Bressingham museum sets for a special Christmas

A museum is on track for a great Christmas, with Santa set to host a grotto with a difference and the final episode of a documentary set to air next week.

Bressingham Steam and Gardens, which received almost £200,000 from the Government’s culture recovery fund in October, has moved ahead with its annual Christmas event, with adjustments made to keep everybody safe.

Manager Alastair Baker, 50, said: “We have two trains running and the gallopers carousel, plus Santa will be in his grotto as well.

“Distancing measures will be in place, so children can’t sit with Santa, but he can be seen and spoken to through the glass and a present will be brought out to you.”

Mr Baker said tickets, which will need to be pre-booked, will be released in batches, while the number of people on site at any one time will be limited in order to keep visitors and staff safe.

In addition to Santa and his elves, train rides will be on offer, while the museum’s Dad’s Army exhibition will be dressed up for Christmas.

The grotto will be open this weekend, and every day between December 19 and 24, with prices for the Christmas experience costing £12.50 for adults and £15.50 for children.

Christmas experience days are not the only source of excitement around the museum, as the latest episode of a documentary series, Inside the Steam Engine Museum, is due to be aired on Channel 5 on Friday, December 18, at 7pm.

The first three episodes of the series aired back in May and June, with the upcoming Christmas special marking the end of the series.