Wroxham Barns For Christmas 2024!
Putting feet wrong is not something Wroxham Barns do (to my knowledge) and that’s why we keep going back. They chameleon into each season in what seems to be a seamlessly, effortless (and yet I know, in actual fact, a tremendous amount of work goes on behind the scenes) journey to being the best family day out in Norfolk!
Christmas 2024, and the experience they are offering, is no exception. It’s totally and utterly, fantastically and festively brilliant! However, I’ve been asked so much about whether I think it’s worth the money, that before I talk about it’s massive festive merits, I want to address the cost.
I was invited as a guest of the park for this visit, which is important to know. But it is also important to note that we are often customers of Wroxham Barns and I wouldn’t (ever, actually) recommend somewhere if I wouldn’t be prepared to part with my own money to visit. And though for this particular trip I was gifted our day, I absolutely would recommend that it is worth its entry price. Here’s why (because it may seem rather substantial before you know everything that’s included):
- ALL THE REGULAR FUN OF THE FARM INCLUDING RIDES, ANIMALS AND SOFT PLAY.
- ELF COLLEGE WITH AN ELF HAT TO KEEP.
- THE REINDEER HQ TO MAKE REINDEER FOOD.
- THE NORTH POLE POST OFFICE TO WROTE AND POST A LETTER TO FATHER CHRISTMAS (AND PARENTS ARE SURREPTITIOUSLY GIVEN A LETTER TO PLACE UNDER PILLOWS LATER ON)!
- MRS CLAUS’ KITCHEN TO DECORATE GINGERBREAD MEN.
- A RIDE ON THE NORTH POL EXPRESS.
- A BESPOKE MEETING WITH THE VERY BEST FATHER CHRISTMAS WE’VE EVER MET AND A TOKEN TO CHOOSE A TOY FROM HIS TOY SHOP FOR EACH CHILD.
So, while it IS a significant day out in terms of cost (there’s no getting away with saying anything else) I’d say it is worth every single penny.
And I don’t think you’d need to do anything else, as it’s so super special. Lots of lovely, cosy days at home watching movies with this as the mega treat would be an ideal family Christmas fun in the planning if you ask me.
I’m not interested, particularly, in going to Lapland, or Lapland UK. It’s just not on my radar as a family activity for now because the cost is wild. I’ve a friend going to actual Lapland for less than 24 hours and it’s costing them nearly four thousand pounds FOUR! Great for them, but that’s not what I want to invest in. I mean, FOUR THOUSAND POUNDS! Think what could be done with that?!
I reserve the right to change my mind on that (as I do everything – woman innit!) but I see little merit, from my vantage right now, especially when it comes to the UK version, while Wroxham Barns are getting it so right close to home?! The Christmas Experience is SO good, I’d be very surprised if my children would like Lapland UK any better, so, for my money, I’m choosing Wroxham Barns every day of the week.
That there’s the important first question answered then, and in essence to reiterate, yes, it’s worth it, more than so, in my opinion – and when it comes to magic, this place has it in buckets.
My only regret from our visit is that we’d been busy in the morning with football and dance. I wish we’d been able to get there earlier and have more time. It could have been a whole day out instead of just half but it did prove to me that were you to book the Twilight option, for instance, you’d still make sure everything had been enjoyed without leaving any stations behind!
We arrived at lunch time, we know the farm well having spent countless amounts of time there just this year alone and yet it still felt very exciting. We spent the summer glamping with them, we’ve enjoyed afternoon teas throughout the year’s family and friends celebrations, and with all the seasonal visits in-between I’d say we are pretty regular. And yet, as always, stepping into a Wroxham Barns Christmas is like stepping into a whole new world.
They revamp it every year, making it better and better, and our visit for 2024 didn’t disappoint in any direction. All the regular fun on the farm with the animals to see, soft play to take a reverie, and the fun park open with rides and mini golf – all available as part of your ticket price. And it’s that “no hidden costs” day out we know we can trust whenever we visit!
On top of all this, and the main event of course for right now, we also had our Christmas Experience passport to fill up with stamps as we made our way around each station.
Elf School is where we began, with a free elf hat (to keep) for everyone in the family, games and a sort of immersive show with 2 elves teaching everyone how to be their best “elf” – STAMP!
We moved to the reindeer HQ to build ourselves a bag of reindeer food, with the greatest helper elf ever! Such kind staff (or real elves – you decide) – STAMP!
Next up (for us – you’re not on a schedule apart from your booked time slot to meet Father Christmas) we visited the North Pole Post Office to send a letter to Father Christmas and play some games. The children post their letter and parents are subtly given another letter in reply from the big FC himself; to be placed under a pillow – so cute! There are also games in each area which is a nice touch, especially with the actors taking such notice to know when the children need a little hand or some attention – STAMP!
Letters posted to ensure our “nice list” position, we headed to Mrs Claus’ Kitchen to decorate some gingerbread men. I loved how my cool big kids got stuck in here and really enjoyed it too, despite being 12 and 14. You’re given a gingerbread man, sweets and icing. The prescription is all ready for you to get creative while the actress playing Mrs Claus keeps everyone up beat while you do it – STAMP!
That’s the farm side, not forgetting to also feed the animals and have a stint in soft play before heading over to the fun park to let the Christmas Experience continue over there.
Rides, mini golf, Go-Karts and the play area are all open while the train has been transformed into the Polar Express – Another STAMP! They’ve created a very special journey through a tunnel of snow and then the invitation is to visit Father Christmas straight after – STAMP, STAMP, STAMP!
This is the pièce de résistance of the whole day. And though I knew we’d primed FC in advance (Wroxham Barns are VERY organised), the way he delivered his information about our children, to them, I almost believed he was the real deal myself!
He was kind too, and he told the children to be kind, which felt like the best message amongst telling them he was proud of them for all their achievements. He was fun, funny and he just knew how to play it. A clever actor perhaps… Or… Maybe, just maybe… You never do know?!
He sent the children off to his toy shop with a golden coin to choose any toy they liked. A great selection of pretty decent toys they are too. I do want to note here though, that I’ve only added this bit about the gift when editing this article (reading it back I saw I’d forgotten to include anything about the toy, but it just didn’t seem important after the special personal visit we’d had with FC – The take home moment was the lovely things he’d said to the children and I promise I’m not even slightly flowering this for poetry). So, just so you know, the toy selection is great and of good quality to boot, it just plays a second fiddle to the experience of meeting such a lovely Father Christmas and I think that’s them getting it on the money yet again!
So… Would we recommend a visit when it costs £25 for adults and £35 for children, with under 2s being £10 (because it has to come on decent recommendation right?!) Well, yes, we do! And here’s my decent opinion for you:
Everything is expensive at the moment, from the necessary, to the frivolous. But this is actually pretty darn decent value for money in terms of getting a LOT of Chrismas bang for your festive buck!
I loved it, my children likewise, and for a very special memory this is the one. I’d do this and nothing else and be very happy indeed – I really don’t want to take the kiddos to see another Father Christmas after doing this one, there would be little point, nothing could top it!
And a little money saving tip:
You can also book a twilight experience which is a little cheaper – it runs from 3pm-6pm so gifts an evening visit instead of day time. At £15 for adults, £10 for children under 2 years old and £25 for anyone else, this is super economical, but actually, a pretty lovely time to visit too. After dark with all the lights and I’d be inclined to say it doesn’t just manage to gift the 25th hour in the day us parents need during this season, but it might be my best choice for how to visit regardless of the cost! 3 hours is enough time to do everything and I truly do think the evening vibe would add a special something!
Or, if evening’s don’t work for you and you have a pre-schooler, then check out Festive Fridays where you can save £10 on ticket prices too!
If you’d like to add an element to the day there is also a build a bear workshop which is tucked neatly out of the way (if not on your agenda this is good so as not to be a pleading point with the children, they need not even notice it’s there). It IS in the passport waiting for a stamp however, which genuinely would be my ONLY criticism. I’d prefer it to not be part of the stamp trail and instead be on the back of the booklet, just because it could build some pressure in and I know that’s not the vibe WB go for in general – I will feed that back and I know they will care. They are a family run business and they really only ever want to make their experiences affordable and fun. I’m privileged to know them personally now and I love that about how they run the place!
We didn’t do the build a bear element this time, but have done so in the past and it’s pretty good fun. If you’re pushing the boat out, and this is your one special thing, then it’s a good addition – we just didn’t really have time having rocked up later in the day than would have been ideal!
Other things you can buy are: Professional photos with Father Christmas (but you can take your own too – important, they aren’t trying to rob you, they’re just giving an option) and marshmallows for toasting on the fire (£2.50). We also tried out the new donut food truck (5 freshly made cinnamon donuts for £6) and they were delicious!
Book tickets at through the Wroxham Barns website.
Thanks for having us Wroxham Barns, we do know how lucky we are to be asked our opinion, and we will continue to be customers because you guys nail it every time!
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