I visited Santa experience that rivals LaplandUK – it’s cheaper, easier to bag tickets & keeps kids entertained all day

NESTLED deep in the heart of the countryside lies a magical kingdom where elves roam, reindeers prance and Christmas spirit is in abundance. 

But it's not the North Pole, instead it's one of the most-talked about Grotto events in the country.

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It was my first time visiting Tulleys' Christmas Santa Experience, and an experience, it is. 

It has a feel of Disney about it with lots of magic, imagination and interaction from the friendly elves.

It is also a great alternative to the busy LaplandUK and works out slightly cheaper too, where tickets cost from £59 per person and sell out as early as March, compared to Tulleys starting price of £34.95.

Tulleys has transformed itself over the last 30 years, from pick-your-own farm to an absolute heavyweight in seasonal events. 

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Its annual Halloween festival - Shocktober Fest - has seen it crowned the biggest scream park in Europe and it regularly wins awards for its Escape Rooms. 

We visited its Pumpkin festival back in November and were so impressed with it, we decided to give the Santa Experience a whirl. 

Set just 10 minutes off the M23 in West Sussex, the extensive site is adorned in twinkly Christmas lights - putting you in the spirit from the moment you arrive. 

The farm site itself is huge and the whole operation must be meticulously planned to execute it so well. 

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If you want a fun, festive day-out that will keep the kids entertained all day (and tire them out!) then it hits all the spots.

Set over 350 acres, there's plenty to keep you busy - from the big-top circus and elf forest, to gingerbread making, North Pole post office, reindeer food-making and the pièce de résistance - the sleigh ride and Santa meet-and-greet. 

All of the activities are included in your ticket price and each child is given a cute little booklet on arrival with a map and checklist to collect stamps as you go around. 

There's also optional extras such as the runaway train and the spinning helicopter ride - plus the ride-on diggers and tractors which remain at the Tulleys site all-year-round.

Tulleys recommends allowing five hours for the whole experience - and we don't disagree. 

It's enthralling. But busy. 

It didn't help that we went on a day when the heavens opened, forcing everyone to flee inside.

The site is so big, it reminded me a bit of a mini festival - except swap hedonistic teens for over-stimulated kids. 

But genuinely there is so much to do and see, you won't want to cut your visit short.

We went on a Sunday - the experience runs every weekend until Christmas Eve - joining the throngs of people desperate to get into the festive spirit early. 

Most were adorned in Christmas jumpers and everyone was keen to get into the spirit.

Christmas tunes echoed around the site and even the food options - provided largely by street food trucks - included festive favourites, from mulled wine and mince pies to Christmas wraps and takeaway carvery rolls.

My biggest piece of advice would be to get there early - we arrived at 10am and the car park and entry queues were already pretty heavy (the site opens from 8.45am). 

We enjoyed the circus performance best with the aerial acrobatics and cranky clown leaving the crowd wowed and giggling in equal measure. 

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And watching our delighted toddler make his own teddy bear with his 'star' from Father Christmas was a magical moment I won't forget. 

The Santa sleigh ride itself is a tractor to a cabin in the woods, weaving between the sparkling trees before elves greet you with Christmas joy. I won't spoil the rest for you.

Tickets cost from £34.95 for adults, £64.95 for children (1-13 years) and £17.95 for under 1s but expect to pay more on the day for additional extras such as food and souvenirs. 

This means you can expect to be the best part of £200 out of pocket for a family of two adults and two kids. 

So is it worth it?

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Overall we had a great time and if you break down the price of the children's ticket with all the activities they get and freebies (they can keep the build-a-bear or chosen toy from Santa's workshop, the gingerbread and reindeer food), it doesn't work out too bad as a special treat.

But Tulleys needs to make sure it doesn't get too much bigger - or risk losing that true Christmas magic forever.