Lotherton

Is it right for my child?

• Animals: Wildlife World has Humboldt penguins, flamingos, a tapir and capybaras, and its latest additions include wallabies.
• Bird flu: on 12 November, Lotherton said the upper penguin viewing walkway was closed until further notice.
• At Christmas: the 12 Days Walk winds through Captain’s Wood. There is also a Fairy Dell, a decorated Hall, lit formal gardens and an Elf Village with a firepit.
• Sensory notes: Wildlife World’s Nocturnal House is kept dark, behind plastic screen curtains. The Christmas Experience is mainly outdoors and can be muddy and wet.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Book Santa first, because the ticket hub says Santa slots sell out first. Everyone, including members and babies, also needs an entry ticket.
• Arrive at least 40 minutes before your Santa slot. If you arrive after it has started, it cannot be moved or refunded.
• Pushchairs are not allowed in the Hall or during Santa’s North Pole sessions.
• Wear warm layers and wellies, because some woodland paths are uneven.
• At Christmas, bring only a small snack for little ones, and save bigger picnics for after your visit.
• The ticket terms say visitors must stay on the lit paths and dogs must be on leads. Apart from assistance dogs, dogs are not allowed in the Hall, Wildlife World, the playground, the North Pole or the Elf Village.

Prices and tickets

Everyone visiting during The Christmas Experience needs a Christmas Experience Entry ticket. The ticket hub lists:

• Estate Entry, 21 November to 24 December: £12.50 per adult and £7.75 per child aged 3 and over. Children aged 0 to 2 inclusive are free but need a free ticket. Some pages say “under 2’s free”, and the terms call 18 plus an adult, so check ages 2, 16 and 17 when booking.
• Santa’s North Pole (evenings, weekends and school holidays): per child, £16.95, £19.95 or £25.95 by date. On 12 November, the calendar marked 18 to 24 December as the top band.
• Santa’s Cabin: a gentler visit for pre-schoolers, £12 per child, on weekday daytimes in term time.
• Add-ons: Elf Crafts cost £6 per craft. The 30-minute Magic Show costs £6 per person, on Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays.
• Fees and refunds: the terms list a 10% booking fee, kept even if you get a refund. They say tickets generally cannot be exchanged or refunded. Named exceptions include a cancelled or materially altered event or an estate closure, and statutory rights still apply. The FAQ adds that, given a week’s notice, staff will try to exchange tickets if there is space.

Santa visits, Elf Crafts and Magic Shows only run before Christmas Day. The FAQ says Santa, elves and Magic Shows do not run between 24 and 27 November. The price calendar lists 27 November as a Santa date, so check availability. No separate entry prices are published for 27 December to 3 January.

Members: Lotherton members get free Christmas entry but still need a booked ticket. From 21 November to 24 December, Breeze Pass child entry is £6.75.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

At Christmas, Lotherton says most main paths are firm, wide and suitable for prams, and buggies are welcome on the 12 Days Walk. Babes in arms visiting Santa with a sibling need no Santa ticket. They cannot join Mrs Claus’s activities and get no gift unless you book them one.

Baby changing is in the café, the courtyard toilets and inside the Hall, and Lotherton is breastfeeding friendly. There are accessible toilets in the Hall and café, plus a Changing Places toilet in the Stables Courtyard.

Food and drink

The Stables Café serves hot and cold drinks, meals and snacks. On some dates it closes before the walk, and hot food stops an hour before closing.

Getting there and parking

The address is Lotherton Lane, Aberford, Leeds LS25 3EB. At Christmas, free parking is included with every ticket, in the field car park. The hard standing car park is for access needs and Blue Badge holders, who should show their badge to the team on arrival.

By bus: buses 64 and 64A run to Aberford from Leeds city centre. Lotherton’s pages give a 20 to 30 minute walk from Aberford, along a public road with limited footpaths. By train: Garforth station is 4 miles away, about 10 minutes by taxi.

When to visit

On 12 November, the prices page listed these hours:

• Weekends from 21 November to 20 December, and 18 to 23 December: the 12 Days Walk opens at 9.30am and closes at 8pm, or 7pm on Sundays.
• Monday to Friday, 27 November to 17 December: the walk opens at 9.30am and closes at 7pm, or 8pm on Fridays.
• 23 to 26 November and 27 December to 3 January: the walk runs 10am to 6pm, the Hall 10am to 5pm.
• Christmas Eve: the walk, Elf Village, Hall, Wildlife World and café close at 4pm. Last estate gate entry is 2.15pm.
• Wildlife World: every Christmas hours table lists 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3.15pm.

Additional needs and disability support

Lotherton publishes access information and visual stories.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lotherton open at Christmas?

Yes, for The Christmas Experience from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. It is closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January.

How much does it cost to see Santa at Lotherton?

Santa’s North Pole costs £16.95 to £25.95 per child, by date, and Santa’s Cabin £12. Everyone also needs an Estate Entry ticket.

Is the playground open at Lotherton?

Only partly. A large section of outdoor play is closed while a new adventure playground is built. The timber play area is unavailable, but the fenced play area for younger children remains open.

Can you take a pushchair to Lotherton?

Yes, on most main paths and the 12 Days Walk, but not in the Hall or Santa’s North Pole.

Is Lotherton good for autistic children?

Lotherton runs a relaxed early opening on the 9th of each month and publishes visual stories. The ticket hub listed one relaxed Santa visit, on 3 December 2026.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official Lotherton pages for visiting, access, grounds and The Christmas Experience, and the Leeds Ticket Hub prices and opening times, FAQs and relaxed Santa pages. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.