Experience the Magic of Christmas at New Lanark

Step into a world of festive wonder at New Lanark’s Christmas Experience 2026. Running on selected dates throughout November and December from 10am to 5pm, this joyful day out is created especially for families with young children.

From meeting Santa to singing along at the pantomime, every moment is designed to spark excitement, imagination and lasting Christmas memories.
 

Why Families Keep Choosing Christmas at New Lanark

  • Meet Santa and receive a special gift
  • Enjoy a festive family pantomime
  • Take a magical Christmas ride
  • Enjoy indoor soft play
  • Spend the whole day making memories
⭐Rated 9.1/10 for staff friendliness and helpfulness by previous visitors.
 
One ticket. A full day of festive fun.

 

What’s Included in Your Visit

 

A Visit with Santa
Watch little faces light up as they meet Santa in our magical grotto. Each child receives a soft toy gift and time to share their Christmas wishes in a festive setting designed to create lasting memories.
 
Pantomime: The Wiz That Woz
Follow the yellow brick road to New Lanark for a magical Scottish twist on a classic tale.
Packed with familiar faces, laughter, colourful costumes and plenty of audience fun, this lively pantomime brings Dorothy’s adventure to life with heart, humour and a few surprises along the way. A feel good festive highlight for the whole family.
 
Spirit of Christmas Ride
Join Holly and her friends on a charming journey through the story of Christmas. This much loved indoor Annie McLeod Experience Ride has been specially transformed for the festive season.
 
Soft Play
Let little ones explore and burn off energy in our indoor soft play area, designed especially for children aged 1 to 8.

Available dates and pantomime times

28 Nov 29 Nov 5 Dec 6 Dec 12 Dec 13 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec
Saturday 28 November
11:00am (quiet session) | 2:00pm
Sunday 29 November
12:30pm | 2:00pm | 3:15pm
Saturday 5 December
11:00am | 12:30pm | 2:00pm | 3:15pm
Sunday 6 December
11:00am | 12:30pm | 2:00pm | 3:15pm
Saturday 12 December
11:00am | 12:30pm | 2:00pm | 3:15pm
Sunday 13 December
11:00am | 12:30pm | 2:00pm | 3:15pm
Saturday 19 December
11:00am | 12:30pm | 2:00pm | 3:15pm
Sunday 20 December
11:00am | 12:30pm | 2:00pm | 3:15pm
Monday 21 December
11:00am | 12:30pm | 2:00pm | 3:15pm
Tuesday 22 December
11:00am | 12:30pm | 2:00pm | 3:15pm
Wednesday 23 December
11:00am | 12:30pm | 2:00pm | 3:15pm
Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve)
11:00am | 12:30pm | 2:00pm

Plan Your Visit

  • Your selected time is your pantomime performance time
  • Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your show
  • You are free to enjoy all other activities at any time between 10am and 5pm
 
Important Information
  • This experience is designed for families with children aged 1 to 8
  • Teenagers may not find all activities suitable
  • 28 November 2pm visitors: Due to our Quiet Session earlier in the day, please arrive after 1pm

 

Getting Around

  • No check in required. Go straight to your first activity and show your ticket
  • Save or print your ticket in advance due to limited signal
  • Buggy parking is available in Visitor Attraction Reception
  • Prams are not permitted in the pantomime

 

Accessibility

If you have any accessibility needs, please contact us in advance so we can support your visit. Those requiring wheelchair/mobility access should report to Visitor Attraction reception 30 mins prior to pantomime timeslot to allow our team to best support your needs.

 

Please note: All seasonal staff working at our Christmas events will undergo the appropriate background checks for their role, and we have robust safeguarding procedures in place across the event.

 

Food and Drink

Make a day of it with festive treats and family dining options:
  • Mill Café for tasty lunches, quick snacks and warm drinks
  • Mill One Restaurant for a relaxed sit down meal
  • Hotel restaurant serving food throughout the day. Booking ahead is strongly recommended during busy periods. Book a table here.

 

Quiet Session: Saturday 28 November 11am

A specially adapted Quiet Session of New Lanark’s Christmas Experience is available on Saturday 28 November, designed to offer a calmer and more comfortable festive visit for families and children with sensory needs. Running from 10:00am to 1:00pm, with the pantomime at 11:00am, this session features reduced visitor numbers to help create a more relaxed atmosphere, while still including all the magic of Christmas. Your ticket includes a visit with Santa, the Wiz That Woz pantomime, the Spirit of Christmas Ride and soft play. While we aim to keep the environment as calm as possible, some areas such as outdoor spaces, the Mill Café and the gift shop may still be busy at times. Quiet spaces are available on request, and our team will be happy to support you throughout your visit.

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The staff and elves were incredibly friendly and helpful, creating a warm and welcoming festive experience. Our family had a wonderful day and loved the variety of Christmas activities on offer.”

Christmas Experience Visitor 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in my ticket?

Your ticket includes:

  • A visit with Santa in his magical grotto
  • A soft toy gift for each child
  • Entry to the pantomime The Wiz That Woz
  • The Spirit of Christmas Ride
  • Unlimited access to soft play during your visit
All activities are included in one ticket price.

The time you select when booking is your pantomime performance time.

You are welcome to enjoy all other activities before or after your pantomime between 10am and 5pm.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your pantomime performance.

This allows plenty of time to find your way to the theatre and enjoy the start of your festive day out.

Yes. Your ticket gives you access to the Christmas Experience from 10am until 5pm on the date of your booking.

You can enjoy the other attractions at your own pace before or after your pantomime performance.

The experience has been designed primarily for families with children aged 1 to 8 years old.

Older children and teenagers are more than welcome but may not find all activities suitable for their age.

Yes. Every child visiting Santa will receive a special soft toy gift.

Yes. All visitors attending the Christmas Experience require a valid ticket.

No. Visits with Santa are included as part of the full Christmas Experience ticket only.

Yes. The Wiz That Woz is a family-friendly festive pantomime packed with music, laughter, colourful costumes and audience participation.

The performance is designed for family audiences and young children. Full timings will be confirmed in your pre-visit information.

Yes, but prams and buggies are not permitted inside the pantomime theatre.

Buggy parking is available at Visitor Attraction Reception.

No. There is no check-in desk.

Simply head to your first activity and have your ticket ready to show our team.

We recommend downloading, saving or printing your ticket before arrival, as mobile signal can be limited around the site.

Most activities are indoors, including:

  • Santa’s Grotto
  • The Pantomime
  • The Spirit of Christmas Ride
  • Soft Play
However, moving between venues may involve short outdoor walks, so warm clothing is recommended.

Yes. There are several options available throughout the day:

  • Mill Café for lunches, snacks and hot drinks
  • Mill One Restaurant for sit-down dining
We strongly recommend booking restaurant tables in advance during busy periods.

Yes. Day visitors should park in the main visitor car park at the top of the hill. Parking costs £3 per day and is managed by a third-party operator, not New Lanark.

Important parking information
We strongly recommend paying by cash at the on-site parking machine where possible. Card payments and RingGo app payments can occasionally be unreliable due to limited mobile signal in the area. Please save or note the RingGo location code displayed on the car park signage before leaving.

Yes. We aim to make the Christmas Experience accessible for all visitors.
If you have accessibility requirements, please contact us before your visit so we can provide the best possible support.
Guests requiring wheelchair or mobility access should report to Visitor Attraction Reception 30 minutes before their pantomime timeslot.

The Quiet Session takes place on Saturday 28 November and has been specially adapted for families and children who benefit from a calmer environment.
Features include:
Reduced visitor numbers
A more relaxed atmosphere
Access to all main Christmas Experience activities
Quiet spaces available on request
The Quiet Session runs from 10am to 1pm, with the pantomime at 11am.

Absolutely. The Quiet Session has been created to support families who may find busy Christmas environments challenging.

If you have specific requirements, please contact us before your visit.

Due to the Quiet Session taking place earlier that day, guests booked on the 2pm pantomime performance on 28 November should arrive after 1pm.

Late arrivals may miss part of the pantomime performance. We recommend arriving at least 15 minutes before your selected performance time.

Please refer to the terms and conditions displayed during booking or contact our team directly regarding ticket amendments.

Yes. All seasonal staff working at our Christmas events undergo the appropriate background checks required for their role, and robust safeguarding procedures are in place throughout the event.

We welcome all families and will do our best to support individual requirements. We recommend contacting us before your visit so we can discuss any adjustments that may help make your day more enjoyable.

Most families spend several hours enjoying the attractions, with access available from 10am to 5pm.