63 per cent of UK families expected to visit a grotto this Christmas Garden Centres the new hotbed for grottos Lancashire revealed as the UK’s ‘Santa Capital’.

Santa’s going to have a busy time this month, with 63% of families with children under 10 years old expected to visit him in a grotto this Christmas, according to research conducted on the behalf of directory assistance specialist 118 118.

In order to help those looking for Santa locally, The Number’s famous 118 boys have been out sledging across the UK in a relentless search for grottos. Their quest reveals that Santa has discovered garden centres in a big way. With an estimated 600 garden centres playing host to Santa, shopping centres have been pushed into second place with around 400 grottos.

Lancashire has emerged as the "Grotto Capital of Britain", with 45 locations thoughout the county to visit Santa. Essex came in second, with 38 grottos; and the West Midlands rounds off the podium with 34. Santa remains enduringly popular with the Scots, who have more than 12 per cent of all Santa’s Grottos.

With Santa so busy visiting grottos in department stores, garden centres and shopping centres, it’s a comfort to know he’s safe and sound with all elf and safety aspects properly looked after.

Extra Santa facts:

• Britain , research estimates there to be more than 1,000 grottos.
• In the US, Santa’s Grotto are called Santa’s Den, and there are 12,000.