Santa Zooms in to save lockdown Christmas at Bamburgh Castle

With the castle’s first-ever Christmas Kingdom experience scuppered, virtual one-to-one meetings with Father Christmas will be taking place from his enchanting workshop at the castle.

Bamburgh Castle Christmas coordinator Karen Larkin said: “We were due to start the castle’s first ever personalised Father Christmas experiences with children from November 21.

“With the nation about to go into lockdown again, we thought we’d have no option but to cancel Christmas, leaving boys and girls disappointed. But Father Christmas has saved the day, coming to Bamburgh today to get to grips with technology so he will still be able to connect with children around the world from the castle walls.

“Bizarrely, I think it will make the experience even more unique and using technology will allow us to reach out Bamburgh Castle’s magic to even more people including those who may be shielding, so we can still share some Christmas joy and help lift people’s spirits in these difficult times.”

She added: “Father Christmas loves Bamburgh so much he even came here for his summer holidays where he signed special festive contracts with boys and girls who have promised to be good so they can meet him at his special Northumberland workshop in the castle’s Victorian stables. He didn’t want to let anyone down, which is why he has bravely embraced technology to make sure Christmas can go ahead.”

As well as a virtual personalised meeting with Father Christmas, children will magically receive a special gilded Bamburgh coin and a bag of reindeer moss to feed Santa’s reindeer who will be visiting over Christmas once lockdown restrictions are lifted.

The castle plans to reopen their doors following the lifting of lockdown restrictions from December 2, when children can book traditional Father Christmas experiences in person – social distanced of course. Father Christmas will be joined by a herd of reindeer who will help to nibble down the castle’s ancient lawns in the run up to Christmas Day.

For more information about Bamburgh Castle’s virtual Father Christmas experiences visit www.bamburghcastle.com

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