booking to meet Father Christmas on 5 or 6 December? Your ticket includes entry to our Christmas Market instead of A Christmas Carol Experience, and is priced accordingly.
Browse more than 40 festive stalls, enjoy seasonal food and drink, live music and family entertainment, and soak up the Christmas atmosphere at Milestones.
Ticket Prices
Meet Father Christmas (including A Christmas Carol Experience)
- Adult: £31
Includes FREE return visits to Milestones for 12 months - Child (5–15 years) with gift: £35.25
Includes FREE return visits to Milestones for 12 months - Child under 5 with gift: £18
Prices for Existing Annual Ticket Holders
If you already have a valid annual ticket that covers the date of your Christmas visit, A Christmas Carol Experience will be free this year and so the following prices will apply to Meet Father Christmas:
- Adult annual ticket holder: £6.50
- Child annual ticket holder (0–15 years) with gift: £18
Family Ticket Discounts
Discounts are available when purchasing a family ticket for the A Christmas Carol Experience (up to 5 people, including a maximum of 2 adults) and will apply automatically at checkout when booking.
Meet Father Christmas (including Christmas Market 5-6 December)
- Adult £6.50
- Child 5-15 years with gift: £18
Minimum of 1 adult and 1 child per booking. Additional adults and children can be added to a maximum of 6 people per timeslot.
FAQs
Father Christmas visits are available on selected dates throughout the Christmas season from 25th November onwards. Choose your preferred date and 10-minute time slot when booking.
On most dates, your ticket includes your visit to Father Christmas and A Christmas Carol Experience. On 5 and 6 December, your ticket includes Father Christmas and entry to the Christmas Market instead. All child tickets for Meet Father Christmas include a special gift, suitable for all ages.
6 people are permitted to be in the grotto at one time. If you plan to have a larger group than 6 people, please reach out to us at milestones.museum@hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk before you book your tickets.
You’ll spend 10 minutes with Father Christmas.
Yes. When booking, you’ll be prompted to provide your child’s name, age and anything you’d like Father Christmas to know, helping to make their visit personal and special.
Every ticketed child receives a special Christmas gift from Father Christmas. Babies in arms who do not have a ticket do not receive a gift.
No. Your timed slot is your entry time, so please arrive 10 minutes before the time of your booked visit.
No. Annual Milestones tickets do not include Meet Father Christmas.
On most dates, you’ll continue into the world of A Christmas Carol Experience. On 5 and 6 December, you can enjoy the Christmas Market instead. Both experiences are self-led, so you can explore at your own pace. There will also be time to take a toilet break after your visit with Father Christmas.
Yes. You’ll have the opportunity to take photographs during your visit to Father Christmas.
Yes. Father Christmas visits are timed and must be booked in advance.
Yes. All adults visiting Father Christmas must have a ticket.
Babies in arms do not need a ticket unless you would like them to receive a Christmas gift.
For information about accessibility at Milestones, please visit our accessibility page.
Yes. If your annual ticket is valid on the date of your visit, then you can enjoy the A Christmas Carol Experience at no extra charge. You'll only need to pay the discounted annual ticket holder rate to Meet Father Christmas.