There’s no place like the Margate Caves at Christmas!About this Event
This festive season Father Christmas will be flying back to the Margate Caves for our ever-popular Christmas at the Caves event.
And this Christmas, we’re off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz!
Venture deep underground as the Margate Caves are transformed into the magical Land of Oz.
Pick up your Invitation to Oz and follow our trail, journeying past colourful Munchkinland, Scarecrow’s cornfield and the enchanted apple forest, where the Tin Man is waiting patiently for someone to find his oil can.
Next, discover a spectacular field of poppies, where the Cowardly Lion is struggling to stay awake and the Emerald City glimmers in the distance. But beware – the Wicked Witch of the West is never far away! Peer into her spell room, filled with potions, magic and mischief, before stopping for a photo with our towering Glinda & Elphaba tree.
Along the way, look out for familiar faces, hidden details and our wonderful themed Christmas trees, each inspired by a different part of Oz.
At the very end of the Yellow Brick Road, one of Father Christmas’s elves will entrust you with a magic wishing coin. Hold it tightly, make your Christmas wish and drop it deep into our enchanted wishing well.
Then hark – a bell rings! Our Chief Elf will call your name when it’s your family’s turn to visit Father Christmas in his Cosy Cave. Each family enjoys a private visit with Father Christmas, and every child ticket includes a very special Christmas gift to take home.
Now click your heels and return to the Over the Rainbow Café. Follow the Yellow Brick Road to our Oz photo point for a special festive photograph, enjoy seasonal treats in the café and browse our Christmas shop.
Then head to Auntie Em's Craft Room for some festive making before you go.
And don’t forget to post your letter to Father Christmas, making sure you tell him all your Christmas wishes!
Opening hours
10am–3pm: 28 & 29 November
10am–5pm: 5 & 6 December; 12 & 13 December
10am–5pm: 18–23 December
We don’t increase our ticket prices as Christmas gets closer!
Tickets
Tickets are £17.95 per child, plus booking fee, and include:
- Entry to our Wizard of Oz Christmas trail in the Caves
- A private family visit with Father Christmas
- A Christmas Craft Workshop session
- An all-new for 2026 Christmas gift for each child, valued at £10
Each family/group booking includes up to 2 accompanying adults FREE – you don’t need to book these adults separately. Additional adults can be booked for £5 each plus booking fee.
Babes in arms under 12 months are free when accompanying a child with a paid ticket, provided they do not require their own gift from Father Christmas. Please add a free Babe in Arms place when booking so we know they’re coming. All children aged 12 months and over require a Child ticket.
Please note that, due to the size of Father Christmas’s Cosy Cave, a maximum of six people can visit Father Christmas at one time, including children, adults and babies. Larger groups can enjoy the Christmas trail and activities together, but some adults may be asked to wait just outside during your Father Christmas visit.
Please read our Frequently Asked Questions and Terms & Conditions carefully before booking. Tickets are non-refundable and we are unable to move bookings between dates or time slots.
Christmas at the Caves supports the Caves
Christmas at the Caves is run by The Margate Caves Community Education Trust, registered charity no. 1155904.
Every ticket you buy helps preserve the Margate Caves for our community. As a registered charity, all profits from Christmas at the Caves go directly towards caring for the Caves and creating opportunities for our communuty through learning, volunteering and local activities. By supporting us this Christmas you're helping us give more back to Margate.
T&C’s
By purchasing tickets for Christmas at the Caves, you agree to the following Terms & Conditions. Please read them carefully before booking.
1. Bookings
Your booking is with The Margate Caves Community Education Trust (“The Margate Caves”).
Your booking is confirmed once payment has been successfully received and you have received your booking confirmation.
Please check your booking carefully, including the date, arrival time and children’s names, before completing your purchase.
2. Tickets and prices
The ticket prices and details of the Christmas at the Caves experience will be shown at the time of booking.
Eventbrite booking fees are charged in addition to our advertised ticket price and will be shown during the booking process.
Once your booking has been confirmed, we will not increase the price of the tickets you have purchased.
3. Child tickets, adults and babies
A Child ticket is required for every child who will receive a gift from Father Christmas.
Babes in arms under 12 months may attend free of charge when accompanying a child with a paid ticket, provided they do not require their own gift from Father Christmas. A free Babe in Arms place should be added to the booking.
If you would like a baby under 12 months to receive their own gift from Father Christmas, a Child ticket must be purchased for them.
All children aged 12 months and over require a Child ticket.
Each family/group booking includes admission for up to two accompanying adults free of charge. These adults do not need to be booked separately.
Additional adults may be added to the booking in advance for £5 per person plus booking fee.
4. Family and group bookings
Children from the same family/group who wish to visit Father Christmas together must be included on the same booking and time slot.
Please do not make separate bookings in order to obtain additional free adult places. Separate bookings cannot be combined on the day.
If there are insufficient Child tickets remaining in a time slot for all the children in your group, you will need to select another available time or date.
Only children with a valid Child ticket will receive a gift from Father Christmas.
5. Visiting Father Christmas
Due to the size of Father Christmas’s Cosy Cave, a maximum of six people may enter the Cosy Cave at one time. This includes children, adults and babies.
Larger groups are welcome to enjoy the Christmas trail and activities together. However, if your party contains more than six people, some adults will be asked to wait immediately outside the Cosy Cave during your visit to Father Christmas.
Your visit with Father Christmas will be private to your booked family/group; you will not be placed in the Cosy Cave with another booking.
6. Children and supervision
All children aged 15 and under must be accompanied by a responsible adult and remain under adult supervision throughout their visit.
The Margate Caves is a historic heritage site. For the safety of visitors, our team and the Caves themselves, visitors must follow any reasonable safety instructions given by our staff and elves.
Children remain the responsibility of their accompanying parent, guardian or responsible adult throughout their visit.
7. Arrival times and late arrivals
Your booked time is your arrival time, not the time at which you will meet Father Christmas.
After entering the Caves, you will follow our Christmas trail before our Chief Elf calls your family/group to meet Father Christmas.
Please arrive promptly for your booked time. Our sessions operate to carefully timed capacities and, unfortunately, if you miss your booked time we cannot admit you later or move you to another session.
No refund will be given if you miss your booked time.
8. Cancellations, refunds and changes to bookings
Tickets are non-refundable unless we cancel the event or you are otherwise entitled to a refund by law.
We cannot move bookings to another date or time, so please check your chosen session carefully before completing your purchase.
Children’s names are provided to our elves in advance. Please enter them carefully when booking, as names cannot normally be changed once a booking has been made.
If The Margate Caves has to cancel your booked event, we will offer you either a full refund or the opportunity to move your booking to another available date.
This does not affect your statutory rights.
9. Changes to the event
We reserve the right to make reasonable changes to the event, its activities, route, timings or other arrangements where necessary for operational, safety or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
Any significant changes affecting your booking will be communicated to you where reasonably possible.
10. Offers and discounts
Tickets, discounts and promotional offers are subject to any conditions stated at the time they are offered.
Offers may be available for limited periods or quantities and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already made.
Unless otherwise stated, offers and discounts cannot be used in conjunction with one another.
11. Behaviour
Christmas at the Caves is a family event and we ask all visitors to behave respectfully towards other visitors, our staff and volunteers, Father Christmas and his elves.
We will not tolerate abusive, threatening, aggressive or violent behaviour.
The Margate Caves reserves the right to refuse admission or require a visitor to leave where their behaviour is unsafe, abusive, disruptive or likely to adversely affect other visitors' enjoyment of the event.
The Margate Caves also reserves the right to refuse admission to, or require the departure of, any visitor who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs where we consider their behaviour or condition may present a risk to themselves, other visitors, our staff or volunteers, or may adversely affect other families’ enjoyment of the event.
No refund will be provided where admission is refused, or a visitor is required to leave, because of their behaviour.
ACCESS
Christmas at the Caves takes place partly underground within our historic Caves and unfortunately the underground experience is not fully accessible.
There are 32 steps down into the Caves, and access to the underground Caves is not possible for wheelchairs, pushchairs or buggies.
Limited buggy parking is available on site. Babies will need to be carried while underground, so visitors may find a baby carrier or sling useful.
The experience includes time exploring the Caves and there may be some waiting before your family/group is called to visit Father Christmas. If your child finds waiting particularly difficult, we recommend booking the first time slot of the day, when waiting times are likely to be shortest.
If you have questions about accessibility or your child's individual needs, please contact us before booking and we'll be happy to talk through the experience with you.
Event venue
Margate Caves, Margate Caves, Margate, United Kingdom
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