Everything you need to know when visiting Christmas Town
✨🎄 Here you’ll find everything you need to know before your visit – from tickets and timings to accessibility, travel and those all important FAQs. We’ve wrapped it all up in one place to help you plan your perfect festive day out.
Getting Here
Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town is located in the heart of Bishop Auckland. The town is easily accessible by car, bus, and train. If you live in Bishop Auckland, we recommend using the bus or walking to the event.
By Car:
The town is located just off the A68 via the A688 or A689. Follow the signs for Bishop Auckland Town Centre. There is ample parking available in the town centre including North Bondgate Car Park and the Newgate Shopping Centre Car Park.
By Bus:
Bishop Auckland is served by a number of bus routes. The town’s bus station is located in the town centre (behind Newgate Shopping Centre). From there, it’s a short walk to the Market Place.
By Train:
Bishop Auckland has a train station located in the town centre. Trains run regularly to and from Darlington and Saltburn. From the train station, the Market Place is a 15-minute walk along Newgate Street. Bus services also operate along Newgate Street from the train station.
*map shown is from Christmas Town 2024 and is subject to change.
FAQs
Golden Pass – Your all-in wristband, giving unlimited fairground rides, unlimited ice skating, live entertainment in the Tipis, and the option to add Santa’s Grotto (£4 per child, £1 for one accompanying adult). Additional adults visiting the Grotto will need their own Golden Pass.
Tipi & Tidings Pass – A lower-cost option for those who just want to enjoy the Tipis and live entertainment, without rides or grotto access. You’ll get priority access to the evening shows and a complimentary souvenir Christmas Town cup.
Santa’s Grotto Add-On – Available with a Golden Pass only: £4 per child, £1 for one accompanying adult. Any additional accompanying adults will need a Golden Pass.
🎟️ Breakfast with Santa & Baby Meets Santa – You do not need a Pass to book these events. Just head to Book Now, add the tickets to your basket, and check out.
Please note, under 18s are not permitted in the Tipis after 8pm on Friday and Saturday.
Golden Passes start from as little as £12pp for people with a Bishop Auckland postcode, and £14pp for everyone else on the Thursday evening, meaning a family of 4 can enjoy the full Christmas Town experience from as little as £48-£56.
Second release prices are:
Thursday
Golden Pass (Unlimited) – £12 (Bishop residents). Advance booking only.
Golden Pass (Unlimited) – £14. One the day: £16.
Tipi & Tidings Pass – N/A – Tipi Access is free from 7pm, only on Thursday.
Friday
Golden Pass (Unlimited) – £18. One the day: £20.
Tipi & Tidings Pass – £6. One the day: £7.
Saturday & Sunday
Golden Pass (Unlimited) – £22. One the day: £24.
Tipi & Tidings Pass – £10. One the day: £12.
🎅 Santa’s Grotto Add-On
- Children – £4 (with Golden Pass)
- Accompanying adult(s) – £1 (must also have a Golden Pass)
The event runs for four days, from 4-7th December.
Thursday 4th December – 4-9pm
Friday 5th December – 4-9pm with evening shows in the Tipis until midnight.
Saturday 6th December 10am-8pm, with evening shows in the Tipis until midnight.
Sunday 7th December – 10am-6pm
Yes, anyone who wishes to enter the Grotto – children and accompanying adults will need a Golden Pass with the associated Grotto Add-On. The Golden Pass also includes unlimited access to the rides, rink and Tipis too.
The Christmas markets and general event are free to wander around, so you don’t need a pass just to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
But if your child has a Golden Pass and is 8 or under, they must be accompanied by an adult on the ice rink and fairground rides – which means you’ll also need a Golden Pass to go on with them.
If your child is 9 or over and happy to go on rides and the rink independently, you don’t need a Golden Pass yourself – you can simply enjoy the free markets, or choose a Tipi & Tidings Pass for access to the Tipis, live shows and entertainment.
We have a limited number of Tipi & Tidings Passes available to make sure all guests with Priority access can enjoy the evening shows inside the Tipis. Once these passes sell out, the only way to access the Tipis – along with rides, rink, Grotto and other attractions – will be with a Golden Pass.
Yes, Tipi access is included in all Passes.
Yes! Christmas Town is free to attend, and you can enjoy the Christmas Market, street food traders, outdoor bars, wandering performances, and other surprises without a ticket. The whole town will be alive with festive sights, sounds and smells for everyone to enjoy.
Passes are only needed if you’d like to take part in the paid attractions – such as the fairground rides, ice rink, Santa’s Grotto, or if you want to warm up and enjoy the live entertainment inside the Tipis.
The Local Residents Golden Pass is only available for Thursday. Our Principal Partner, Bishop Auckland Town Council, has made a special offer available to residents within the Town Council’s parish boundary.
You can check if your address falls within the boundary by typing in your postcode here.
If your address falls outside of the parish, please choose a standard pass. On collection, you’ll need photo ID plus proof of address.
We accept a council tax bill or a utility bill in your name, dated within the last 3 months. If suitable proof is not provided, the booking will be changed to the standard price.
This year the Tipis are home to a packed programme of live entertainment and evening shows. To make sure everyone inside can enjoy the performances comfortably, we’ve introduced Tipi & Tidings Passes. This small charge helps us manage capacity, bring in top-quality acts, and create a brilliant atmosphere for everyone.
For those who want the full Christmas Town experience, including unlimited rides, the rink, the Grotto and the Tipis, the Golden Pass is also available.
Yes, the Tipi evening shows are included with a Golden Pass, however Tipi & Tidings Pass holders will have priority, and entry to the evening shows will be on a first-come-first served basis and subject to capacity.
Please note that entry to the evening shows in the Tipis have an age restriction of 18+ (after 8pm on Friday and Saturday).
We recommend pre-booking your Passes to avoid disappointment, as availability on the day cannot be guaranteed. Numbers are limited to keep queues short and make sure everyone enjoys the best possible experience at Christmas Town.
We are committed to making Christmas Town accessible to all. The event has a range of access provisions in place, including accessible toilets and quiet times for visitors with sensory needs. You can find full details on our Accessibility page.
Yes, these will be advertised in the lead up to the event. Please see our Accessibility page for more information.
No, up to 1 personal assistant can accompany you free of charge. Any additional PAs will need to pay for a pass.
You will need to provide proof of disability to obtain a PA Pass, details can be found on our Accessibility page.
Accessible parking is available in North Bondgate Car Park, approx. 100 yards from the event.
Yes, there are no additional charges for skate hire or skate aid hire. We have limited numbers of skate aids available, so please speak to a member of staff at the rink if you require a skate aid.
Bishop Auckland’s Christmas Town takes place in Bishop Auckland Market Place and surrounding venues. The postcode is DL14 7PB.
No, both cash and card are accepted by most of the traders and at the box office.
Yes, all Grotto visits include a gift from Santa.
Babies under 2 can enjoy Christmas Town for free and don’t need a Golden Pass.
👶 Grotto entry is free if they are visiting the Grotto with an older sibling, although they won’t receive a gift from Santa.
🎅 If an under 2 is visiting the Grotto on their own with parents, please purchase an Under 2 Grotto Pass (£6), as they’ll have their own visit with Santa and receive a gift. Price includes up to 2 parents.
Children aged 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult with a Golden Pass on the ice rink and fairground rides. Height and weight restrictions may apply on certain rides.
Children (under 18) are not permitted in the Tipis after 8pm on Friday and Saturday evening.
Yes, there will be options available for those with dietary requirements. Keep an eye on our socials for our exciting trader line-up.
Yes, dogs are welcome at Christmas Town but must be kept on a lead at all times, in the interests of public safety.
All tickets and passes for Christmas Town are non-refundable. Refunds will only be issued if the event is cancelled for reasons beyond our control, at which point customers will be contacted with details of refund or transfer options. Please see our Refund Policy for more information.
No, to make things easier this year, we’ve grouped all attractions into the Golden Pass, you will need to buy a Golden Pass to access the rides, rink and Grotto.
No, your Pass will only grant you access to Christmas Town attractions on the day you choose when booking.
You will need to purchase an additional Pass for each day you wish to enjoy the full Christmas Town experience.
Toilets, including accessible toilets will be available across the Christmas Town site. These will be clearly displayed on our site map. Public toilets will also be available to use inside St Anne’s Church, The Town Hall and the Newgate Shopping Centre.
