The Santa Experience: Operation Christmas Eve

The magic returns! The much-loved Santa Experience is back with a new festive twist this year.

This Christmas, Life brings you a magical, festive experience that you won’t find anywhere else!

Join Santa’s little helpers in a new corner of the North Pole, as the busy elves race against time to prepare for the most important night of the year – Christmas Eve!

Expect surprises and exciting live festive science experiments at the NEW Elf Show in their Christmas workshop.

As part of the experience, children will meet Santa and receive a special gift and Christmas Eve Bag (Reindeer food, hot chocolate mix and a sweet treat) to take home.

This is a new Santa Experience event and will take place on the upper level of the science centre. If you’ve visited in previous years, expect a fresh new take on this much-loved festive event!

You can visit the science centre on the day of your booking at any time between 10:00am – 5:00pm, but please ensure you check-in on time for your booked Santa Experience time slot.

You can also marvel at the wonders of the festive night sky whilst visiting the science centre, as you watch the award-winning full-dome show created by the talented Life team: What Santa Sees.

In this immersive 360°show, join Santa and his reindeer as he sets off to travel the globe on Christmas Eve. With the stars as his guide, will he make it back before dawn?

Our Play Zone will not be will not be open whilst the Santa Experience is here.

Relaxed sessions are available on certain Sundays.

If you’re interested in booking The Santa Experience for a nursey or school class, please email info@life.org.uk.

Images are for illustrative purposes and demonstrations are subject to change.

Terms and conditions

Please use the Life Science Centre main entrance on Times Square. Parking is available nearby at Times Square Car Park. Postcode for Sat Nav: NE4 7AD.

A child ticket includes a gift from Santa, and xmas eve bag and access to the science centre .

An adult includes access to the science centre. As there is limited capacity at these events, a maximum of 2 adult tickets per child can be booked.

Ideal for children aged 3 to 10. Younger and older children are welcome but must have a Santa Experience ticket. Very young children don’t need a ticket but will not receive a Santa gift or xmas eve bag and will need to sit on a grown up’s lap during the Santa experience (seats are limited).

Tickets include access to the science centre during normal opening hours. If you are booked at the end of the day, please come earlier to enjoy the centre. Age restrictions apply to some activities eg Experiment Zone. Play Zone on the upper floor will be closed during this period. See website for details.

Sorry, but refunds will not be issued if you are unable to visit the science centre on the day of your booking.

Santa Experience excludes ice rink, We strongly recommend pre-booking your skate online to avoid disappointment.

The event may be photographed and images used by Life for marketing and PR purposes. If you do not wish to be photographed, please speak to a member of staff upon arrival.

Your use of and purchase of tickets is governed by the Terms and Conditions as set out on the Life website.

It is your responsibility to check, prior to purchase, that the information you have supplied to us in respect of your online ticket requirements is accurate. We are only responsible for issuing online tickets in accordance with the information you provide.

Tickets are non-refundable or transferable.

Once purchased, the date for which your ticket has been purchased cannot be changed. Payments for tickets are non-refundable. Tickets are only valid for the date stated upon them.

On arrival at Life, the following will be required:

The name and booking reference number (provided at the time of purchase)

No online ticket may be resold without the prior written consent of Life. If any person attempts to enter Life with a ticket that has been resold without Life’s written consent, Life may refuse entry and no compensation is payable to that person by Life.

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The magic returns! The much-loved Santa Experience is back with a new festive twist this year.

Ticket prices

£25.00 per adult

£25.00 per child

Ideal for children aged 3 to 10. Child tickets include a special gift and Christmas Eve Bag (Reindeer food, hot chocolate mix and a sweet treat) to take home.

Younger and older children are welcome too but must have a Santa Experience ticket. Very young children don’t need a ticket but will not receive a Santa gift or sweet treat and will need to sit on a grown up’s lap during the Santa experience (seats are limited).

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