The Flight Before Christmas, Santa Grotto experience at Cotswold Airport was amazing last year and it returns for 2024.  Held on a British Airways jumbo jet plane, the airport is just outside Kemble and not far from Cirencester.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on 29th February 2024 – ticket booking link here

Perfect for the whole family, The Flight Before Christmas takes place on board a British Airways jumbo jet.  It’s a unique theatrical experience, and consists of interactive elements throughout, workshops and a visit to Father Christmas for a story time session.

New for 2024

The Flight Before Christmas has been fully revamped, including new characters, activites and completely new sections to immerse yourself in for a magical Christmas family experience. With the new activities, the experience time has been increased to 1 hour 30 minutes.

The Flight Before Christmas Experience

• A video invitation from Father Christmas (not personalised)
• Boarding pass and passport issued at check-in in a The Flight Before Christmas branded bag
• Reindeer food making in Odin’s forge
• Letter to Father Christmas stationary set
• Candy can from the candy cane forest
• Teddy bear making activity in the toy factory
• Gingerbread biscuit decorating activity in Buckthorne’s Bakery
• Gift from Father Christmas
• Wish token

Adults aren’t left out either and will enjoy a mince pie, mulled wine and gift from Father Christmas

You will also receive a printed photo of your family with Father Christmas per booking (additional prints will be available to purchase on the day)

Northern Lights Sessions – Dedicated SEN Focused Sessions

The experienced is altered where possible to be more enjoyable for those who need a little more space and time. This includes the experience being taken at a relaxed pace, lights and sounds are dimmed where possible and the characters have a more calming approach.  One free carer ticket available per booking with proof of PIP or DLA required.

Priority Tickets Holders

The chance to board Negus 747 first and receive your elf and safety briefing in business class, where you will receive an exclusive elf entertainment session, in-flight treat and priority booking gift.

Flight Before Christmas Santa Grotto Review 2024

@redkitedays Come with us to The Flight Before Christmas, the UK’s most magical Christmas experience to meet Father Christmas onboard a jumbo jet plane. #theflightbeforechristmas #santagrotto #cotswolds #santa #believe #grotto #uniquechristmasexperience #christmas2024 #christmasevents #christmaswithkids #christmasvibes #christmasincotswolds ♬ The Polar Express – Main Theme by Alan Silvestri – Dominik Hauser

We loved our magical experience on the Flight Before Christmas at Cotswold Airport. Ranked no.2 in the Times of the 7 Best Festive Days Out in the UK we were so excited to return this year.

The adventure begins at the Elf Control Check In, where we picked up our boarding pass and North Pole Passport. Next you pass through the naughty or nice security check-in scanner, luckily it lit up green for us but there were a few parents who had been naughty and had to do a little dance.

We took our seats and the elves gave us a safety briefing, in case of an emergency, fairy just will drop from overhead!

Next, we followed our friendly elf to meet the talking snowmen and in the Forge, the children mixed magical fairy dust and oats to create the perfect reindeer food to help ensure Odin and his team of reindeer can deliver presents on time.  Lovely to have a little hands on activity before meeting Father Christmas.

After our hard work with Odin was completed, we headed along to the postroom for some more entertainment with the elves.  It was a windy evening and the plane was being buffeted so it actually felt like we’d taken off!

Disembarking from the plane, we had landed in the’North Pole’ and journey through a snowy treelined pathway to decorate Santa’s sleigh, make our own teddy bear in the toy workshop and some gingerbread fun.

We continued our travels through the candy cane forest on our way to meet Father Christmas.

With a Ho Ho Ho along the way and a big knock on the door it was then time to meet Father Christmas himself!  Santa was wonderful with the most amazing beard.  The children all took a seat while he chatted to them and told a story.  We then had the chance to pose for a photo.

We finished our Christmas experience with The Flight Before Christmas with music, magic and letter writing with the wonderful Peppermint.

The experience lasts 1.5 hours and it’s pretty fast paced so ideal for  kids who don’t like to hang around too long.

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