The most magical time of the year is nearly upon us, and Santa is busy organising presents for all children worldwide.
Kids across the UK try their best to catch a glimpse of Santa himself on Christmas Eve. Whether you’re embarking on a family bike ride to spot Saint Nick in the evening or you’re simply hoping to spot him taking a ride on his sleigh from the window, every family has their Christmas Eve traditions.
But where in the UK is the most likely to spot Santa this year?
By looking at data on light pollution and the number of rainy days in December, we’ve determined which towns and cities in the UK have the best chance of catching a glimpse of Father Christmas flying through the sky. We’ve also collected the number of Santa’s Grotto’s in each location to see which children might be lucky enough to see St. Nick up close.
Children in Oxford are the most likely to spot Santa’s sleigh in the sky this year
1. Oxford - 9.90 out of 10 Santa sighting score
The city of Oxford is set to be the luckiest location in the UK this Christmas Eve, as they’re the most likely to spot Santa in the sky. Oxford has an average light pollution value of just 6.9, meaning the sky will be clear enough to get the best view of Father Christmas’s sleigh. The city in southern England also only experiences an average of eight rainy days throughout December.
2. Northampton - 9.80 out of 10 Santa sighting score
In second place is Northampton, with a Santa sighting score of 9.80 out of ten. On average, the East Midlands town receives eight days of rain in December, meaning that the chance of your view of Santa being obstructed is relatively low. Northampton also has a low average light pollution value of just 7.9.
3. Reading - 9.70 out of 10 Santa sighting score
Reading places third on the list, achieving a Santa sighting score of 9.70 out of ten. With a light pollution value of 12.4 and an average of eight rainy days throughout December, families living in the southern town have a high chance of spotting Santa and his reindeer this Christmas Eve.
The UK location least likely to see Santa and his reindeer in the sky is Aberdeen
1. Aberdeen 1.53 out of 10 Santa sighting score
Children living in Aberdeen may need to look out the window extra carefully on Christmas Eve this year, as they are the least likely to be able to spot Santa. The Scottish city sees an average of 11 rainy days throughout December. It also has an average light pollution of 54.1. Both of these factors contribute to its Santa sighting score of just 1.53.
2. Glasgow - 1.84 out of 10 Santa sighting score
Glasgow makes the second appearance on the list for Scotland, earning a Santa sighting score of 1.84 out of ten. Like Aberdeen, the city also receives 11 rainy days in December. However, it has a lower average light pollution value of 44.9, meaning that children living in Glasgow are likelier to spot Santa in the sky.
3. Leeds - 2.14 out of 10 Santa sighting score
In third place is Leeds, which achieved a Santa sighting score of 2.14 out of ten. The city in West Yorkshire has an average light pollution value of 126.5, the second-highest value on the list, only behind London. Leeds also experiences ten days of rain throughout December, on average.
Children in Reading are the most likely to see Santa up close this year
Reading - 4.80 Santa’s Grottos per 100,000 people
The children in Reading are set to be extra lucky this year, as they are the most likely to get a glimpse of Saint Nick up close. An estimated 11 Santa’s Grottos will be held in the city this year, equating to 4.8 grottos per 100,000 people.
This includes the Christmas Chocolate Grotto at Chocolates for Chocoholics. After receiving a magical Christmas passport, attendees can create their own chocolate bar with Mrs Claus before enjoying various games and dancing with one of the elves. Children can then have a private moment with Santa himself and receive a gift.
2. Plymouth - 3.73 Santa’s Grottos per 100,000 people
The city of Plymouth places second, with 3.73 Santa’s Grottos per 100,000 people. Nine Santa’s Grottos will be held in Plymouth this year, meaning there’s a high chance of meeting Father Christmas.
One of the magical events being held is Breakfast with Santa at The Box. Visitors can choose from sausage or bacon baps or pancakes accompanied by tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or a glass of fruit juice. All children receive a gift when meeting Santa, and there is also a dedicated quiet session available.
3. Portsmouth - 3.62 Santa’s Grottos per 100,000 people
Portsmouth follows closely behind, with 3.62 Santa’s Grottos per 100,000 people. Like Plymouth, it’s also estimated that around nine Santa’s Grottos will be held in Portsmouth this year.
Santa’s Toymaker’s Workshop at Spinnaker Tower is one of the multiple Christmas events in the city. This experience allows children to participate in various magical activities, such as exploring the tower, finding hidden elves, and enjoying festive games. Children also get the opportunity to help Santa’s elves create their own cuddly toy before meeting Father Christmas himself.
Methodology
We began by using The Geographist to create a seed list of the top 50 most populated cities in the UK.
Next, we used Climate Data to collect the average number of rainy days in each location throughout the month of December.
We then used a light pollution map to collect each location's average light pollution value.
We gave both factors a normalised score out of ten and then took an average across both factors to form our Santa sighting score.
Next, we used individual sites, such as London For Kidz, Liverpool Echo and Visit Cardiff, to discover an approximate number of Santa’s Grottos held last year or will be taking place this year. We then normalised this number per 100,000 people against each location’s population.
All data is correct as of 23 October 2024.