Is your family hoping for an accessible festive season? Here’s our list of fun, inclusive events taking place this December! (BSL)

It’s December — the season of advent calendars, “Elf on the Shelf” cheekiness and the mad scramble to book Santa visits before Christmas.

For many families, a trip to see Santa or to watch a festive show becomes a beloved part of the countdown. But what about families whose first language is British Sign Language (BSL)?

This year, across the UK, it seems that more organisations are stepping up — offering BSL-friendly Santas, interpreters and even Santa Letters in sign language — to ensure that no child is excluded from festive joy.

So without further ado, read on to see my list of recommended accessible experiences – and if you would like to add one, feel free to pop it in the comments!

• Brockholes Nature Reserve in Preston are offering BSL interpreted Santa by the Lake sessions, with a BSL skilled elf present during the first weekend of December.
• Deaf Village North West (Blackburn) are running a Christmas event on 11th December featuring a BSL Santa, a BSL Christmas trail, games and a fully Deaf-accessible festive atmosphere.
• Belfast ONE — Santa’s Post Office in Belfast is hosting a “BSL Night” on the 10th December, offering a festive session with sign-language interpreters, crafts and Santa letters.
• In Windsor, the Daniel Department Store is offering a Santa’s Grotto on Tuesday 10 December 2025, 2:00 pm–5:15 pm with a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, giving deaf children a chance to meet Santa, receive a gift and get a professional photo.
• Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire is running a “Father Christmas at Kedleston (BSL)” offering in 2025: on certain weekends in December — plus 22nd & 23rd December — a signing Father Christmas (with elf) will visit the Halls / gardens, giving visitors the chance to meet a BSL Santa.
• Royal Mail is now officially partnering with the Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) to produce an accessible Santa letter, including a QR code that links to a signed video version. BSL replies can be arranged by customers emailing santamail@royalmail.com. 
• Christmas Sign & Sing 2025 is taking place at Derby Theatre — an evening of carols and Christmas songs performed by the Deaf community of Derby. The event is fully accessible, with BSL interpretation. It takes place on 8 December 2025 at 7:00pm.
• A Christmas Carol is running at Leeds Playhouse from 20th November 2025 to 17th January 2026. It includes BSL-interpreted performances on specific dates: Friday 12 December 7pm; Thursday 18 December 1:30pm; Saturday 27 December 7pm; plus further BSL-accessible dates into January.
• Jack and the Beanstalk at Bristol Hippodrome runs from the 6th December to 4th January 2026 and includes a BSL-interpreted performance.
• Snow White runs at Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen (Wales) and their Christmas pantomime includes a BSL-interpreted performance on Sunday 14 December 2025 (3 pm).
• The Hexagon, in Reading is running the pantomime Beauty and the Beast and have two dates with BSL-interpreted performances on 13 December 2025 at 13:00 and 27 December 2025 at 17:00.
• Churchill Theatre in Bromley will be showing their pantomime Beauty and the Beast. They have BSL-interpreted shows on 12th December 2025 at 19:00 and 18th December 2025 at 17:30.
• For cinema goers, be sure to use this website to check out when your favourite films are captioned too!

Wishing you a fun filled, inclusive festive season where the whole family gets to enjoy the celebrations!

Are you going to anything accessible? Let us know about it in the comments! 

Written by Assistant Editor, Rebecca A Withey.

Image courtesy of Pexels.