Santa sets up home at a historic tin mill site near Redruth

There’s a new address on Santa’s December rounds this year, and it comes with a few centuries of Cornish history attached.

Cornwall Gold, the heritage site near Redruth, is opening its first ever Santa’s Grotto. Families can meet Santa, post their Christmas letters and come away with a festive treat and gift. The tin-milling heritage the site is known for is all around them while they do it.

Grown-ups go free

The grotto is meant to be an affordable Christmas experience for local families and visitors. Children get their visit with Santa, and the adults who come with them go free.

It runs on selected dates in December. Time slots are pre-booked, between 10am and 3.50pm, so families can plan ahead and enjoy the visit without a rush.

Making a day of it

The grotto is only one part of a Christmas day out at the site. Families can explore the free Tolgus Exhibition and the historic Tolgus Tin Mill, which is the last working tin-streaming mill in Europe. They can also eat at the award-winning Cornish Pantry or try pottery painting from £6.

Pick-A-Diamond and Pick-A-Pearl are there too, and the showroom has Christmas gifts and Cornish jewellery, some of it featuring tin milled on site.

Entry to the site is free and so is parking. That gives families plenty of ways to fill a festive day without spending a fortune.

Gold panning, trails and dogs welcome

Cornwall Gold sits in 18 acres of Cornish landscape. Away from the grotto, visitors can go gold panning, follow the Tolgus Trail or visit The Bear Works. The site is dog-friendly and open daily.

How to book

Dates and booking details are on the Cornwall Gold Santa’s Grotto page. Slots are pre-booked only, so turning up on the day won’t get you in to see Santa.

📷Stock image, not taken at Cornwall Gold.