Father Christmas is appearing at Hexham Old Gaol. This is how the outside of the building looks.

Once you’ve come inside, you’ll have your name ticked off on a list by a volunteer wearing a green hat and a black apron, like these ladies.

You’ll then go into the Wish List room where you can do some colouring, write a letter to Santa, read a Christmas book or use some stickers. The room has two big Christmas trees in it with red baubles on. The lights in the room do not flash. There will be quiet Christmas music on in the background. Father Christmas will not be in this room.

Once everyone has arrived and had some time in the Wish List room (normally 10-15 mins), you’ll be taken upstairs with your family/carers. This will be in a lift and it only takes a few seconds to go up to Floor One. You’ll be shown into Santa’s Grotto.

Father Christmas won’t be there when you go in. He arrives once all of the group have been seated.

There will be no more than five other children with you plus grown ups. You can sit on a cushion on the floor, on a bench or on a chair. There are lots of fairy lights in this room but none of them will flash. There will be quiet Christmas music on in the background.

Father Christmas will come in after everyone has found somewhere nice to sit. This is what Father Christmas looks like when he’s sitting in his big leather chair.

We’ll sing songs with Santa such as ‘Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer’ and ‘When Santa Got Stuck Up The Chimney’ and a Find The Key game. There might be time for a Christmas story.

If you’d like to have a photograph taken with Santa that would be lovely, but it’s up to you and your family.

There will be a gift to take home with you, which you can pick from one of the red sacks.

You’ll then be brought back down in the lift with your family and it’s then time to go home.