visit santa rhondda heritage park

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Rhondda Heritage Park

Opening hours.

9am - 4.30pm

With a brand new museum and Italian themed cafe for 2017, plus added experiences on the Black Gold Experience guided tour. Rhondda Heritage Park also hosts an array of events from Santa’s Toy Mine & X Scream to Classic Car shows & Family History Days. Located just outside Pontypridd in Rhondda Cynon Taf

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14 magical places to visit Santa in south Wales in the exciting run-up to Christmas

Put a smile on your children’s faces this festive seasonwhen you take them to see the man in red

• 15:08, 7 NOV 2018
• Updated 11:34, 23 DEC 2023

One of the best and most anticipated experiences of Christmas for children is the chance to meet Santa. And you’re in luck, as everyone's favourite man in red will be visiting Wales this festive season.

In addition to delivering gifts on Christmas Eve night, Santa will be popping into a host of places in and around Wales in the run-up to the big day to bring some festive cheer to all - and quite a few pre-Christmas presents.

So, take the kids down to see the big man himself and see their faces light up with joy and amazement this Christmas. Here’s where Santa is set to appear in Wales this winter.

1. Bryngarw Park

Join Bryngarw for a magical Christmas experience - visit the only Green Santa in south Wales, wearing his traditional green robes, in an enchanting setting.

For only two days, Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1, 2019, children can meet Santa, engage in craft making, and take a bespoke and unique Green Santa home - all for £15. Adults go free.

Advance booking for the event is essential.

In the on-site garden centre will be Santa’s nature grotto, where Christmas trees will be available to purchase.

Bryngarw is managed by a registered charity, Awen Cultural Trust.

Where to go: Bryngarw Park, Stable Offices, Brynmenyn, Bridgend , CF32 8UU

Get in touch: Visit www.bryngarw.ticketsolve.com/shows/873608654

2. The National Showcaves Centre for Wales

Just 20 minutes from the M4 , is a Welsh mountain with ancient caves, guarded by gigantic, but friendly dinosaurs! Deep inside lies Wales’ only natural Christmas grottos.

Vast colourful, hanging cave formations have all been transformed by the truly stunning Christmas decorations put up by Santa’s elves.

Kids will get a chance to see the hard-working elves, meet Santa himself, receive a gift, and take a photo to commemorate the moment.

The National Showcaves Centre has one of the largest collections of life-sized dinosaur models in the world. There will also be a land train to transport you down to see farm animals, and an undercover play area.

Where to go: Abercraf, Swansea , SA9 1GJ

Get in touch: Visit www.showcaves.co.uk

3. Rhondda Heritage Park

Ever wondered just how Santa and his elves make all of those toys? Find out how at Santa’s Toy Mine at the Welsh Mining Experience.

A magical underground adventure, for just £10 per person, visit Santa in his grotto from November 23 to December 24, before he packs up his sleigh.

Children can also participate in fun crafts, like chocolate making, teddy building and a Christmas Craft Fayre. Prices vary for activities.

Book today for a fantastic festive adventure! Evening and after school tours are also available.

Where to go: Lewis Merthyr Colliery, Coed Cae Road, Trehafod, CF37 2NP

Get in touch: Visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Tourism/RhonddaHeritagePark

4. Folly Farm

This Christmas at Folly Farm, you can meet both Santa and his reindeer. There’ll be gifts for the little ones, plus mulled wine and a mince pie for the adults.

And new for this year, is the walk-in snow globe - an additional charge applies.

The grotto will be open on weekends only, from November 9 to December 22, 2019.

There’s an additional cash only charge of £8.50 per child to visit Santa and you don’t need to book in advance to see him.

Where to go: Begelly, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire , SA68 0XA

Get in touch: Visit www.folly-farm.co.uk or call 01834 812 731

5. Zoar’s Ark

Take a stroll through the magical Ice Kingdom at Zoar’s Ark and pass the reindeer in their stable on your way to find Santa in his grotto.

The big man will be waiting with a surprise for each child throughout December.

Santa's helpers will also be ready with festive fun and activities, so you can stay and play.

Where to go: Zoar’s Ark, Bridge Street, Neath, SA11 1RP

Get in touch: Call 01639 642 180 or visit www.zoarsark.co.uk

6. Gwili Steam Railway

This Christmas, experience Santa’s magical steam trains at the Gwili Steam Railway every weekend of December.

Enjoy a festive train ride to see Santa, and every child will also receive a special gift.

The first trains to see Santa start on November 30.

Where to go: Gwili Railway, Bronwydd Arms Station, Carmarthen , SA33 6HT

Get in touch: Visit www.gwili-railway.co.uk

7. Techniquest

Head to Techniquest science discovery centre, where Santa and his elves will be ready to meet all the children on the ‘nice’ list in a magical grotto, on selected dates in December.

The festive fun will continue in the Techniquest Christmas Carol show, as well as a special Christmas planetarium show, a Christmas trail and a tree decoration make-and-take activity.

Please check the website for availability and prices.

Where to go: Techniquest, Stuart Street, Cardiff , CF10 5BW

Get in touch: Call 029 2047 5475 or visit www.techniquest.org

8. Future Inns Cardiff

Christmas is for seeing the joy on children’s faces and of course, indulging in good food. Both can be ticked off at the Sunday Lunch with Santa at Future Inn Cardiff.

Satisfy the taste buds with a three-course Sunday roast buffet, including homemade Yorkshire puddings, crispy roast potatoes and lashings of real gravy.

Afterwards, you can meet Santa in his grotto, with a present for the children, plus a family disco.

Bookings can be made for Sunday, December 8 or 15, starting at 12pm. It is £19.95 per person, £9.95 for under 12s and under fives are complimentary.

Where to go: Hemingway Road, Cardiff CF10 4AU

Get in touch: Visit www.futureinns.co.uk/cardiff/christmas , email [email protected] or call 02920 487 111

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Seasons is the place to be this Christmas.

Look forward to new displays with over 18,000 Christmas items in stock, and visit Santa’s grotto. Your child can walk though Santa’s gates where the his polar friends await. Children will be able to tell Santa of all their Christmas wishes and make sure they are on the ‘nice’ list.

Tickets are available to book online, at £9 per child, with adults going free - and each child will receive a wrapped, age appropriate gift.

Meet Santa on weekends starting from November 9, and then every day through December until Christmas Eve.

Where to go: Brynmenyn, Bridgend, CF32 9SZ

Get in touch: Call 01656 723 399 or visit www.christmasdecorationsoutlet.co.uk/santas-grotto-tickets

10. Salem Christmas Tree Farm

Visit Santa every weekend at the farm from November 23, 2pm to 4pm, for £5 per child.

In a cosy corner of the cabin, kids can meet Santa while parents relax with a mince pie, mulled wine, tea or coffee in front of the fire.

On November 16 and 17, the farm’s open weekend has wreath making demos lined up, and visitors can purchase an assortment of festive treats from the shop, including mince pies, marmalades and mulled wine. The store is also now taking orders for Christmas cakes and puddings.

The farm also has a range of Christmas trees to buy (3ft to 815ft), which can be netted for easier transportation.

Where to go: Bryn-Maen, Salem, Llandeilo, SA19 7LU

Get in touch: Call 01558 823 569 or visit www.salem-christmastrees.co.uk

11. The Gower Heritage Centre

At the Gower Heritage Centre, there are lots of presents, magic and fun in store this Christmas.

Visit Santa and his elves every weekend starting from November 23, 10am to 5.30pm; Monday to Friday from December 2, 2.30pm to 5.30pm; and December 20, 23 and 24 from 10am to 5.30pm. No pre-booking needed.

Entry is £7.80 for one child and adult, and includes a chat with Santa and a gift.

You can also watch a Christmas cartoon or puppet show at the centre, and visit the animal park - and buy yourself a Christmas tree with free local delivery.

Where to go: Parkmill, Gower, Swansea, SA3 2EH

Get in touch: Visit www.gowerheritagecentre.co.uk/Christmas or call 01792 371 206

12. Carmarthen Winter Wonderland

This year, Carmarthen Winter Wonderland’s grotto has its very own Santa’s Workshop, where you can write a letter to Santa and see where all the toys are made.

Visit Santa and his elves from November 22 to 24, and November 29 onwards until December 24.

Tickets are £8.50 per child, which includes the chance to visit the workshop, take part in some fun with the elves, receive a gift from Santa himself, and an all-important picture to take home with you. Maximum of two adults per child.

Where to go: Carmarthen Park, along Morfa Lane, Carmarthen, SA31 3AX

Get in touch: Visit www.carmarthenwinterwonderland.co.uk or call 0800 038 5289

13. The Royal Mint Experience

Christmas at The Royal Mint is an experience like no other. From a warming breakfast with Santa to the World Snowball Fight Championships, learn about the Christmas coins of past and present.

Train with Elfie and make Santa proud as your child takes part in the elves’ annual snowball fight. The big man himself will be along to officiate the championship final, but who will win - Mistletoe United or North Pole Town?

In each event, every child will get the opportunity to meet and receive a gift from the big man himself, providing they’re on the nice list that is!

Where to go: Heol-Y-Sarn, Pontyclun, CF72 8YT

Get in touch: Visit www.royalmint.com/christmas-events , email [email protected] or call 0333 241 2223

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Rhondda Heritage Park

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Exhibitions

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Rhondda Heritage Park and its collection

Rhondda Heritage Park, situated in Trehafod, Rhondda, South Wales, serves as a window into the life of the coal mining community that thrived in the region until the 1980s. Visitors can gain a deep understanding of the miners' lifestyle, their work conditions, and the historical significance of coal mining in the area. The park is a testament to the rich industrial heritage of Rhondda and offers a unique opportunity to explore the past.

Guided Tours at Rhondda Heritage Park

One of the key attractions of Rhondda Heritage Park is the guided tour through one of the mine shafts of the Lewis Merthyr colliery. These tours are led by former colliery workers, providing an authentic and firsthand account of the miners' experiences. It's a unique opportunity to delve into the history of coal mining and understand the challenges and triumphs of the miners.

Rhondda Heritage Park's Place in European Industrial Heritage

Rhondda Heritage Park holds a significant place in the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) as an Anchor Point. This recognition underscores the park's importance in preserving and showcasing the industrial heritage of Europe. It adds to the credibility of the park and enhances its appeal to tourists interested in industrial history.

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Science & Technology   Science & Technology History & Anthropology   History & Anthropology Industrial heritage

#12 Science & Technology in Wales #50 History & Anthropology in Wales

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Visitor information Rhondda Heritage Park

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Location & Map

Coed Cae Road, Pontypridd

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Rhondda Heritage Park Reviews

Rhondda Heritage Park has 2 ratings.

We traveled over an hour to visit the Rhondda Heritage Park only to be told when we arrived that the only thing we were allowed to see was the exhibition inside. We were refused entry to everything else because they were getting ready for a Halloween event the week after. The lady at the desk wasn’t interested in talking to us at all, I explained how far we had traveled and that nothing was mentioned on their website about the restrictions or that I had rang their number four times that morning during their opening hours and nobody answered the phone. There was no apology. I could see that she was using the computer to do her Christmas Shopping and that’s all she seemed to be bothered about. Extremely disappointed.

Visited on 25 Oct 2018

This rating is based on the rating of this museum on several other platforms.

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WHERE TO FIND SANTA IN CARDIFF

No festive Season is complete without meeting the big man himself! Father Christmas will be making his way to Cardiff very soon and has agreed to meet all of the good boys and girls in various locations in the city.

Where will you be heading? Read our guide below and pick your favourite grotto!

SANTA’S VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS AT CARDIFF CASTLE

Santa will return to Cardiff Castle this Christmas for a limited run of exclusive private tours.

Introduced in 2020 as a way of providing a magical private visit to Santa for small groups, these exclusive tours are designed to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. Discover more here .

SANTA’S WORKSHOP AT THE ROYAL MINT EXPERIENCE

During the Christmas Season when Santa and his elves are at their busiest, the workshop in the North Pole is at capacity.

Santa has been using The Royal Mint, the original maker, as a satellite office for hundreds of years. For Christmas 2021, we are hosting a unique event, where children will discover how letters to Santa are sorted, and how toys are designed and built alongside currency for over 60 countries. They’ll even get to meet the man himself! Open 7 Days a week 9am – 6pm starting from the 19th of November. Tickets will go on sale from early October. More information here .

SANTA’S GROTTO ON QUEEN STREET

Get away from the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and visit Santa!

Housed in a traditional wooden chalet, dressed perfectly for the festive season, children can meet Santa and his elves. It is open 7 days a week from 10:30am and a ticket includes a gift from Santa. More information here .

SANTA’S TOY MINE AT RHONDDA HERITAGE PARK

Santa will make it back to a very festive A Welsh Coal Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park in 2021. Guests can enjoy a magical Christmas tour, the chance to speak to Father Christmas himself and get a sELFie with him and, of course, an age-appropriate gift for all children.

A Welsh Coal Mining Experience will once again be transformed into a Christmas wonderland – it’s the perfect chance to celebrate the most wonderful time of year in a traditional, but safe, way. Book online here.

BELIEVE AT ST DAVID’S CARDIFF

This Christmas, St David’s Dewi Sant is hosting a brand-new exciting experience, inviting families to discover the magic of the festive season.  Believe, St David’s wonderous Christmas grotto, will be open from Friday 26th November until Christmas Eve, with tickets going on an exclusive pre-sale for registrants from Monday 6th September.

Guests are welcomed into a mystical cavern where they’ll meet one of Santa’s trusted elves, McJingles, and the magical talking reindeer, Norbert – a small creature with big dreams. Watch out, Rudolf! Discover more here .

SUNDAY LUNCH WITH SANTA AT FUTURE INN

A very special visitor will be arriving at Future Inn Cardiff Bay this festive season as Father Christmas drops by to join us for a homemade traditional Sunday lunch. He is busy preparing for Christmas Day but will make time for all the good boys and girls.

Spend some time with the family, get your Christmas jumpers on and head to the Bay for a festive  lunch with Santa. You can expect a 3-course meal followed by a meet and greet with Santa in his grotto. Book online here .

TRAVEL USING CARDIFF BUS

There’s plenty to do in and around Cardiff this Christmastime, so hop on a Cardiff Bus to join in with the festive fun.

Cardiff Bus’ family ticket is discounted on weekends and local school holidays, so families of up to 5 people (maximum of 2 adults) can travel all day for just £5.50 in Cardiff and Penarth, or £8 across the entire Cardiff Bus network.

Christmas shopping or partying with friends?  5 people can travel together with Cardiff Bus’ £10 group ticket.   Terms and conditions apply.  Visit cardiffbus.com for more details, or download the Cardiff Bus app.

For all other transport, parking & other visitor information, click here .

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Moscow Vnukovo airport (VKO)

Location details, contact information, airlines, departure and arrival flight status, transportation, facilities and services, parking, special passenger amenities, nearby hotels and answers to passengers' frequently asked questions.

 Passenger Guide

 general information.

Moscow-Vnukovo International Airport, opened on July 1, 1941, is one of the airports serving the country's capital. It operates domestic flights and international destinations in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America and the Caribbean. Official Website: vnukovo.ru

Number of Terminals - 1 - Open 24 hours a day.

Annual passenger traffic: 16.4 million passengers went through it in 2022.

Tel: +7 495 937 5555. There is an information counter on the ground floor of the terminal, next to the main entrance.

 Location

The airport is located in the Vnukovo district, 28 km (18 miles) southwest of Moscow.

 Departures

 arrivals,  airlines,  facilities and lounges,  overnight stay,  transportation,  car hire, car rental agencies.

Rentmotors (Tel +7 916 724 0455 - 8:00 am to 8:00 pm) and RexRent (Tel +7 495 981 1917 / 800 250 1213 - 9:00 am to 9:00 pm) have offices in the Arrivals Hall.

 Parking

Parking services at moscow vnukovo airport (vko).

Several parking options available. Payment is made at the stations located at the exit of each sector. More information: Tel +7 495 436 7893 / 7892. Tariffs

P1 & P2 - Multi-level facilities in front of the terminal. First 15 minutes are free. P6 - Long-stay area located in Vnukovo village, on Aeroflotskaya Street.

It is important to request assistance in advance (up to 48 hours before departure) and to describe your needs precisely. A wheelchair can be requested to move around the terminal and board the aircraft with the help of a lift. A special waiting room, induction loops for the hearing impaired, ramps and lifts are also available. More information: Tel +7 495 436 6189.

Latest updates: May 12, 2023

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