Victorian Train Station: 8 – 9, 15 – 16 and 22 – 23 December

Go along to the Magic at Milestones event in Basingstoke over the weekends of 8 – 9, 15 -16 and 22-23 December and you will also be able to visit Father Christmas in his grotto inside the waiting room at the living history museum’s Victorian train station.  Children aged 0-15 years will be able to chat to the merry, red-coated man himself and receive a festive gift to take home.

As Father Christmas will be very busy preparing for his mammoth journey around the world on Christmas Eve, families need to pre-book online or by calling 01256 477766 (up to three children per 10 minute slot).

Families visiting Father Christmas can discover the unbelievable as they walk around the museum’s Victorian streets, watch live magic shows, guess how magicians perform their astonishing tricks, make a magic wand and cast a spell, and play with optical illusions; activities will vary from day-to-day. Magic at Milestones continues until 6 January, well after Father Christmas has closed his grotto for another year.

A visit to Father Christmas is £3 per child in addition to the Milestones Museum entrance fee; adult £8.50, concession £7.50, child (aged 5 – 15 yrs) £5, family (2 adults + 2 children) £25. Father Christmas will be in his grotto over the three weekends from 11.30am until 4.45pm with last admission at 3.45pm. Entrance to the museum is free to Culture-all passport holders, www.culture-all.co.uk but grotto tickets must be purchased. For more details visit www.milestones-museum.com/magic or Tel 01256 477766.

Milestones is one of a series of museums and attractions run by Hampshire County Council – www.hants.gov.uk/tourism.