Father Christmas has a grotto at Ruddington's Framework Knitters Museum on 5 and 12 December; booking is not open yet. The Santa steam train runs 5 December.

Father Christmas has a grotto at the Framework Knitters Museum in Ruddington on two Saturdays this year, 5 and 12 December. It is the only Santa’s grotto in or near West Bridgford with a 2026 date published by its organiser. The museum has not yet given times or opened booking, so this page sets out what is confirmed and what is still to come.

The quick answer

  • Framework Knitters Museum, Chapel Street, Ruddington, NG11 6HE: Father Christmas in his grotto on Saturday 5 December and Saturday 12 December. Times “TBA”; the museum says booking information is “coming soon”.
  • Santa’s Steam Train Adventure runs from Ruddington Fields station on Saturday 5 December, four departures, adults and children £32.50 each.
  • West Bridgford’s own Christmas Countdown, Saturday 21 November: last year’s had a Santa’s grotto on Central Avenue. This year’s announcement does not mention one.
  • Notcutts Wheatcroft at Edwalton had published nothing about Father Christmas when we checked on 13 October.

Framework Knitters Museum, Ruddington: Saturday 5 December

The museum’s Father Christmas and Craft Fayre listing puts the grotto in its Victorian workers’ cottages, and ties the day to Ruddington’s market day:

  • Father Christmas in his “cosy grotto” in the cottages, for children and families.
  • A Festive Craft Market in the Chapel Gallery, with handmade gifts and seasonal crafts from local makers.
  • The museum itself is closed that day. Parker’s Yard café stays open for hot drinks, breakfast and lunch.
  • Time: “TBA”. “More details and booking information coming soon.”

Saturday 5 December is the first Saturday of the month, which is when the Ruddington Village Market runs on The Green, 9am to 2pm, according to Rushcliffe Borough Council’s markets page. Neither the council nor the market has published anything special for this one, so treat it as the usual monthly market until they say otherwise. Our Christmas markets page covers the rest of the season’s markets.

Framework Knitters Museum, Ruddington: Saturday 12 December

A week later Father Christmas is back for the museum’s Victorian Christmas, and this time the rest of the site is open. The Father Christmas listing for 12 December says:

  • Father Christmas visits are ticketed separately. A ticket buys “a personal visit with Father Christmas” in the grotto in the workers’ cottages.
  • Museum entry that day is free.
  • Around the grotto: live carols from a local choir, storytelling and parlour games, Christmas crafts in the Chapel Gallery, a go on the museum’s historic circular knitting machines, how the Victorians made mince pies, and mulled drinks from Parker’s Yard.
  • Time: “TBA”.

Neither listing gives a ticket price yet. We will add the times, prices and booking link to this page when they are published.

Santa’s Steam Train Adventure, Ruddington: Saturday 5 December

The same Saturday, Fox and Edwards and Great Central Railway Nottingham run a Santa train from Ruddington Fields station, Mere Way, NG11 6JS. The railway’s listing gives departures at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. On Fox and Edwards’ booking page an adult or child in open seating costs £32.50, an infant £12.50, a compartment for up to six or eight £200 and the first class saloon for up to ten £400. The “from £12.50” on the railway’s page is the infant fare.

Fox and Edwards says there is no wheelchair space on this train. Our Santa train page has the full detail.

With the market in the morning, the grotto and the train, Ruddington will be busy all day on 5 December, and Trent Bridge’s Sky Kingdom drone show is the same evening. The 12th is the quieter day for a grotto visit.

West Bridgford Christmas Countdown: Saturday 21 November

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Christmas page confirms the Christmas Countdown on Saturday 21 November, midday to 7pm: an indoor market at Lutterell Hall, Church Drive, NG2 6AY, stalls and entertainment on Central Avenue from 2pm, and the lights switched on at 5pm. It says nothing about Father Christmas.

Last year was different. The council’s 2025 programme listed “Santa’s Grotto” among the family activities on Central Avenue, with face painting and an inflatable ice hockey game. That release came out eight days before the event, so a 2026 grotto could still be announced in mid-November. Until then it is not confirmed. Our Christmas lights page has the rest of the day.

Garden centres

Notcutts Wheatcroft, on the A52 at Edwalton, is the nearest big garden centre. Its centre page and Notcutts’ Christmas page carried nothing about Father Christmas or a grotto on 13 October, and Notcutts has no separate events page. We will add it if it announces one.

Getting there and parking

The Framework Knitters Museum is on Chapel Street, Ruddington, NG11 6HE. On 5 December the market on The Green brings extra traffic into the village, so allow time. The heritage railway is at Mere Way, NG11 6JS, and the railway charges £3 to park there.

If you are starting from West Bridgford, our parking page covers the town’s car parks, and our roadworks and travel page covers anything closing on the A60 and the village roads.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Santa’s grotto in West Bridgford in 2026?

Not one that has been announced. The nearest confirmed grotto is at the Framework Knitters Museum in Ruddington on Saturday 5 and Saturday 12 December. West Bridgford’s Christmas Countdown on 21 November had a grotto in 2025, but this year’s details do not mention one.

When does booking open for the Ruddington grotto?

The museum says only that booking information is “coming soon”. Neither date has a time or a price yet.

Is the Framework Knitters Museum open on 5 December?

No. The museum building is closed that day, but the grotto, the craft market in the Chapel Gallery and the Parker’s Yard café are open. On 12 December the museum is open and entry is free.

How much is the Santa train at Ruddington?

£32.50 for an adult or a child in open seating, £12.50 for an infant, on Saturday 5 December only.

Sources