Christmas is coming - which means it's time for your little ones to pay a visit to the main man.
We all know Santa makes a flying visit to see what all the girls and boys want for Christmas, so we're making sure you know exactly where to find him this year.
We've already compiled a mammoth list of Christmas events for the family here and you can check out what pantos and shows are happening this festive season too.
READ MORE: The ultimate guide to Christmas events for kids in Manchester
Don't forget there's lots of festive fun at the Trafford Centre where Tinseltown has returned outside The Orient, with its own ice skating rink, fairground, Gandeys Snowstorm 2 show and more.
There'll also be an ice rink at Winter Funland, which is back at the BEC Arena in Trafford Park from Sunday, December 18 to Monday, January 2 and Skate Manchester is back with its biggest ever ice rink in Cathedral Gardens.
Here's our list of some of the main grottos in and around Greater Manchester
Manchester
Escape to Freight Island - Manchester's Escape to Freight Island at Mayfield Depot has once again been transformed into Winter Island for the festive season and there's a Santa's grotto to visit while you're there. See the website for more.
Heaton Park - Santa and his elves will be taking a break from Christmas duties to visit children at the Heaton Park Garden Centre. Santa’s grotto will arrive in the garden centre from December 3 and will stay until December 23. As well as getting a gift from Santa Claus himself, youngsters will be invited to join in the Santa experience by planting a Christmas tree and listening to Santa read them a story. Heaton Park’s Cafe will be serving up festive themed food and drink, complete with a new covered outside area and festive films will be shown between 11am and 3pm at weekends under the Hayloft in the Stables Courtyard. See the Facebook page for more details.
Salford
City Airport, Barton - Children have the chance to meet Santa on board an actual plane. Deck the Halls Santa's 747 Experience has opened at City Airport in Barton, which is now home to the top deck of a decommissioned British Airways plane. Tickets cost £27.95 per child, which includes access for one adult. Additional adult hangar access tickets £5 each depending on availability. Read more about it and how to book here.
Totally Christmas - A Santa's grotto is at the end of the Totally Christmas experience in Walkden Town Centre. Families choose from one of two 'magical' trails, making their way through festive themed rooms. Trail one features the likes of A Christmas Carol, Land of the Nutcrackers, Marvel and Polar Bears, while trail two includes The Grinch, Narnia, Andy's Bedroom from Toy Story and more. The idea is they find the answer to a different puzzle in each room, before moving on to the next. It opens in Walkden Town Centre shopping centre, in Salford, this Saturday, December 3 and runs until December 30. Tickets cost £18.95 for children and £12.95 for adults, with a £2.50 booking fee. Under twos and carers go free. To book, visit the website here.
Manchester River Cruises - Families can set sail at the Quays for a river cruise with Santa. The experience on the historic ship canal takes place on various dates from December 3. Tickets, from £12, can be booked online.
Trafford
The Trafford Centre - Children can meet Santa and Paddington in the Paddington Bear grotto at The Trafford Centre. Read all about the experience and how to book here.
Legoland Discovery Centre - Little ones can meet a Lego Santa as part of Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester's Christmas Bricktacular event. For an extra £5 per person on top of the ticket price, on selected dates, you can head into his grotto to have a souvenir photo taken with the brick man himself and get an 'awesome gift'. Christmas Bricktacular is running on weekends and in school holidays from December 3 to 30. Tickets, from £15, can be booked online.
Tameside
Cockfields Farm - Visitors enjoy a host of activities, including a private Santa's Grotto visit at the Cockfields Farm Christmas Experience in Ashton. The event is running on the last weekend in November, the first two weekends in December and then daily from December 17 to 24. Tickets, costing £40 for children, £20 for adults and under ones £10, can be booked online.
Stockport
Reddish Vale Farm - A visit to Santa is included in the North Pole Christmas Experience at Reddish Vale Farm in Stockport. The event is running from December 10. Tickets, costing £35.50 for kids, £15.50 for adults and £10 for under ones, can be booked online.
Bury
The Rock in Bury - it is promising 'a traditional and magical' Christmas with its Peter Rabbit Christmas Garden and Santa will be making an appearance on Saturday, December 10 and 17. See the website here for more details.
East Lancashire Railway - Families get to meet Santa on board the Santa Specials at East Lancashire Railway. The event is running on the first two weekends in December and then daily from December 17 to 24. Tickets, priced from £23, can be booked online.
Bolton
Smithills Open Farm - Santa and his elves will be at Smithills Farm every weekend in December plus Thursday 22nd, Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th December. Santa tickets are an extra £5 on usual admission and each child gets a gift. Visit the website to book.
Oldham
Lancaster Park and Animal Farm - Families are invited to journey through the 'magical Christmas grotto', join Mrs Clause for a story in her cosy cottage and write a letter to Santa inside his log cabin at the farm's Christmas event. It's running on the first two weekends in December and then daily from December 16 to 24. Tickets cost £9.50 for adults, £12.50 for children and £6.50 for babies under 12 months. Book on the website here.
Rochdale
Hollingworth Lake - Youngsters can take 'magical boat trip' to Santa's grotto at Hollingworth Lake. The Sail to Santa's Grotto experience lasts around 20 minutes from boarding the boat, filling in a letter to Santa (aboard the boat), arriving at the grotto harbour, entering the grotto and posting letter and visiting Santa and receiving present. There are a maximum of 10 places available per trip and each group of 10 people will all visit Santa together. Tickets cost £7 for children and £3 for adults, see the website to book.
Touchstones - Children can enjoy some creative fun, listen to stories and meet Santa himself. Each child will receive a gift to take home. The event is running on Saturday, December 14 and Saturday, December 21 from 10am to 4pm. Tickets from £10, see the website to book.
Wigan
Haigh Woodland Park - You'll have to be quick to book one of the last remaining places at Haigh this Christmas. To reserve a place, call 01942 828280 daily between 10am and 4pm daily.
Elsewhere
Knowsley Safari - The 'magical' light trail returns to Knowsley this Christmas and you can book a visit to Santa's grotto as part of it. To book, visit the website here.
Bents Garden and Home - There's no grotto but Santa is making regular appearances at Bents this Christmas. He will be walking around the store every day up until December 23. You can even see a map of his route on the website here.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach - For the ultimate festive experience, kids can meet Santa in person at the Christmas Grotto Wonderland at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, where they can receive a special gift ahead of the big day. They’ll also be handed a bauble-making kit, a packet of reindeer food and a magic key which they can use on Christmas Eve. The grotto also features an Alice in Wonderland themed ride where you can take a trip in a Cheshire Cat carriage. Tickets for the grotto cost £16.99 per person, if booked online in advance, and includes a gift from Santa. A grotto ticket covers complimentary entry for two accompanying adults within the grotto. For more details click here.
Alton Towers - There are two grottos to visit as part of the Christmas experience at Alton Towers this year. While it's mostly known for its wild rides and rollercoasters, come November and December the theme park transforms into a winter wonderland with its own Christmas market and special festive events. There is also the return of the popular Lightopia light trail - which boasts a series of stunning sculptures that weave you up to the old hall on the site and a spectacular light display over the lake. Alton Towers' CBeebies Land, with a raft of rides themed around the TV station's most popular characters like Hey Duggee and Octonauts, is also open on the Christmas opening dates. For more information and to book tickets, visit Family Christmas Days Out | Alton Towers Resort
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