As the Christmas season approaches, Santa will be appearing all across Greater Manchester. The MEN has picked your top ten places to see him.

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The Arndale Centre

Santa waits inside a giant Christmas gift, where children will spend their five minutes talking to him. There will be presents for those who have been good.

Outside, Santa's helpers provide chocolate lollipops and offer a gift-wrapping service for Christmas shoppers.

Open daily. Book online at www.manchesterarndale.com, £4 per child.

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House of Fraser Kendals

A full sit-down breakfast or dinner with Santa in his grotto. Children will be transported to the magical dining room where Santa waits for them, and the elves will wait on them.

This £15 offer includes a gift, photo and breakfast. The normal grotto is also open, where children can get a gift, photo and visit to Santa for only £10.

Timings and bookings on 0161 832 3414.

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Trafford Centre

Entering the wardrobe doors into the Narnia-esque winter scene, children will embark on the 4-D experience of Rocket the Reindeer. Expect to be blown away.

Santa awaits them in his magnificent Ice Palace Grotto, to talk and have a photo with each child. And of course give them a present.

See online for opening hours. Cost is £3.50 per person, or £12 for a family.

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MOSI

Father Christmas arrives on a steam locomotive before sitting in his homely lounge, surrounded by pictures of Mrs Santa. Children get five minutes and a present.

The elves will be on hand to help with the making of Christmas cards and other decorations outside the grotto.

Open weekends and daily from December 19th, tickets £5, buy on the day.

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Lowry Outlet Mall, Salford

Santa will be joined by Mrs Santa, a 40-ft Christmas tree, and a host of other Wintry characters.

Children can visit Santa in his cosy snug or do facepainting or balloon modelling with Mrs. Santa. From December 3rd, there will also be an ice rink outside the front of the Mall.

For opening times, see www.lowryoutletmall.com. Grotto entry costs £3.50.

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Chill Factor-e, Trafford Quays

A white Christmas experience waits; with real snow carpeting the floor children will be taken by the elves to see Santa, before being able to play in the snow for half an hour.

Open every day from 26th November. Cost £12 per child. Book at www.chillfactore.com

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Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire

Kids will queue through the expansive Georgian stables, in each bay encountering a new and exciting part of Santa's world.

Santa waits in the final bay with a chocolate treat for them. Send your letters to Santa in the postbox upstairs.

18-19th December, 12-3pm. Entrance to grotto free, National Trust members also park for free.

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Debenhams, Manchester

Embrace an open plan grotto, although the big armchair, the fireplace, the warm homely rug will all be there, as will reindeers and the Christmas tree.

Open daily from 27th November. Entrance free, suggested donation of £3 towards Reindeer feed.

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Lyme Park, Stockport

Santa will be swapping in his sleigh for a Victorian horse-draw carriage, and elves for his Christmas angel.

After going to the grotto, see the grounds as they were meant to be seen – from Santa's very own carriage. £3 per adult and £1 per child.

The grotto is open from 11-3 on 5th, 12th, and 19th December, and costs £5. Santa arrives at 10.45am. National trust members park for free.

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East Lancs Railway, Bury

A magical grotto aboard a steam train waits at Bury station. Santa works his way through the train, talking to all the children and giving them a present, with a small bottle of wine and a mince pie for the grown ups.

Enjoy the ride across the Irwell Valley. Trains run up to six times a day, tickets cost £10 for children, £12 for adults. Book on 0161 764 7790.

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