Christmas Panto & Father Christmas Visit in Essex at Hedingham Castle
Looking for a magical place to visit Santa in Essex this year? Step into a festive adventure at Hedingham Castle, where our enchanting Christmas panto ‘Goldilocks & The Three Bears’ is followed by a special meet-and-greet with Father Christmas himself and a special gift. The perfect family Christmas experience!
When the villainous Sir Cuss kidnaps Daddy Bear and makes him join the circus, Mummy Bear and Goldilocks will stop at nothing to save him. Expect circus tricks, silliness, songs and singalongs in this magical, madcap pantomime for all ages.
🎅 All children will have the opportunity to meet Father & Mother Christmas after the show and receive a gift 🤶
This will be a heated and seated (unallocated) performance taking place in the Ballroom Marquee which is fully accessible. The bar will be open serving drinks and snacks.
The performance is 1 hour 30 minutes including a 20 minute interval. Doors will open 30 minutes before each performance.
Three performances per date:
Monday 22nd December – 10am, 1pm, 4pm
Tuesday 23rd December – 12pm, 3pm, 6pm
What’s included in your ticket:
🐻 1.5 hour panto performance of Goldilocks & the Three Bears in the Ballroom Marquee
🎅🏼 After the show, meet Father & Mother Christmas in the Georgian House, normally closed to the public (included with Child tickets and Additional Gift tickets only)
🎁 A special gift from Father Christmas with every Child (2-11) ticket
🚗 Free onsite parking
👶 Babes in arms (under 2 and on an adult’s lap) go free
PLEASE READ:
🎁 If you would like your Under-2 to meet Father Christmas and receive a gift, please add the additional gift option when booking (the gift for Under-3s is a teddy bear and the gift for 3+ is a Hedingham Castle colouring book and pencils set). If you have not purchased an Additional Gift ticket for your Under-2, they will be unable to meet Father Christmas.
Because all Child tickets include meeting Father & Mother Christmas after the show, these tickets are limited to a certain number per performance to make sure there is enough time for everyone to meet them.
Additional gift tickets for Under-2s are also extremely limited for the same reason, so if they are showing as fully booked for certain show times, we are unfortunately at capacity for that slot.
Ticket prices:
Adult (13+) - £13.50
Child (aged 2-12) - £18 (includes meeting Father Christmas & gift)
Senior (65+) or Carer - £12.50
Additional gift + meet Father Christmas (for Under 2s) - £5
Please note, the castle will be closed on both dates due to a private event.
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Absolutely! The panto is fun, gentle and family-friendly, and the Father Christmas visit is designed to be magical for children of all ages.
Under 2s go free when sitting on an adult’s lap.
If you’d like your Under 2 to meet Santa and receive a gift, please select the ‘additional gift’ option when booking.
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Yes. Tickets sell out quickly, and places for meeting Father Christmas are limited, so advance booking is strongly recommended.
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The panto performance is located inside the Ballroom Marquee which is all on one level including the bar and toilet facilities. There is a small step at the entrance to the marquee tunnel and again into the marquee itself, however if you are unable to traverse these, please ask a member of the team and they will be happy to assist via a side entrance or ramp.
Father Christmas will be located in the Ashurst Room of the Georgian House - this room has two shallow steps up to the entrance door and another two on the other side of the door, which due to the nature of the layout, cannot be used with a ramp.
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Yes. Free parking is available for all visitors just a short walk from the Ballroom Marquee where the panto is being held.
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We are unable to provide a buggy park as space is very limited in the marquee and buggies cannot be left at the marquee entrance as this area will be used for queuing to see Father Christmas.
Where possible, please leave buggies in the car. If the weather is dry, any buggies can be left outside near the marquee. All possessions are left at the owner’s own risk.
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Yes. Every child ticket includes a meet with Father & Mother Christmas after the panto, plus a small gift.
Please note, the gift for Under-3s is a teddy bear and the gift for Over-3s is a Hedingham Castle colouring book and pencil set.
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Unfortunately all tickets are non-refundable. You are welcome to transfer them to someone else (it doesn’t need to be the ticketholders name who uses the tickets) but we are unable to offer refunds.
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We are located in Castle Hedingham, near Halstead and Braintree, easily reached from across North Essex and the Suffolk border.
Postcode for Sat Nav: CO9 3DJ
Full address: Hedingham Castle, Bayley Street, Castle Hedingham, Halstead, Essex CO9 3DJ