Lanterns Grotto
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Start date
December 5, 2026 6:15 pm
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End date
December 24, 2026 9:45 pm
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Edinburgh Zoo
134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 6TS
Lanterns Grotto brings Santa to Edinburgh Zoo on selected evenings from 5 to 24 December 2026. Ten-minute visit slots run from 5.15pm to 8.45pm inside the Budongo Trail building during the zoo’s Giant Lanterns event.
The grotto is an add-on experience: every visitor also needs a separate Giant Lanterns admission ticket for the same evening.
Key Event Details
| Event | Lanterns Grotto |
| Dates | Selected evenings, 5 to 24 December 2026 |
| Times | Timed slots from 5.15pm to 8.45pm |
| Venue | Edinburgh Zoo |
| Tickets | From £19.50 for one child, plus booking fee |
| Event type | Santa grotto and family Christmas experience |
What To Expect
Families meet Santa inside the Budongo Trail building while visiting Edinburgh Zoo’s after-dark lantern trail. The grotto booking covers the Santa visit, with packages available for one to four children. Adults accompanying the children do not need a separate grotto ticket, but everyone entering the zoo needs Giant Lanterns admission.
The listed grotto dates are 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 December. Giant Lanterns entry begins from 4.45pm, with last admission at 8pm and the event closing at 9pm, so choose a grotto time that fits your lantern-trail booking.
Tickets & Entry
The official prices start at £19.50 for one child, rising for packages covering two, three, or four children. A small booking fee applies. Edinburgh Zoo advises booking the grotto slot before buying Giant Lanterns tickets because Santa times can fill up first.
Location
Edinburgh Zoo is on Corstorphine Road, west of the city centre. The site is built on Corstorphine Hill, so expect slopes and outdoor walking before and after the indoor grotto visit.
Getting There
Regular buses run along Corstorphine Road from the city centre and Haymarket. There is limited on-site parking, and advance planning is useful on busy December evenings.
Our Tips
- Book the grotto slot first, then match it with Giant Lanterns tickets for the same date.
- Allow enough time to walk from the zoo entrance to the Budongo Trail building.
- Dress for an outdoor evening, even though the Santa visit itself is indoors.
- Double-check the selected date because the grotto does not run every night.
Latest details and booking: official event page.