Q1: What does this experience offer?
Old Royal Father Christmas and his granddaughter (nicknamed Helper-Bean) have made themselves a home in Greenwich this winter. Families are invited to join them for a cosy reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas, before receiving a gift and having the opportunity to take a photo with them.

Q2: Where is the show taking place?
The show takes place on the ground floor in Admiral’s House at Old Royal Naval College, a beautiful historic building overlooking the river Thames. This space is usually closed to the public and we’re excited to share it with you. It is approximately a three-minute walk from our Painted Hall and a six-minute walk from Cutty Sark DLR station (the nearest station).

Q3: What is the Old Royal Naval College?

The Old Royal Naval College is a historic site in Greenwich, London. It is renowned for its stunning architecture, rich history, and beautiful grounds, making it an ideal location for various cultural and recreational activities, including family events.

For more information and the latest news visit our website, ornc.org.

Q4: Where is the Old Royal Naval College located?

The Old Royal Naval College is located in Greenwich, London. The exact address is King William Walk, Greenwich, London SE10 9NN, UK.

Q5: What are the differences between Father Christmas sessions, Good Morning with Father Christmas sessions and Relaxed sessions?
Father Christmas Sessions are our standard sessions, lasting 40 minutes.. In these sessions, families will have the chance to interact with Father Christmas, followed by a cosy reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas by Father Christmas himself. Children will receive a present and there will be photo opportunities with Old Royal Father Christmas.

Good Morning with Father Christmas - Sessions last 30 minutes. These sessions are designed for families with very young children and babies, or children who may benefit from a slightly quieter and gentler approach. They will have the same elements as the standard session, but they will be shorter, with reduced capacity, and with calmer conversational elements.

Father Christmas - Relaxed Sessions - To reduce pressure on families and create a more relaxed atmosphere, these sessions will be drop-in. Families can arrive any time from the start of the session (up until 15 minutes before the end of the session) and stay for as little or long of the session’s duration as they like. Father Christmas will be more mobile, and sat on the floor when families arrive . He will also be paying extra care to work with adult visitors to help the children in their group engage with the content in a way that the children are comfortable with. Father Christmas is not guaranteed to read Twas the Night Before Christmas, as due to the nature of the session, it will depend on the visitors needs in each sessions. There will also be Christmas based sensory fidget toys available to use during the session. Children still have the opportunity to take photo with Father Christmas, and will receive a present.

If you have any queries, please contact us at boxoffice@ornc.org

Q7: How long does each session last?
Standard and Relaxed Father Christmas sessions last 40 minutes.
Good Morning with Father Christmas sessions run at a reduced duration of 30 minutes.

Q8: Can I drop in for a session or do I need to book in advance?

It is advisable to book your place at least a few days in advance, especially as sessions can fill up quickly. While on the day admissions are welcome if space permits, we highly recommend booking in advance to secure your spot.

Q9: How do I book a ticket?

Booking a ticket to The Father Christmas Storytelling event at the Old Royal Naval College is a straightforward process, designed to be convenient whether you prefer to do so online or in person. You can book your tickets online on our website or in-person at our tills in Painted Hall and Visitor Centre.
Q10: How do I receive the ticket?
When you purchase your ticket, you will receive an email confirmation. Please be ready to show this confirmation upon arrival, either on your phone or as a printed copy.
Q11:How much is a ticket?
The Good Morning with Father Christmas offers the following ticket options:
· Standard child ticket: £10.00 per child, with up to two adults allowed per child ticket. This includes a gift from Father Christmas.
· Non-participating Babes in arms (under 1 year old): Free when accompanying a child with a paid ticket, but they will still require a free ticket for entry. If you would like your babe in arm to receive a gift, please purchase a paid for child ticket.

The Father Christmas Storytelling performance at the Old Royal Naval College offers the following ticket options:
· Standard child ticket: £15.00 per child, with up to two adults allowed per child ticket. This includes a gift from Father Christmas.
· Non-participating Babes in arms (under 1 year old): Free when accompanying a child with a paid ticket, but they will still require a free ticket for entry. If you would like your babe in arm to receive a gift, please purchase a paid for child ticket.

The Relaxed Session performance at the Old Royal Naval College offers the following ticket options:
· Standard child ticket: £15.00 per child, with up to two adults allowed per child ticket. This includes a gift from Father Christmas.
· Non-participating Babes in arms (under 1 year old): Free when accompanying a child with a paid ticket, but they will still require a free ticket for entry. If you would like your babe in arm to receive a gift, please purchase a paid for child ticket.
·
For every session we offer universal credit tickets.

Q10: Do Babes in Arms need a ticket?
Yes, Babes in Arm require a ticket. If you are buying for a group, and you have already purchased a child ticket, and your Babe-in-Arm is non-participating, please select the free accompanying babe-in-arm ticket. If your group’s only child is your Babe-in-Arm, or you would like them to receive a gift, they will require a paid ticket.

Q12: Can we visit the Painted Hall as part of our ticket?
No, the Father Christmas event ticket does not include entry to the Painted Hall. If you wish to visit the Painted Hall, you will need to purchase additional tickets for adults. Children under 16 can visit the Painted Hall for free when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.

Q13: What time shall we arrive?
Please arrive at Admiral’s House 15 minutes before the start of your session to check in.

If you are attending a relaxed session, please feel free to arrive at any point during your session, with the last entry at fifteen minutes before the end of the session.

If you wish to arrive earlier than 15 minutes, we recommend visiting the Undercroft Café in the neighbouring King William building (where the Painted Hall is), which is 118 meters from Admiral’s House (approximately a three-minute walk). It is open 10am-5pm and offers a wide range of freshly prepared sandwiches, pastries and daily hot and cold specials.

Q14: What if I am late?
Latecomers may not be guaranteed entry, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate you in an alternative session if you miss your slot.

Q15: What ages is Father Christmas suitable for?

Father Christmas sessions are designed to accommodate a wide range of ages, with a focus on children 0-10+, making them suitable for all families. We suggest that for babies and younger children, the Good Morning Father Christmas sessions may be more suitable as they are slightly reduced in both capacity and duration, whilst still including Father Christmas’ reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas, gift and photo opportunity.

Q16: Can we take photographs?
Photographs must be taken on your own device and please only take photos of children in your group.
Filming the content of the entire session is strictly forbidden. ORNC owns the copyright for any content created within its organisation.
Q17: What should we wear?
Please wear comfortable clothes. In winter months the temperature in Admiral’s House tends to be lower than the one in modern buildings, that is due to the conservation requirements. We recommend you wear layers so you can easily adjust on the day.
Q18: Is there a cloakroom?
Unfortunately, due to limited space, we are unable to provide a cloakroom for this event. We kindly ask guests to plan accordingly and avoid bringing large bags or bulky items.
Q19: Are there any relaxed performances?
Yes, during the relaxed Christmas sessions for families, Father Christmas and his helper will be paying closer attention to how families and children are feeling and will adjust the session to their needs. These sessions work on a drop-in basis, allowing parents and children to arrive or leave at any time. Additionally, children are not expected to sit or stand still for a set amount of time. Due to the flexible nature of the session, Father Christmas may not read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’. However, children will receive a Christmas gift and can take a photo with Father Christmas.

The relaxed sessions are:
· Sunday 8 December - 3.45pm
· Sunday 15 December -10.15am
· Sunday 22 December - 10.15am

If you have babes in arms or children who may benefit from a slightly quieter and gentler approach, we recommend attending Good Morning with Father Christmas which offers a calmer, shorter and lower capacity session whilst still including the story reading, gift and photo opportunity. These sessions will be taking place every day at 9:30 am before the site opens.

Q20: Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
The venue is accessible by wheelchair. Please select the Wheelchair Access ticket when booking. Due to the historical nature of the building the Admiral's House is limited to one wheelchair access guest per performance and unfortunately electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters etc. cannot be admitted. Limited seating is available and will be on wooden wedding-type chairs with padded seats.

Q21: What other accessibility options are the for the show?
Disabled visitors are welcome to bring a personal assistant at no extra charge. Please select the Personal Assistant ticket when booking. Proof of eligibility may be required for this ticket. Please email boxoffice@ornc.org is you have any questions about accessibility or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements.

You can read more about our site accessibility here.

Q22: Are there toilets/ baby changing facilities at the venue?
There are minimal toilet facilities in Admiral’s House. As a result, we recommend visiting the facilities in the neighbouring King William building (where the Painted Hall is) which is 118 meters from Admiral’s House (approximately 3 minutes walk).

Q23: Is there a buggy park?
If you are bringing a buggy with you, please note there is limited buggy parking available in Admiral’s House. Due to capacity and fire safety, we kindly ask that where possible, you park your buggy before the event, rather than bringing your buggy into the performance space.

Q24: Is there somewhere we can get something to eat and drink?
We have a range of food and drink options on-site, whether you wish to enjoy freshly prepared sandwiches, pastries and daily hot and cold specials in the Undercroft Café or a gorgeous traditional pub in the Old Brewery. Find out more here.

Q25: What else can we do while we are at the ORNC?
As well as visiting the Father Christmas, why not see Luke Jerram’s astonishing installation Mars in the Painted Hall open between 10am and 5pm (last entry 4.30pm). Following the sell-out success of Gaia and Museum of the Moon, Mars will complete the trilogy of Jerram’s out-of-this-world installations.

if your family is still in a festive mood, you can also enjoy our The Elves and the Magic Bear sessions, designed to accommodate all families with tailored packages:
The Elves and the Magic Bear – This session is designed to immerse families into the magic of Christmas watching the story of two elves trying to save Christmas. Everyone will have the opportunity to take photos with the performers and take away a ‘nice list’ certificate signed by Mrs Claus. We also offer Relaxed The Elves and the Magic Bear sessions.

Q26: Is there parking on site?
There is no car park access on ORNC site. There is limited parking in Greenwich, particularly at weekends and we encourage you to use public transport if possible. Paid car parking is available in Park Row (SE10 9NL) and Cutty Sark Gardens (SE10 9HT).

Q27: What is your refund policy?
Our refund policy states that we do not offer refunds or allow changes to session dates in case you miss your slot. As our sessions tend to sell out quickly and are often at maximum capacity, we are unable to accommodate such requests. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to double-check your availability before booking to ensure you can attend your chosen session.