December weekends 70% sold out
Manchester’s most magical Santa experience returns with a brand new home, new characters to meet and missions to complete. Explore enchanting rooms with our elves, then step into Santa’s cosy cabin for photos and gifts.
New for 2026
This year The Grotto is coming to the iconic Corn Exchange Manchester. Steeped in history, packed with character and right in the heart of the city, we couldn’t imagine a more magical setting for the next chapter of The Grotto.
You will find us inside the building’s main atrium, next door to Mowgli Street Food. There are several entrances to the building, and the queue is indoors.
Bigger and longer for 2026: approximately 30 minutes inside a living Christmas story. Explore room after room with our joyful elves, completing festive missions along the way, before meeting Santa in his cosy cabin.
Every child leaves with a free gift, and a professional photo with Santa is yours to take home as a keepsake. The Grotto is designed for the whole family to experience together, creating festive memories that last long after you leave.
Adults come half price, because a grotto is no fun on your own. Every child ticket includes a gift from Santa.
Every child needs a ticket, from babies upwards. Free gift included.
Half price. At least one adult per booking.
With a letter confirming disability benefits.
Book everyone together, any size of group: at least one adult per booking, and every child needs a ticket. Pay in full or over three months at checkout. How booking works. Take your own photos throughout, and buy a professional photo with Santa on the day. Bookings carry a small service fee and are non-refundable.
Choose your date and timeSimple once you know
Pick a time, add your tickets, and everyone goes through together. Bring as many people as you like: the booking system reserves the space your group needs.
Your time is a ten-minute entry window. Arrive five minutes before it with your e-ticket ready on your phone.
Every child needs a child ticket, from babies upwards, and every child gets a gift. Every booking needs at least one adult. Carers come free with a benefits letter.
Grandparents, cousins, friends: add everyone to one booking. Bigger groups are given the extra space automatically, subject to availability, so you all go in together.
Choose the payment plan at checkout: the first of three instalments when you book, the other two over the following two months. Refund protection can be added at checkout too. A small service fee applies.
For every child
The magic of Christmas should reach every child. Whispering Winter sessions are exclusively for children with Special Educational Needs and those on the autistic spectrum: the sounds of The Grotto are gently muted, and we welcome fewer guests in each slot so every child can enjoy the magic at their own pace.
Our elves and Santa adjust how they greet each family, in whatever way works best for that child.
Plan your visit
Corn Exchange Manchester, Exchange Square, M4 3TR. We are inside the main atrium, next door to Mowgli Street Food, with several entrances into the building. The queue is indoors.
Two minutes on foot from Exchange Square and Victoria tram stops, five from Victoria station, beside the Christmas markets and the ice rink. Manchester gets busy in December, so allow extra time.
No car park of our own, but Q-Park Deansgate North (2 Chapel Street, M3 7WJ) is a few minutes’ walk and gives our visitors 25% off. Pre-book on the Q-Park site and enter CE25MCR at checkout. The Arndale car parks are also close by.
Pre-book parkingVictoria station and the Exchange Square and Victoria Metrolink stops are all within a five-minute walk. Shudehill bus interchange is two minutes away.
Corn Exchange travel guideThe queue is inside the Corn Exchange atrium, out of the weather. Arrive five minutes before your slot and have your e-ticket ready on your phone.
There are no toilets inside The Grotto itself. The nearest are outside, by the ice rink, so it is worth a visit before your slot.
The rooms are easier to enjoy without a pram. There is limited covered space for buggies outside the experience, left at the owner’s risk, or leave them in the car if you can.
The Grotto is wheelchair accessible and carers come free with a letter confirming disability benefits. If anyone in your party has particular needs, email us before you visit and we will help.
info@thegrotto.co.ukCorn Exchange ManchesterExchange Square, M4 3TR. Two minutes from Victoria and Exchange Square tram stops.
DirectionsBefore you book
The answers to everything our team gets asked most. Anything else, email info@thegrotto.co.uk and a real elf will reply.
About 30 minutes, our longest experience yet. Your booking gives you a ten-minute entry window, so please arrive five minutes before your slot. Late admission cannot be guaranteed.
You journey through a series of enchanting rooms with our elves, completing festive missions along the way, before the door opens to Santa’s cabin. Every child meets Santa, receives a gift and has a photo taken with him.
Yes. Every child ticket includes a gift from Santa.
Yes, as many as you like, all the way through the rooms. In Santa’s cabin our photographer takes the photo with Santa, which you can buy on the day as a keepsake.
No. Add everyone to one booking and the system reserves the space your group needs for that time, subject to availability, so you all go through together. Every booking needs at least one adult.
Email info@thegrotto.co.uk with your booking reference and who you would like to add, and we will add them to your time if there is space.
Yes. Every child needs a child ticket, from babies upwards, and every child receives a gift.
Children £29.50, adults £14.50 (half price), carers free with a letter confirming disability benefits. A small service fee is added at checkout.
Yes. Choose the payment plan at checkout: you pay the first of three instalments when you book and the other two over the following two months.
Tickets are non-refundable, but you can add Refund Cover for a small fee at checkout, which refunds the purchase price if illness, bereavement, transport failure, adverse weather and similar stop you attending. To change your date, email info@thegrotto.co.uk with your booking reference and we will do our best, subject to availability.
Inside the main atrium of Corn Exchange Manchester, Exchange Square, M4 3TR, next door to Mowgli Street Food. There are several entrances into the building; any of them will bring you to the atrium.
No. The queue is inside the Corn Exchange atrium. We still recommend dressing for the weather for the walk to and from the building.
Q-Park Deansgate North, 2 Chapel Street, M3 7WJ, a few minutes’ walk away, with 25% off when you pre-book and enter the code CE25MCR. The Arndale car parks are also nearby.
Two minutes from Exchange Square and Victoria Metrolink stops, five minutes from Victoria station, and two from Shudehill bus interchange.
Not inside The Grotto itself. The nearest toilets are outside by the ice rink, so it is worth a visit before your slot.
You can, but the rooms are easier to enjoy without one. There is limited covered space for buggies outside the experience, left at the owner’s risk. If you can leave it in the car, we would recommend it.
Yes. If anyone in your party has particular needs, email info@thegrotto.co.uk before you visit and we will help make the day as easy as possible.
Quieter sessions for children with Special Educational Needs and those on the autistic spectrum. The sounds of The Grotto are gently muted and fewer guests are welcomed in each slot. They are booked separately from the Whispering Winter page.
No. Show your e-ticket on your phone when you arrive. Each e-ticket is unique to your booking and can only be used once.
The Grotto runs from 20 November to 24 December 2026. December weekends are already the busiest and are filling first; November dates and weekday slots have the most choice.
Nothing quite matches that. Try another word, or email info@thegrotto.co.uk and we will answer within the day.
