How to speak to Santa virtually – including personal video chat for your kids

EVEN Santa will have to socially distance this year but that doesn’t have to stop you from seeing him.

There’s several ways for Father Christmas to greet children virtually while you all stay at home with Virgin Media even offering free video calls.

Santa will be going online this yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Virgin Media will be providing a free virtual grotto experience on the three weekends running up to Christmas day.

Unfortunately, the ballot to join one of those free calls is closed so if you didn’t enter or didn’t win a place you may want to consider other options.

Santascallingyou.co.uk is one such website that allows you to set up a private video call with the man himself.

There’s also the chance to meet Mrs Claus, an elf and even a ‘Santa Story Time’ option.

There's lots of virtual experiences avaliable for you and your kids — There’s lots of virtual experiences avaliable for you and your kidsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The 10 minute calls start at £24.99 and the price depends on when you want the call to be.

The service was set up by actor James Bartlett who spotted a gap in the market for other people who have lost work due to the pandemic.

He told the BBC: “Nearly 400 applied for acting roles and we are still looking for more Santas.”

One of the good things about the virtual calls is that there’s time to inform your Santa about things like pet names or wish lists so that the call can feel more personalised.

Wonder Adventures is another company hosting live ‘Santa comes to tea’ virtual experiences for £12.99.

These take place via Facebook private groups and can involve other families you may not know.

Santa’s Lapland, which usually arranges trips to meet Santa in a snowy setting, is also 10-minute video calls to Lapland.

Prices start from a fairly expensive £85.

This service gives families a tour of Santa’s grotto and even introduces them to reindeer.

There’s also santasgrotto.live, which offers 15 minutes calls for up to four children and two guest links for £30.

Other festive venues in the UK are trying their best to meet customer requests and keep up with the new restrictions.

This includes LaplandUK in Ascot, which plans to host Lapland and Father Christmas : ‘The Elflets’ Christmas Celebration’ from December 26 into January.

Christmas-daft Scots gran transforms her home into Santa’s Grotto four months early with seven trees, thousands of lights and snow machine