Christmas at Finkley Down Farm runs 28 November to 24 December 2026. Last year's free Santa's Post Office in the Chantry Centre has no 2026 dates yet.

The one Santa’s grotto near Andover with confirmed 2026 dates is Christmas at Finkley Down Farm, from Saturday 28 November to Thursday 24 December 2026. The free option families used last year, Santa’s Post Office in the Chantry Centre, has not been announced for 2026 yet. Here is what each involves and what is still to come.

The quick answer

  • Finkley Down Farm: Saturday 28 November to Thursday 24 December 2026. Book online; the ticket includes a gift and a full day on the farm.
  • Free last year: Santa’s Post Office in the Chantry Centre, on selected dates from 21 November to 22 December 2025, with quiet sessions on Sunday mornings.
  • 2026 dates for the town centre Santa events are expected with the council’s Christmas programme in November.

Christmas at Finkley Down Farm

Finkley’s Christmas page lists two versions, both running from 28 November to 24 December 2026:

  • Christmas at Finkley, about 40 minutes. Children decorate festive treats with Mother Christmas, make reindeer food, write letters, go on an elf hunt, choose a gift and meet Father Christmas in the Animal Barn, which is turned into a Christmas forest. Sessions are limited to six children, and each child or family group meets him on their own.
  • Mini Christmas at Finkley, about 15 minutes, on term-time dates only, aimed at younger children.

Every ticket includes full-day entry to the farm, a free children’s hot chocolate and a gift. Babies under one go free with an older brother or sister. Arrive 15 minutes before your slot, because late arrivals cannot be fitted in, and give 48 hours’ notice to cancel. The farm is card only, no Amex. Prices are shown only in the booking system.

Santa’s Post Office, Chantry Centre

Test Valley Borough Council’s Christmas in Andover round-up for 2025 introduced Santa’s Post Office as new for that year. Children met Santa’s elves, wrote or drew a letter to Father Christmas and posted it to Lapland. It opened on selected dates from 21 November to 22 December 2025, was free, and had quiet sessions on Sunday mornings with less sound, lighting and fewer people for children who find the busy sessions too much.

The council has not yet said whether it returns in 2026. Its town centre events calendar had no entry for it on 25 September.

Other chances to see Santa in Andover

The same 2025 round-up listed:

  • Storytime with Santa at Andover Library on 15 December 2025.
  • Andover Santa Cruises from 15 to 19 December 2025.
  • The Andover Christmas Festival, which this year is on Friday 20 November from 4pm to 8pm. See our Christmas lights switch-on page for what is confirmed.

For a festive show rather than a grotto, our Andover pantomime page explains why The Lights has no Christmas panto this year and where the nearest ones are. The Hawk Conservancy Christmas Market runs from 26 to 29 November.

Still to be confirmed

  • Santa’s Post Office 2026: whether it returns and on which dates. Expected with the council’s Christmas programme, which it published on 13 November last year.
  • Finkley’s 2026 prices, shown when you choose a date to book.
  • Library and Santa Cruises dates for 2026.

Getting into town on a December Saturday? See parking in Andover and Andover roadworks.