Legoland in Windsor, Berkshire, has been transformed into an immersive Christmas experience, launching its very own Winter Wonderland complete with snow-covered trees and Father Christmas
As a child of the eighties, a Christmas treat was a trip to a questionable Santa’s grotto where fake Barbie dolls were the default gift. But these days, Christmas experiences are in bountiful supply – from light shows, and breakfasts with Santa to ice rinks, ice bars and Christmas markets.
The Santas in the grotto have upped their game and expectations are high when it comes to sharing the magic of Christmas. So which experience to choose? My son is four and Lego is currently his sun and moon so Legoland’s Winter Wonderland seemed like a safe bet.
This winter, the theme park in Windsor has been transformed into an immersive Christmas experience, with twinkly lights, a giant Duplo Christmas tree and a sprawling Christmas Kingdom. We did the Meet Father Christmas experience, which saw elves guide us from Legoland through a mysterious corridor to a snow-covered North Pole.
After navigating through a maze of snow-topped fir trees, we arrived at Santa’s hidden cabin where my son suddenly got stage fright and was too shy to talk. But Father Christmas was lovely and made jokes about my husband’s past on the naughty list. The gift was an impressive Legoland dragon soft toy that he’s slept with ever since.
The Lego City Deep Sea Dive Adventure was also a massive hit, with a submarine taking young explorers through an underwater world filled with stingrays and sharks. He got his first taste of life on the road at the Lego City Driving School and discovered a love for the faster rollercoasters such as Merlin’s Challenge and The Dragon which takes you through the castle before plunging through the treetops.
There are also loads of shows to choose from including the Elf Training Academy show, the Festival of Flurries and Nutcracker’s Marching Band. And for certain dates over Christmas and New Year, dogs are welcome too!
Dark fell just after 3.30pm and we stayed until close. Enjoying the rides under the moonlight was a magical and memorable experience.
The Winter Wonderland runs until January 4 with tickets from £32 per person at https://www.legoland.co.uk/explore/special-events/legoland-at-christmas. Dogs are permitted entry on December 14, 21 and 28 with a meet Father Christmas upgrade available from 5pm.
Meanwhile, LEGOLAND Deutschland in Germany has recently unveiled plans for a new theme park land based on J.K. Rowling’s beloved Harry Potter books, and fans will even be able to enjoy an overnight wizarding experience with themed accommodation.
Details of the brand new attraction are currently being kept strictly under wraps, with the park confirming it’ll be announcing further information in the next 12 months.
In a statement, Peter van Roden, EVP of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, said: “We are always looking for new ways for the millions of Harry Potter fans around the world to extend the magic and further connect with the iconic films. This new destination will allow fans to step into in the familiar LEGO Harry Potter aesthetic they have been constructing for years and physically experience the wizarding world like never before.”
While there are already Harry Potter-themed lands at some Universal resorts, as well as the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, where fans can see where the movie was filmed, this is the first Wizarding World attraction for Lego.
And while many places, such as private rentals, offer unofficial wizard-themed accommodation based on the franchise, the park will offer the first official themed accommodation.
