Our reporter Liam Coleman met with the big man before a hectic few weeks.

Sat in a grotto surrounded by presents and truly in the festive spirit, our reporter Liam Coleman caught up with Santa ahead of his busiest time of the year.

The big man himself is gearing up to deliver presents to children all across the globe, and he let us in to a few secrets about where he keeps his reindeer, what children have been asking for this year, and where himself and Mrs Claus go to relax and put their feet up after Christmas.

At the opening of his grotto in the Mercury Mall in Romford, we got an exclusive interview with Santa and this is what he had to say.

Speaking about spending time in London he said: “I always get here a week before and I put a different hat on and check out everybody and make sure all the kids have been good.

East London Advertiser: Celebrating the opening of Santa's Grotto by Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Deon Burton at the Mercury Mall.Celebrating the opening of Santa's Grotto by Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Deon Burton at the Mercury Mall. (Image: Archant)

“I make sure all the elves have done the presents up and put them in the right sacks.

“Reindeer go out the back, because I don’t know if you know but they like it quiet.

“We feed them and leave them there until we’re ready to go.

“They’ve got lots of water, so no problem there.”

East London Advertiser: Celebrating the opening of Santa's Grotto by Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Deon Burton at the Mercury Mall.Celebrating the opening of Santa's Grotto by Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Deon Burton at the Mercury Mall. (Image: Archant)

When asked about what the children have been like this year he said: “Normally we dont have any trouble, we sometimes have a few that have been naughty throughout the year but we have to forget that, and they’ve got time up till Christmas to make sure they behave themselves.

“It’s good, it’s always nice to come down here, the kids are good, it’s lots of fun.”

He said that despite lots of different requests the most popular toys children always ask for is the old classic, Lego.

Computer games (Playstation and Xbox) are still popular, but Lego is top of the list.

East London Advertiser: Celebrating the opening of Santa's Grotto by Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Deon Burton at the Mercury Mall.Celebrating the opening of Santa's Grotto by Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Deon Burton at the Mercury Mall. (Image: Archant)

And well the big scoop is really that to wind down, Santa and Mrs Claus relax after a hectic 12 months by sunning themselves on a private island...

“We wind down a little bit, get somewhere nice and cold for the summer.

“I’ve got a little private island hidden away but we don’t tell anyone where it is.”

“And then we start thinking about next year!”: said the man from the North Pole - you heard it here first!