Special visitors arrive at Hall

Mr and Mrs Claus landed their sleigh at the popular family attraction near Wetherby, ready for their first ever joint residency.

“Tickets sold at record-breaking speed this year, with the first lady of the festive season proving to be a seasonal sensation,” said a spokesman for Lotherton Christmas Experience.

But they added that while Santa’s diary is almost full, there are still plenty of options for festive fun with Mrs Claus and the elves.

Coun Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “We’re delighted that Santa and Mrs Claus have arrived at Lotherton’s Christmas Experience ready to welcome families from Yorkshire and beyond.

“The house is dressed in its festive finery, the gingerbread is baking, carols are being sung and there’s a hint of magic in the air.

“The Christmas Experience is always special but this year feels even more so after the challenges of the last couple of years.”

Many new additions can be found at Lotherton, until January 2, including gingerbread decorating workshops with Mrs Claus in the Hall, which as ever has been decorated in its spectacular Edwardian festive finery to enchant visitors young and old.

There is also a new festive woodland walk, which replaces the previous 12 days of Christmas walk, where winding paths are filled with twinkling lights and decked out in larger than life Christmas traditions to be explored, including a giant Christmas cracker and a snow globe tunnel.

Lotherton is also playing host to Yuletide Yurts, which will be serving festive hot food and drinks during the day and then extending the Christmas cheer into a bar during the evenings and weekends.

The Yuletide Yurts will also bring more wonder and entertainment with the addition of magic shows on a weekend.

Family favourites including the secret fairy dell, Christmas crafts in the Elf Village and, of course, Santa and the wishing tree, have also returned for a Christmas filled with wonder and joy.

There are still tickets available for all other activities and general entry to The Christmas Experience, run by Lotherton and Breeze.

Santa and his wife head back to the North Pole on December 23, ready for Santa’s round the world trip. Book at www.thechristmasexperience.co.uk.