Lapland UK in a 5 year olds words

Lapland UK. We have visited four times over the years. In my mind, it is still hands down the best Christmas experience in the UK. And we have been lucky enough to experience a fair few. This post was actually written back in 2017 when Charlie was five years old. It was the second time we visited, and we have paid to go back twice since then. Yes, it is expensive, but if you are in any doubt about spending the money on Lapland UK. I hope that this portrays the pure magic felt by a five-year-old even on his second visit and in my mind worth every penny. Otherwise, we would not have paid the £450 ticket price to visit on Christmas Eve!

Lapland UK

There was one activity we did last year in preparation for Christmas which has stayed with Charlie all year. Literally, all year and that was our first trip to Lapland UK. He hasn’t stopped talking about it so I knew he would be so very excited when we visited the home of Father Christmas again. As soon as he saw the letter from Father Christmas inviting him to help make some toys he started doing a happy dance around the room. So it only seems right to tell our Lapland UK 2017 story through his words.

How did you feel when you found the personalised invitation from Father Christmas?

Excited! I want to tell my friends at school but then I was worried they didn’t have tickets and I couldn’t give them our tickets. I wonder what we are going to help Father Christmas make? Will it be reindeer again mummy?

Each child is sent personal invitations, inviting them to make some toys in Santa’s toy factory.

Who are you most looking forward to meeting when we visit Lapland?

Deerrrrr Father Christmas! (Okay so I should have seen that one coming). What about the elves? I wonder if I will meet a Husky and I liked the naughty one… Conker he needs his bell. 

Needless to say when we arrived the following weekend, he was very very excited. He had decided to wear his reindeer outfit to match his little brother. He wasn’t the only one who was excited, I was as well. Knowing what a fantastic experience it is I really wanted to take it all in…

Check-In at Lapland UK

At check-in, we were greeted by a very friendly elf who gave Monkey his badges and passport. While we were waiting I took the opportunity to ask him what he was most excited about.

What are you most looking forward to?

I liked the toy making when we did it last time… but I think I wan to ice skate mummy…

Entering Lapland UK

It wasn’t long until we were ready to go to meet Sage and Echo the woodland elves. As we walked down the leaved pathway Charlie was running back and forth. In the woodland clearing he had trouble deciding where to sit. We opted for some higher seats towards the back.

Charlie sat ever so still and watched the story unfold, he was very interested in the fact that elves come from pinecones. He has a bit of a thing about pinecones and we often pick them up when we are out walking. He noticed some mini ones …

‘Mummy Mummy look they are like the ones we have at home…. I wonder if any of them will turn into elves?’

The children are then encouraged to take part in a magic dance to get the magical doorway to open into Lapland. Monkey decided he wanted to take part in the dance. Jigging up and down and placing his finger on his nose. Really getting into it, it was lovely to watch. As Sage threw the doors open to Lapland, there were gasps and wows from both children and adults alike. You could feel the excitement levels started to rise.

We headed out of the woods and into the snow. Although a lot of the country has had snow, being based in the South we haven’t. So Charlie was instantly mesmerised…..

The Toy Factory at Lapland UK

Charlie are you okay (as he stands there taking it all in uncharacteristically quiet)?

Yes mummy are you coming with me to the toy factory? Can we play snowballs? 

He would not leave the snow alone as we walked towards the factory and took a seat towards the back. The children, small folk as they are called were are encouraged to sit at the front so they have a good view. Charlie finally got the chance to meet Conker and made a mummy and baby polar bear and wooden teddy bears.

‘Mummy do you think Father Christmas will bring me a Polar Bear under the tree this year?‘

Which part did you enjoy the most?

‘I liked the wishes bit… I can’t tell you what I wished for as it won’t come true and I want it to come true. My Polar Bear had a heart I made a wish for the bear too…’

 

Meeting Mrs Christmas

From the toy factory, we headed on to see mother Christmas’ kitchen to decorate gingerbread Christmas trees and gingerbread men. As well as listen to a story about an elf who saved Christmas.

Watching Charlie sitting quietly at the front as Mrs Christmas read the story he bore no resemblance to the little boy that can’t even sit still for dinner. He was totally engrossed in the whole experience. There was also a competition between the elves on who had the best gingerbread houses

What did you think of Mrs Christmas’s story?

Do you think our elves saved Christmas one day? Can I eat my gingerbread now? Will Harry eat his… can I have it? (5 year olds!!).

What would you like to do now?

ICE SKATING…. ICE SKATING….

The Elf Village at Lapland UK

The entire tour is around a 90-minute show of immersive theatre before you are led into the village through elven pathways. We had about two and half hours in the Elven Village, by this time it was getting dark. This really added to the atmosphere and there were fairy lights twinkling making it such a magical time. Charlie was desperate to go ice skating so we made the ice rink our first port of call in the village square. He started off going round with a penguin, but then he tried on his own. The children’s ice skates have double blades and fit over their shoes which means they are a lot more stable for little skaters. If you watch our video at the end you will see how made up he is that he managed to do it on his own.

‘Mummy I did it, I am skating on my own.’ 

Even now when we talk about it, he tells everyone that he can ice skate. It’s something that he’s really proud of.

‘I must write my letter to Father Christmas’

So we made the post office the next stop. It is one of my favourite parts. Across the top of the beams, there are lots of letters for father Christmas. Over in one corner, they can post their letter and there is an elf postmaster to add a stamp and check everything is in order before you do.

Monkey what do you want to write in your letter?

Dear Father Christmas

I have been a very good boy and would really really like a soft toy Pikachu please? Please can you get Harry a car as I think he would like one and can you make it snow at home? 

 

Gift shops at Lapland UK

Once we had collected our final stamp in the elf passport for posting our letter it meant that we could collect a gold bell from the Elf Emporium. Both boys had hats like Conker and the bells went down a storm.

There is also a bauble shop and a sweet shop. Monkey decided he was going to help me pick out a decoration for our tree. Although we ended up with five, all the elf characters in beautiful beaded embroidery. I struggled to find Conker as a Christmas decoration, but Monkey spotted him straight away. In return I have promised Conker can hang on his tree this year. After we just had time to visit the sweet shop.

It’s the sort of sweet shop every little boy and girl dreams of. Monkey had some pick and mix with his favourite raspberry ones! There are also lots of places to grab a drink and some food. The Elf Village operates on Elf Jingles and cards only. You can pre-order jingles and then change them back into pounds at the exit.

Visiting Father Christmas at Lapland UK

On the back of each passport at check-in, you get time to go in and see Father Christmas. We had a 6 pm time slot to meet the big man. After we had our passports and bells checked we headed up the snow-laden pathways of the enchanted forest.

It is only a short walk, but on the way, you pass some of the little elf houses, the reindeer and also ironmongers. Harry was fascinated. Watching them run among the snow-ladened trees giggling away at each other was beautiful. It was totally immersive and an extremely special moment.

Charlie are you nervous about seeing Father Christmas? What are you going to say to him?

No I’m not. I am going to ask for a soft toy Pikachu… and a nerf gun and snow. 

When asked by his Grandma if he had written his letter. He responded that he didn’t need to write another one. As he told Father Christmas in Lapland what he wanted and that he was on the good list. That the one he visited was the real Father Christmas and not like some of the pretend ones we see in town. You can add in personal details about each child before you arrive so that Father Christmas knows exactly what they have been up to. Adding to the magical memories. It really captured his imagination and I can see why when watching back our video below:

Lapland UK Video

You can see we had an amazing time. Lapland UK is, without doubt, the most immersive Christmas experience we have ever had the fortune of visiting. It is perfect for the whole family it genuinely feels like you have entered a magical world. The Christmas magic has really stayed with Charlie and I often catch him talking about it with friends and family. After visiting once before I did wonder if the magic may wear off a little. But it hasn’t at all. If anything it’s stronger than before as he knew what to expect and so could just get involved in all the activities without worrying about what was coming next. I hope this

This really has become a new Christmas Tradition for us. It’s such a wonderful experience so much that we have been back twice since and you can not help but feel th festive spirit. And the only reason we have not gone every year is because of the pandemic and trying to organise a trip to Finland for the last three years. Fingers crossed we make it in 2022. Otherwise, it will be another year of regret for not booking Lapland UK.

Read all about our magical experience the first time we visited – Lapland UK Review is it worth the money. And also if you are thinking of staying close by then you may find this useful – Hotels near Lapland UK.

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