Christmas & Santa at Spilmans Review

 AD - This post has been published by our writer Gaia and is based on a visit in November 2023. Please check with venue direct for the most up-to-date-info. 

Spilmans Farm is a lovely family-run farm near Thirsk in North Yorkshire. We are big fans and never miss their pumpkin picking event in October. It's an easy 1 hour drive down the A19 from Newcastle and there is ample free parking on site. 

• Find out more and book here: Book Christmas at Spilmans

We sent our writer Gaia along to try out their Christmas experience this year. Here's how they got on.........

Christmas at Spilmans

We've had a brilliant time at Spilmans farm Christmas experience. The farm's outbuildings have been transformed into a winter wonderland complete with real Christmas trees and beautiful decorations everywhere you look.

Here are our highlights:

🎄 Christmas crafts with super helpful elves

🎄 Interactive Christmas performance where kids listen to a and get involved in a Christmas challenge

🎄Once the challenge is solved enter the elves workshop - it ‘snows’ as you enter!

🎄 Beautiful festive decorations and real trees

🎄 Free mulled wine/alcohol free cider (hot chocs and coffees for sale too) for the grown ups 

🎄 Lots of moving around dancing so little ones don't get bored 😂

🎄Laughs for the adults too - the elf dancing medley was hilarious

🎄Brilliant, authentic Santa who reads kids a story

🎄Fantastic toy shop that the kids get to pick their toy from

🎄Marshmallow toasting on fire pits (included at no additional cost) 

🎄It is a premium Christmas Experience - Adults from £19.95, kids from £24.95, toddlers from £9.95

🎄Best for younger kids or those who love stage shows with interactive singing and dancing elements

Christmas & Santa at Spilmans Review 

I will start by saying that this isn't a cheap day out HOWEVER you really don't have to spend any extra once you are there and feel like you get lots included. Marshmallow toasting, a hot drink, Santa visit, interactive show, premium gift and crafts are all included in the experience. 

When you arrive you walk through a Christmas tree lined path to the craft room, which is lovely and festive with more Christmas trees and a little a sleigh which kids can sit in and have a photo taken.

You get a free mulled wine or non alcoholic mulled apple drink when you arrive, and you can buy additional hot chocolates and coffees (hot choc with marshmallows and cream was £3.50).

We got our hot drinks and sat down to do some Christmas crafting with a very helpful elf.

There was no limit to how much you could craft within the 15-20 mins we had before the show started - Ada decorated a wreath, Christmas tree and did some colouring in.

We were then called into the barn for the first part of the Christmas show which involved a story about a brother and sister who were trying to find a key to unlock a portal to the North Pole.

The actors were great at getting the kids to join in and move around the room completing tasks to unlock the magic. Once they'd found the key the next room was opened and this was a magical elf workshop with lots more trees, beautiful white paper stars and even (fake) snow!

 The performance by the elves in this room was hilarious, there's a dance medley by one elf which had everyone laughing, and we were all up dancing by the end!

The final act takes the children through a Christmas tree lined corridor to Santa's grotto. They all sat down on cushions and Santa read them a story.

Santa was brilliant, he had a lovely manner, looked the part and crucially, he had a real beard! There was time for a chat and a photo at the end, and a golden ticket which you could hand in to choose a toy.

 They then let you go and choose your toy and wow, what a selection! There is basically a toy shop which kids can choose any toy they want from. 

Ada went for a Lego-esque farm, which she was delighted with.

• Find out more and book here: Book Christmas at Spilmans

We popped into the cosy cafe for a late lunch of pulled pork and stuffing sandwiches (£6 each) and chips (£2.99). They also do things like sausage sandwiches, loaded fries, and soup, plus they had a selection of cakes and of course hit and cold drinks.

The pulled pork sandwich with stuffing, apple sauce and gravy was honestly the best I think I've tasted, with deliciously flavoured slow roasted meat.

We ended the day with marshmallow toasting outside, on one of the three firepits. It was the perfect end to a perfect, Christmassy day! Marshmallow toasting is included in your visit at no additional cost. 

I'd recommend Spilmans Farm Christmas to anyone looking for a festive experience that is fun, magical and creative.

We were there for 3 hours in total - the Christmas experience lasted 1.5-2 hours but we got there early and were able to enjoy more of the crafts (at no cost) and stayed afterwards for lunch in the cafe. 

Every staff member we met was so lovely, enthusiastic and good at their job, which made it all come together so well.


It's definitely a premium Christmas experience and it's not cheap,  but this is reflected in the quality of everything from the decorations to the performance and the toys they get to choose from, we feel the ticket cost is worth it.

We felt so festive and had a great afternoon together making new Christmas memories.