LaplandUK with 2 Kids - Is it worth the price?

For mums thinking it's soooo expensive is it worth it? It is on both counts. The ticket price is not cheap per child. And when you have more than one kid, jees those costs mount up. \

We were gifted this as a day out from an aunt but after experiencing it, we will go again with our littlest now that he's old enough to fully enjoy the magic. He'll be 6 and we think six is such a magical age for this place.

invitation from LaplandUK that we put in the fire for Lilly to find

This is a really well done magical experience for the UK. We normally get turd second rate things to do with kids, so I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. But when I saw the invitation arrive through the post... I was pleased to be going.

It's like a movie set in the woods. It's as close to the actual real Lapland as we can get. Good lighting, special effects and fake snow. And it's done well. I can see why it sells out on ticket launch. If kids are lucky enough to go here, then it's a good experience.

Lapland UK is based in Whitmoor Forest in the gorgeous Royal Town of Ascot, Berkshire. We stayed overnight in Egham and drove in to Ascot through tree lined roads - a beautiful part of the UK.

We arrived early and the car park was huge and well organised with attendants directing traffic to bays. The event itself is set in beautiful woodland forests, with wood cabins, snow covered branches and cheeky elves pottering about. The kids pick up their Elf Passports at check in with is a little booklet with your time to meet santa in as well as activity's and things to find / stamps to collect in each area, that we fill along the way with.

You meet elves, straight out of drama school. So convincing that I'm already onboard with this.The kids are all hook lined already. In the middle of a magical forest scene for story time, elves enchant the children further with a twisty fingered story about Father Christmas & the magical world of Lapland.

It's a moving tour, where you are ushered into the next section, quite seamlessly: from helping Elves + Father Christmas get ready for the big day by making actual real toys. To meeting Mother Christmas and decorating gingerbread men that you take away. There is an Elven village along the way, where you are free to potter and take part in activities including making a metal shoe for Rudolph, that you can take home and visiting the lapland post office to send your letter to Father Christmas. This is a very charming little post office and by this time I was fully immersed into the magic. We went on the ice rink & grabbed a drink from the cafe. Lilly couldn't believe her luck that she'd actually got to see the real Lapland. She forgot that we hadn't actually gone anywhere on a plane.

By this point all known facts were irrelevant. This was magic.

Throughout it all the anticipation is mounting as to when we may finally meet the big man. We know our time slot is coming, but we're on our best cute behaviour - what if he surprises us. And we know it's getting close. When an elf comes to take us through a secret part of the forest we know. And by God he's good at his job that elf. This is definitely it. It's happening. We've already passed the real reindeer. God it's soooo close. We've even passed Santa's sleigh. Oh ma goddd it's actually happening.

and there it is! A nice touch - your child's name is already printed on the good list for them to find. cute.

My only regret is that I didn't take more pictures. I think I just got carried away in the magic. All the more reason to make the return trip with Bertie Boo.