Christmas Events for Kids in Plymouth (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

4 min read

For 2026, we confirmed 8 Christmas events for kids in Plymouth. The season opens on 12 November with City Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On and runs until 3 January with Plymouth Winter Wonderland. One of these is free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in the UK.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Plymouth: 8
  • First: City Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On, Plymouth, 12 November
  • Free events: Barbican Christmas Lights Switch-On

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by area, with the date, time, price and the small things parents ask about (booking, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Plymouth

Kids’ Christmas events
8 confirmed for 2026
Areas
Plymouth
Season
12 November to 3 January
Free events
1
Last checked

Christmas events for kids in Plymouth

Listed soonest first: 8 confirmed events in Plymouth.

Christmas parade

City Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On

Expand to see the parent tip

Local dance, theatre and singing groups perform on the Piazza stage from 4pm. The countdown to the switch-on starts at 6.25pm, led by the Lord Mayor with Santa and Cinderella and Prince Charming from the Theatre Royal panto. A new illuminated canopy over the Piazza has nearly 20,000 LEDs, and a 25ft real tree stands in Old Town Square.

The event area is flat and paved, and an accessible viewing platform is available first come, first served.

Parent tip: The busiest time is 5.45pm to 6.45pm. Civic Square opposite the Civic Centre is quieter and has benches.

Host
Visit Plymouth (opens in a new tab)
Where
The Piazza, Armada Way, Plymouth PL1 2AA (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Visit Plymouth (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 7 more Plymouth events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 5 Lights
  • 4 Santa
  • 3 Shows
  • 2 Crafts
  • 1 Free

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Christmas lights

Drake Circus Christmas Lights Switch On

Details, tips and host

Festive activity at Drake Circus starts at 4pm, with snow flurries, roaming bubble fairies, a polar bear, frost fairies and family photo opportunities. The official switch-on takes place in the Atrium at 6pm.

Host
Drake Circus (opens in a new tab)
Where
Drake Circus, 1 Charles Street, Plymouth PL1 1EA (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Drake Circus (opens in a new tab)

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Meet SantaFree

Barbican Christmas Lights Switch-On

Details, tips and host

The Plymouth Waterfront Partnership runs an afternoon of festive family fun from 12pm to 6pm on the Barbican and around Sutton Harbour, with traders selling locally made goods. The lights switch-on is in the evening.

The activities and entertainment are free.

Host
Plymouth Waterfront Partnership (opens in a new tab)
Where
The Barbican and Sutton Harbour, Plymouth (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Plymouth Waterfront Partnership (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas lights

Christmas at Saltram

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Christmas at Saltram has a family trail in the garden, magical displays in the garden follies, and a decorated orangery and castle folly for family photos. Choirs sing outside the front of the house on December weekends, and hot chocolate and festive treats are served in a festive tipi and the cafes.

Father Christmas cannot visit this year. There is no extra cost for the decorated house and garden, but standard admission applies to non-members, parking is £3 per vehicle, and house visits need a pre-booked timed ticket.

Parent tip: Garden-only visits do not need a booking, but house visits need a timed ticket.

Host
National Trust Saltram (opens in a new tab)
Where
Saltram, Saltram, Plympton, Plymouth (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with National Trust Saltram (opens in a new tab)

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Meet Santa

Plymouth Winter Wonderland

Details, tips and host

Plymouth Winter Wonderland runs in Central Park from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and is closed on Christmas Day. Entry is £1 per person. Games, rides, inflatables and food and drink are pay as you go, and pre-booked ice skating has no entry charge.

Santa's Grotto can be pre-booked, and walk-ups are accepted subject to availability. Check the grotto price and opening times when you book.

Host
Plymouth Winter Wonderland (opens in a new tab)
Where
Central Park, Plymouth PL2 3DG (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Plymouth Winter Wonderland (opens in a new tab)

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Panto or Christmas show

Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas

Details, tips and host

Theatre Royal Plymouth stages Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas for a season from 26 November to 27 December 2026. The suggested age range is 3 to 7 years, which makes it a first theatre trip for many young children.

Use the theatre's booking page for ticket prices and showtimes.

Host
Theatre Royal Plymouth (opens in a new tab)
Where
Theatre Royal Plymouth, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Theatre Royal Plymouth (opens in a new tab)

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Santa’s grotto

Santa's Grotto at Boringdon Hall Hotel

Details, tips and host

The experience includes a dance performance, a festive afternoon tea, Christmas activities such as gingerbread decorating, and a visit with Santa to receive a present. Sessions run on Sundays 29 November, 6, 13 and 20 December, from 12:30 to 14:30 and 15:30 to 17:30.

Children aged 2 to 16 pay 25 pounds and adults pay 42 pounds.

Host
Boringdon Hall Hotel (opens in a new tab)
Where
Boringdon Hall Hotel, Boringdon Hill, Plymouth PL7 4DP (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Boringdon Hall Hotel (opens in a new tab)

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Panto or Christmas show

Cinderella

Details, tips and host

Theatre Royal Plymouth announced Cinderella as its 2026 pantomime, produced by Crossroads Pantomimes, with costumes from the London Palladium.

The season runs from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 at the theatre on Royal Parade, with tickets from £18. Check the theatre's booking page for showtimes and age guidance before you choose a performance.

Host
Theatre Royal Plymouth (opens in a new tab)
Where
Theatre Royal Plymouth, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Theatre Royal Plymouth (opens in a new tab)

New events in Plymouth every week

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More Christmas events for kids in the UK

A story for the trip home

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Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolour. Ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon.co.uk (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Plymouth: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Plymouth?

For 2026, we confirmed 8 Christmas events for kids in Plymouth, each on its host’s own page: Christmas at Saltram, City Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On, Plymouth Winter Wonderland and 5 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Plymouth?

Yes. One of the 8 events here is free: Barbican Christmas Lights Switch-On. Check the listing in case you need to book or register.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Plymouth?

Where to see Santa: City Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On, Plymouth Winter Wonderland, Santa's Grotto at Boringdon Hall Hotel and 1 more. Check the listings above for times and booking.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on 5 November 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

The story of Christmas in Plymouth

Theatre Royal Plymouth will have staged Cinderella nine times, counting the 2026/27 show, since its first panto season in 1982/83. The Barbican lights once followed a Thanksgiving service at the Mayflower Steps.

Cinderella nine times and Danny La Rue on the Royal Parade

Princess Margaret opened Theatre Royal Plymouth in May 1982. Its first panto season was 1982/83, with Cinderella. The Panto Archive counts 45 seasons up to 2026/27, and Cinderella is the most staged title, nine times, ahead of Dick Whittington with seven. Danny La Rue appeared in three of them, in 1984/85, 1994/95 and 1999/00. The venue has a 1,300-seat main auditorium, plus The Drum with 200 seats and The Lab with 50.

Thursday 13 November 2025, Santa and the Lord Mayor on the Piazza

The city centre lights came on at the Piazza on Thursday 13 November 2025. Entertainment started at 4pm and the countdown began at 6.25pm. The Lord Mayor, Santa and Mrs Doubtfire from the Theatre Royal panto joined in, along with the cast of Scrooge! The Musical. On the Barbican, Santa arrived by boat with the RNLI on Saturday 15 November and the lights went on at about 5.15pm. Winter Wonderland ran in Central Park from 21 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, and the Christmas Market had up to 60 chalets on Armada Way from 27 November to 21 December.

A Mayflower tree and a 20,000 LED canopy

In 2014 the Barbican lights switch-on followed a short Thanksgiving service at the Mayflower Steps, with a wreath laid at 5.30pm and the Mayflower Christmas tree on Barbican Parade as the focus. In 2026 a new canopy over the Piazza has nearly 20,000 energy-efficient LEDs, and a 25ft real tree stands in Old Town Square. Winter Wonderland has a real ice rink, and 2025 sessions lasted 45 minutes. Tuesday first sessions were quiet, with music off and the lights fixed to one colour.

Traditions today

  • The Theatre Royal panto: Cinderella plays from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. It is the ninth time the theatre has staged the title, if the Panto Archive count is right.
  • City centre lights switch-on: The Piazza switch-on is on Thursday 12 November 2026, with the countdown from 6.25pm, plus Santa and the panto's Cinderella and Prince Charming.
  • Barbican lights and Santa by boat: The Barbican switch-on is on Saturday 14 November 2026. In 2025 Santa landed by RNLI boat near the Mayflower Steps.
  • Winter Wonderland in Central Park: Runs 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 with ice skating, a pre-bookable Santa's Grotto and rides, and is closed on Christmas Day.
  • The Piazza Christmas Market: Thursday 26 November to Sunday 20 December 2026 in the city centre.
  • Christmas at Saltram: A decorated house and garden with a family trail from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.

A fact for kids

Plymouth's biggest panto favourite is Cinderella, staged nine times since 1982. Santa has arrived at the Barbican lights by boat with the RNLI.

Questions about Christmas in Plymouth

When does Cinderella start at Theatre Royal Plymouth in 2026?

Cinderella runs at Theatre Royal Plymouth from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, with tickets from £18. The theatre is on Royal Parade. Check the theatre's booking page for showtimes and age guidance.

Who is in the 2026 Cinderella at Plymouth?

The Panto Archive names Will Young and Ross King in the 2026/27 cast. Crossroads Pantomimes produces the show and the costumes come from the London Palladium. Casting was due to be announced during 2026, so check the theatre's own page for the full line-up before you book.

How many times has Plymouth staged Cinderella as its panto?

The Panto Archive lists Cinderella nine times across 45 seasons, from 1982/83 to 2026/27, the most of any title. Dick Whittington comes next with seven, and Aladdin and Snow White have five each. Goldilocks and the Three Bears has been staged just once, in 2023/24.

When did Theatre Royal Plymouth open?

Princess Margaret opened Theatre Royal Plymouth in May 1982. The main auditorium has 1,300 seats, and the building also has The Drum with 200 seats and The Lab with 50. Its first panto season was 1982/83, with Cinderella, so the theatre has been staging Christmas shows since its first winter.

What should I know about Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas at the Theatre Royal?

It runs from 26 November to 27 December 2026, with an age guideline of 3 to 7 years. Check the theatre's booking page for ticket prices and showtimes. It suits younger children who are not ready for a full panto.

When is the Plymouth city centre Christmas lights switch-on in 2026?

The switch-on is on Thursday 12 November 2026 at the Piazza on Armada Way. Performers start from 4pm, and the countdown begins at 6.25pm with the Lord Mayor, Santa, and Cinderella and Prince Charming from the Theatre Royal panto.

Where is the quietest place to watch the Plymouth lights switch-on?

The busiest time is 5.45pm to 6.45pm. Civic Square, opposite the Civic Centre, is a quieter spot with benches. The event area is flat and paved, though some routes slope, and an accessible viewing platform is available first come, first served. Questions can go to Eventaccess@plymouth.gov.uk.

What happens at the Drake Circus switch-on in 2026?

Drake Circus starts festive activity at 4pm on Thursday 12 November 2026, with snow flurries, roaming bubble fairies, a polar bear, frost fairies and family photo opportunities. The official switch-on is at 6pm in the Atrium.

Which day is the Barbican Christmas lights switch-on in 2026?

The Barbican and Sutton Harbour switch-on is on Saturday 14 November 2026, with family activities and entertainment from 12pm to 6pm and the lights going on in the evening. The activities and entertainment are free. The Plymouth Waterfront Partnership organises it.

How did Santa arrive at the Barbican in 2025?

Santa arrived by boat with help from Plymouth's RNLI on Saturday 15 November 2025, landing near the Mayflower Steps at about 4.30pm. The Lord Mayor and guests switched the lights on at about 5.15pm. Activities included face-painting, a bouncy snow globe and Christmas storytelling in The Maritime.

What does the Mayflower have to do with Plymouth's Christmas lights?

In 2014 the Barbican switch-on followed a short Thanksgiving service at the Mayflower Steps, celebrating Plymouth's ties to the United States. A wreath was laid at 5.30pm and the Mayflower Christmas tree on Barbican Parade was the focus. The lights came on just after 6pm, followed by carols and a visit from Santa.

When is Plymouth Winter Wonderland in 2026 and how much is it?

Plymouth Winter Wonderland runs in Central Park from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 and is closed on Christmas Day. Entry is £1 per person. Games, rides, inflatables and food are pay as you go, and pre-booked ice skating has no entry charge.

What did Plymouth Winter Wonderland have in 2025?

The 2025 season ran from 21 November to 4 January and had an undercover ice rink with 45-minute sessions and a daily Christmas disco. There was also Santa's Enchanted Grotto through the North Pole, Enchanted Forest and Elves' Workshop, a new Alpine Ski Lodge, local food stalls and an expanded fairground.

Is there a quiet ice skating session in Plymouth?

In 2025 the first session on Tuesdays until the school holidays was a quiet session at Winter Wonderland, with the music off and the lights fixed to one colour. Skate aids could be pre-booked, and Ice Marshalls helped skaters. Check the 2026 Visit Plymouth page for this year's session times.

Is there a Christmas market in Plymouth?

Yes. The 2026 Plymouth Christmas Market is at the Piazza in the city centre from Thursday 26 November to Sunday 20 December. In 2025 it had up to 60 wooden chalets on Armada Way, free entry, a traditional carousel, a giant snowglobe and a big wheel.

Where can children meet Santa in Plymouth?

Winter Wonderland has a pre-bookable Santa's Grotto, with walk-ups accepted subject to availability. Boringdon Hall Hotel runs a grotto on Sundays 29 November, 6, 13 and 20 December 2026 with afternoon tea and a present for £25 per child.

What is included in the Boringdon Hall Santa's Grotto?

The 2026 experience includes a dance performance, a festive afternoon tea, Christmas activities such as gingerbread decorating, and a visit with Santa to receive a present. Children aged 2 to 16 pay 25 pounds and adults pay 42 pounds. Sessions run 12:30 to 14:30 and 15:30 to 17:30 on four Sundays.

Does Father Christmas visit Saltram in 2026?

No. The National Trust says he cannot visit Saltram this year. Christmas there still runs from Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 with a family trail in the garden, displays in the follies, and choirs on December weekends. Parking is £3 per vehicle, and house visits need a timed ticket.

Besides Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas, where else can young kids go for Christmas in Plymouth?

Winter Wonderland has a grotto, ice skating and rides, and Saltram has a garden family trail. Children aged 3 to 7 can also see Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas at Theatre Royal Plymouth until 27 December 2026. The Barbican switch-on on 14 November has free activities from 12pm to 6pm.

Where can we spend Christmas Day in Plymouth?

Plymouth Winter Wonderland is closed on Christmas Day, so it is not an option. Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas runs to 27 December and Cinderella from 4 December, so both can fill the days around it. Check each venue directly for any other Christmas Day openings.

Sources

  1. Theatre Royal Plymouth pantomime announcement, Theatre Royal Plymouth
  2. Cinderella listing, Visit Plymouth
  3. Plymouth pantomime archive, Panto Archive
  4. 43 years, Theatre Royal Plymouth
  5. Plymouth lights up the city centre with the Christmas switch on celebrations, Visit Plymouth
  6. Winter Wonderland set to return to Central Park for 2025, Visit Plymouth
  7. Plymouth gearing up for a Christmas spectacle with all new market experience, Visit Plymouth
  8. Christmas on the Barbican begins this weekend, Visit Plymouth
  9. Waterfront Christmas lights switch on will follow Thanksgiving service, The Devon Daily
  10. City Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On, Visit Plymouth
  11. Plymouth Winter Wonderland, Visit Plymouth
  12. Santa's Grotto at Boringdon Hall Hotel, Visit Plymouth
  13. Christmas at Saltram, National Trust
  14. Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas, Visit Plymouth
  15. Barbican Lights Switch-On, Visit Plymouth
  16. Drake Circus Light Switch On, Visit Plymouth
  17. Plymouth Christmas Market event information, Visit Plymouth
Kelsey Cecil
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