They really have pulled out all the stops this festive season
20:22, 03 Dec 2025Updated 20:26, 03 Dec 2025
Bella and Evie writing their letters to Santa(Image: Manchester Evening News)
It’s the one Christmas experience that once you’ve been, nothing else compares.
Aside from the new Lapland UK Manchester experience, for which ticket prices are in a different league, Cockfields Magical Christmas Experience is one of the region’s most sought after festive events.
Having taken my older niece a few years back, I was lucky enough to return to the farm with my other nieces Arabella and Evie – both firm believers, both habitually on the nice list (apart from the odd blip, maybe), and both already very excited for Christmas.
On the drive across Greater Manchester to Cockfields Farm Park, located on the border of Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne, the children were loud and giddy and we were all very excited to start the festive magic.
Evie, Bella and Mrs Claus(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Upon entering, we were ushered to Platform 25 by one of Santa’s Elves, and this is where the magic really begins.
You meet Chuggins, the ever-so-cheery train manager. He greets the children warmly and leads everyone onboard the dream-like interactive train ride. It’s a novel and extremely cute addition to the Cockfields experience. Families are seated in groups of four, in window seats, and as snowy scenery and a candy cane forest pass by the windows, Bella and Evie were truly captivated. It wasn’t long until we arrived in Elf Village at the North Pole.
The train to the North Pole leaves from Platform 25(Image: Manchester Evening News)
There we were welcomed by more elves. At this point the girls’ North Pole passports were collected to check the all important ‘nice list’ with Santa. Bella and Evie were called in to meet Santa in his lovely cosy living room. Santa spent a good chunk of time chatting to the girls, and discussing their Christmas wish lists. And at the end of our visit, he handed Bella and Evie a shiny gold coin, which they later got to exchange for any toy in Santa’s impressively stocked toyshop.
After the visit with Santa, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the visit had peaked, but not at Cockfields. The girls then wrote a letter to Santa and posted it in the North Pole Post Office, then we got to meet and feed Santa’s reindeer, even getting to make some reindeer food to take home for Christmas Eve.
The interactive train ride(Image: Manchester Evening News)
It was then show time and we headed to the huge barn where there was singing and dancing with two cheeky elves on stage, and the children got to build their very own teddy bears to keep.
When we needed to find somewhere to warm up, we found ourselves in a lovely cabin with an open fire, making S’mores. This is an optional extra for families to book, and a family pack of s’mores (4 x marshmallow sticks and four packets of chocolate biscuits) costs £12.95. And last but not least, we joined Mrs Claus in her kitchen and the girls got to decorate some cookies.
The girls got to have a good chat with Santa(Image: Manchester Evening News)
While not quite as hefty price tag as Lapland, there’s no getting away from the fact that ticket prices are expensive for families/groups. But in all honesty, even if you only ever go once, and it’s the only thing you take your youngster to, it’s definitely worth the money.
The whole Christmas experience is so bumper packed with fun, but not only that, you have the regular attractions like the petting farm and animal feeding available (feed is priced at £2.50 per pot), and an outdoor playground and a children’s fairground ride. Children also leave with a toy from Santa, a teddy bear and a cookie they have decorated.
There is a cafe on site, which serves a kids menu for £4.95 and adult meals for between £5 and £9.
The girls got to build their own teddy bears to keep(Image: Manchester Evening News)
There is so much to do, it’s easy to spend the full day at the attraction, which is a great experience year-round, but even bigger and better at Christmas time.
This year Cockfields has really raised the bar and created a magnificent day out for little ones and their grown ups that they’ll struggle to forget.
Tickets are priced at £59.95 for children, £46.95 for adults, under 1’s are £22.95. Weekend dates have sold out, but there are some remaining slots from December 22 to 24. Visit the website to book.