5 top tips for visiting LaplandUK

My very favourite Christmas attraction is LaplandUK in Berkshire, near Ascot. I’ve both been to review the attraction and bought tickets myself in previous years, and we’ve been invited back to review this year. LaplandUK opens on the weekend and here are my five top tips for any lucky families who are planning a magical day out at LaplandUK:

1. Personalise your visit
Make sure you personalise your visit before your arrival date and add details about your children, such as their favourite activity and memorable event from the past two weeks. One year we visited the Father Christmas was particularly good at using some of the facts in the conversation with the children, which can make it extra special. Before the visit it is also possible to add extras to the booking, such as elf hats, a soft toy, a book and Elf Jingles, the coins used in the Elf Village in LaplandUK.

2.Try out the new LaplandUK craft activities
This year LaplandUK has released new free downloadable weekly family craft activities called ‘Memory Makers’, which can help families get ready for their magical day out. The activities can also be great for familiarising yourself with the different LaplandUK elves before the visit, and I particularly like the Eeko nature collage activity suggestion!

3. Arrive on time on the day
The first time we visited we ended up taking a bit longer than expected to get from the car to the check-in area, so our tour had already started by the time we got there. Last year I made sure we had more time, and it was better to have a slower start with a stop in the cafe in the check-in area first. I also then took the opportunity to buy some extra gloves while waiting for our tour to start.

4. Dress for ice-skating and being outdoors
The tour starts as an interactive theatrical experience, and visitors walk in a large group through the magical forest to the toy factory and then to Mother Christmas’s kitchen. After these two indoor experiences, families are invited to go ice-skating and explore the Elf Village. I bring helmets and rain pants for the children to go ice-skating, and we also layer up to ensure we’re dressed for being outdoors in the Elf Village, enjoying hot chocolates and snacks on the outdoor tables. It’s also possible to have a sit-down meal inside in the Elf Restaurant.

5. Consider buying Elf Jingles
Elf Jingles is the currency used in the Elf Village in LaplandUK, and because we’ve been using cards instead, I’ve not felt I’ve needed Elf Jingles. This year, however, the children are older and I feel Elf Jingles can make the experience even more magical. I plan to buy some of the gold Elf Jingles in advance by adding them to our booking under the Magical Extras section online. I’m sure we’ll be heading back to the bauble shop to get a bauble as a memory from our 2018 visit, and it’s also always tempting to buy cuddly toys and accessories in the Elf Emporium. Any unused Elf Jingles can be exchanged back on the way out of LaplandUK.