How to Get a Free Letter from Santa with Royal Mail in 2026
There’s something lovely about a handwritten envelope arriving through the letterbox, especially when it comes from Father Christmas.
If you’re planning a little Christmas magic for your children, Royal Mail’s Letters to Santa tradition is a wonderful place to start. Here’s how to send your letter, where to post it and how to turn it into a cosy festive afternoon.
How do you get a free letter from Santa?
To request a reply through Royal Mail, write to Santa, put a stamp on the envelope and include your child’s full name and address on the back. Post it by Wednesday 9 December 2026. Santa aims to answer as many letters as possible, so a reply isn’t guaranteed.
There is no separate charge for the reply, but you do need to pay postage on the letter you send.
What is Santa’s Royal Mail address?
Address your envelope to:
Santa/Father Christmas
Santa’s Grotto
Reindeerland
XM4 5HQ
Check the address carefully before posting, and remember the stamp.
What should children write in their letter to Santa?
A Christmas wish list is a lovely starting point, but the letter can be about much more than presents.
Your child could tell Santa:
- Something they’ve enjoyed this year.
- A kind thing they’ve done for someone else.
- What they love most about Christmas.
- A question about the reindeer or life with the elves.
Younger children might prefer to draw a picture while a grown-up helps with the words. There’s no need for perfect handwriting: the fun is in making something of their own.
Make a Christmas letter-writing afternoon of it
Put on some Christmas music, bring out the colouring pencils and settle down together with a warm drink.
While the children write to Father Christmas, you could make a start on your own Christmas cards. It’s a simple way to turn a seasonal task into a family tradition, with everyone thinking about the people they’d like to send a little happiness to.
Save a photograph of the finished Santa letter before posting it. Those drawings and wonderfully ambitious wish lists can become lovely memories to look back on.
Can you request an accessible reply from Santa?
Royal Mail lists Braille, large print and British Sign Language replies. Contact santamail@royalmail.com to arrange these.
For the latest instructions, visit Royal Mail’s official Letters to Santa page.
Bring a little more joy to your Christmas post
I love how a thoughtful card or a beautifully wrapped present can make someone feel remembered.
My Christmas cards and wrapping paper feature illustrated birds, animals and festive details, bringing a little of the natural world into your celebrations. Printed in the UK, they’re made for those small, thoughtful moments of giving.
Whether you’re sending Christmas wishes or wrapping a surprise for someone special, discover a design that makes you smile.
Explore my Christmas cards and wrapping paper
This is an independent guide from Lorna Syson and is not affiliated with Royal Mail. Check Royal Mail’s website before posting, as seasonal information may change.
