Hampshire garden centre launches gorgeous winter wonderland and grotto

And one Hampshire garden centre is embracing the festivities - competing with the big chains to be known as one of the best winter wonderlands in the county. 

Stewarts Abbey Garden Centre, in Mill Lane, Titchfield, opened its winter walk and Santa's Grotto on Saturday, November 16 for a preview weekend. 

Winter Wonderland (Image: Kimberley Barber) It officially gets underway next weekend, with Saturday, November 23 being the first day available for booking. 

The elves have clearly been working hard over the summer, as the winter wonderland walk-through, which you go through on the way to see Santa, certainly does not disappoint.

The winter wonderland - Rosanna and Eddie (Image: Kimberley Barber)

There's snow, twinkly lights, singing snowmen and much more, as well as a handy selfie spot. The cute houses offer opportunities for children to peep in and see elves hard at work. It's a really magical build-up to meeting the big man himself. 

Santa has a great grotto at Stewarts, with lots of friendly elves, and he's patient and friendly, as he talks to each child and gives them a personalised talk and gift. There's a professional snapper on hand to get the family shot and to capture the magical moment. 

After visiting Santa, Stewart's cafe offers a great lunch selection - everything from toasties to jacket potatoes through to huge wedges of homemade quiche and daily specials. 

Meeting Santa (Image: Stewarts Abbey Garden Centre)It also has great cakes on offer - huge slabs of sweet choc fudge, or victoria sponge with Christmas icing, carrot cake, or a great range of sweet treats. Their luxury milkshakes also make for appealing treats - the cream oozes as sauce drizzles out the top. 

As we are there, the cafe is packed, rammed full of regular customers who know that this place offers better grub than the nearby pubs - and at a better price too.

As well as the grotto and cafe, there's also the shop - with its great range of Christmas presents and decorations, it's difficult not to spend a fortune here, there are so many nice and shiny things. 

Its usual fare throughout the summer is the garden centre and aquatic shop, which also prove alluring - we leave with a new houseplant and vow to return for some fish. 

Toastie in the cafe (Image: Kimberley Barber) The children loved feeding the koi carp and looking in the tanks, in any usual month the aquatic shop would be enough of a trip out alone. 

Visiting a garden centre is fast becoming a Christmas staple, and Stewarts, with its cute wonderland and delicious food, is a great place to spend a family day out and find some festive spirit. 

Tickets for the wonderland and grotto cost £18.50 per child (up to 12 years old) and £3 per adult. 

It is open Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24, then reopens on Friday, November 29 through until December 24. 

To book tickets go to santa.stewarts.co.uk/abbey-garden-centre/ or call (01329) 842225.