Everything you need to know as Gulliver's Valley theme park reopens for Christmas: New opening times, latest rules and visiting Santa's interactive toy shop
and live on Freeview channel 276
The £37 million venue beside Rother Valley Country Park was forced to close during the second national lockdown but will be open on the first three weekends of December, starting this Saturday, December 5, and between Monday, December 21 and Wednesday, December 23.
Tier 3 restrictions mean indoor areas will remain closed but visitors will be able to enjoy the usual rides and other outdoor attractions.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThey can also take a walk through the park’s winter wonderland, complete with animatronic animals, snowmen and teddy bears, and meet the elves who are busy with their preparations for the big day in Santa's interactive workshop.
The special festive experience will end with a trip to Father Christmas’ toy store, from where children can choose a gift which comes included as part of the ticket price, and there will be appearances from Santa during the day.
Tickets, which must be booked online, are priced £23, or £17 if booked two or more days in advance, with children under 90cm tall geting in for free.
Julie Dalton, managing director of Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts, insisted staff had worked tirelessly to make the park as ‘Covid-secure’ as possible and claimed that providing a fun day out for families had never been more important.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"So many things that children enjoy have sadly been cancelled this year, from nativity plays to school discos, and families just need a bit of something to help restore the magic of Christmas, which is what we’re trying to do,” she said.
“The site looks lovely and we’re really excited about welcoming back visitors to enjoy the winter wonderland and Santa’s workshop, and to choose their present from Father Christmas.”
Safety measures like contactless entry, temperature checks and enhanced cleaning, which were introduced earlier in the pandemic, remain in place.
Families will go through Santa’s workshop and toy store one at a time, with each household given their own time slot.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdTo help everyone keep a safe distance, visitor numbers have been limited to around 30 per cent of normal capacity, but Ms Dalton said there is still plenty of availability for Christmas days out.
After December 23, the park will close until mid-January.