Santa Claus has arrived and is making his way around Liverpool this weekend

Santa Claus whas arrived in Liverpool and is making his way around our city this weekend to say hello to everyone!

Santa will be marshalled on his sleigh onto the main apron at the Airport, close to the runway.

Santa will then walk through to arrivals at Liverpool John Lennon Airport with his elves, to greet the passengers before jumping onto The Worlds Famous Grotto open top bus, where he will make his way around local schools in Liverpool to meet children so they can catch a glimpse of Santa throughout the day.

The following day, on Saturday 16^th November, Santa will take his elves onto his open top bus and visit a number of key locations across Liverpool and Birkenhead including Tranmere Rovers Football Club, Goodison Park, and Anfield. He’ll finish his journey at The World’s Famous Grotto, which will officially open on Saturday 16^th November at St Johns.

The launch event marks the Grotto’s 140th year, which is set to be its best yet. The attraction itself will take visitors on a journey throughout the ages, as The World’s Famous Grotto recreates some of its most magical and popular displays from years gone by. These festive displays include Fairyland from 1879, Peter Pan from 1935 and Magical Winter Wonderland from 1982, 1992 and 2005.

As well as meeting Santa, the grotto experience includes a special gift for every child to take home as well as a story book titled ‘The Day I Met Santa’. Visitors will also have the opportunity to take their photo with Santa and purchase special keepsake items from the gift shop, such as personalised baubles.

Guy Fennell, from The World’s Famous Grotto said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Santa Claus home to Liverpool once again! It’s our 140th anniversary year, so we really wanted to make this year extra special by recreating some of our most magical displays since we first opened all those years ago. Children and adults will love being transported through the ages as our displays of fairies, princesses, toys, elves and polar bears well and truly bring Christmas to life. We’re really looking forward to meeting everyone this Christmas and sharing plenty of festive spirit.”

Robin Tudor, Head of PR for Liverpool John Lennon Airport commented, “Colleagues in Air Traffic Control here at Liverpool John Lennon Airport are usually on standby to look out for Santa in the skies around here on Christmas Eve, so it will be a special occasion to see him fly in a few weeks earlier. We’ll ensure he is given the VIP treatment and cleared to land here in plenty time before heading off to meet lots of local children.”

The World’s Famous Grotto will open on 16th November, from 9am to 6pm. The grotto is accessible for wheelchair users and there will be an autism-friendly quiet hour every Monday and Tuesday morning for children sensitive to noise. People wishing to visit the grotto can book slots online here to avoid long waiting times, or alternatively pay on the day.

Santa’s open-top bus route on Saturday 16^th November: 

• Liverpool John Lennon Airport
• Tranmere Rovers Football Club
• Hamilton Square Gardens
• Birkenhead Dock Line
• The Pyramids, Birkenhead
• Birkenhead Town Hall
• Birkenhead Priory
• Charing Cross
• Birkenhead Park
• Goodison Park
• Aigburth
• Sefton Park
• Princes Ave
• Liverpool Women’s Hospital
• Everton
• Anfield
• Pier Head
• Liverpool Cathedral
• St George’s Hall
• Liver Building
• Museum of Liverpool
• The Beatles Story
• St Johns Shopping Centre

For more information on The World’s Famous Grotto, click here.