Dear Mummy, this is the third time I’ve walked through the portal at LaplandUK and been magically transported to see Father Christmas. With my elf passport in hand and an elf to guide me I’ve made this annual trip to the heart of Whitmoor Forest on the outskirts of Ascot, Berkshire before.
You see I was summoned here by an invitation that came down my chimney and I knew it was real as it was cold in my hands. It had come from Father Christmas with my name on it and an official seal. Along with instructions for my folks we made our journey into the forest. This time I was older (and wiser) so would the experience be the same?
Meeting up with Eeko and Sage they once more guided us to the portal, told us stories and sang to us. We were put into two small groups for the passage through the large oak doors and made husky sounds and reindeer sounds to rally the big folk. I was mesmerised.
A silent hush descended on all the human folk before the large doors opened to reveal white crisp light into the dark of Whitmoor Forest. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief having seen this wonder many times before it never ceases to amaze me. Gasps of delight were whispered on breaths of children, as the white glare stunned adults.
LaplandUK was covered in snow, not only that but it is snowing from the sky too (my folks look around in disbelief) its like a dream come true. The aroma of pine trees tickle our noses as we are transported to another world, snowflakes land on my mummy’s camera lens and the cold fills her lungs. We pass beautiful wooden lodges with little elf door bells and are guided to our first stop on our destination to the elf village.
Inside the Toy Factory a busy elf called Whittle and his team of elves are making Christmas presets by hand for Father Christmas to be delivered. A frantic call comes into the factory and the elves realise they are behind schedule. They need MY help. I gently rush to stuff the polar bears tummies and laugh at Conker being silly.
Whittle the wise old elf looks down his nose over his glasses in despair of this new elf, Conker, trying very hard to earn his first golden bell. We are joined by the most beautiful elf I have ever seen called Wishes and I’m impressed that her skirt is made up from the Northern Lights of our world where human wishes are collected.
But time is of the essence and we had more work to do at LaplandUK. We rush off down the snowy path to Mother Christmas’s kitchen to decorate some delicious gingerbread biscuits. The hot smell of baking wafts outside the wooden lodge. Along with her helpers Dough, Cinnamon and others, we are shown what to do as Mother Christmas reads us an extract from a wonderful book called Minikin.
A glint in her eyes reminds me of her love for all the children in the world and I know she remembers me from previous years. While we listen to stories in Mother Christmas’s kitchen the big folk get sneaky biscuits. (Don’t think I didn’t see Mummy and Daddy!)
My folks are amazed at all the beautiful detail in the lodge and often their attention diverts away from me to concentrate on the entertainment and hospitality that the elves are giving to us in their snowy world. Behind Mother Christmas a magical pot is stirring itself?! Gingerbread houses are on the shelves along with old clocks and books. It’s like stepping back in time.
We continue on our journey and signposts to Elf Village tell us (and my little legs) that we are nearly there. The shrill of laughter, twinkly lights and warm spiced apple fill the air with anticipation. I make a beeline for the ice skating rink with my daddy while my mummy makes her annual pilgrimage to find nuggets of joy in the elf boutique for family and friends. She’s clutching her little red bag of elf jingles, the only currency accepted in LaplandUK.
On the way she is distracted by steaming cups of hot apple spiced brandy and with ruby red cheeks enjoys a cheeky beverage while watching skaters on the ice rink. It gives her time to soak in the atmosphere and it was great to see the smile on her face though Daddy said something about it being the brandy!
We were so immersed with looking around the Elf Village that we almost walked past the Huskies, thankfully Amber and her handler find us and I stop to stroke her, she looks just like my LaplandUK husky toy from last year!? We make a connection and my new husky friend sits down by my side.
A quick pit stop for food sees us enjoy chicken schnitzel burgers, hot chocolate and Mother Christmas’s Christmas Pie. We missed the fantastic meatballs from last year though, it seems the elves have eaten them all. Naughty elves!
A quick visit to the post office sees me write another letter to Father Christmas and post it through one of the many magical letterboxes. Here you can purchase more elf jingles, post postcards while next door in the Baubles shop you can decorate your own tree decorations.
Then all of a sudden a flash of colour breaks up the snowy landscape. It’s not human folk it’s someone else. Elves, Bauble, Pixie Mixie along with Compass are telling stories and greeting children with their famous elf waves and we can’t resist taking a photo and exchanging smiles.
My mummy can hear children’s squeals of delight as she heads back to the ice skating rink and it reminds her why the founders of LaplandUK have transported us to this magical place. To see such delight on children’s (and adults) faces is a blessing. It’s lovely spending time together outside as a family experiencing all the wonder of Christmas and this is what fuels all the magic…along with our wishes of course! For a brief moment we are all kids and the atmosphere is positive and magical.
As darkness falls the twinkly lights of the forest show us the way to Father Christmases heartland home, we walk pass tall trees which line the maze of pathways. See Father Christmases sleigh along with his reindeer at elf Ambolt’s hut before checking in at Compasses study lodge. It’s good we have our own individual elf guide called ‘Icy’ for this last part of the journey. He is assigned to take us to Father Christmas as he hops along the snowy path while we chase after him.
We enter the warm inviting lodge and see Father Christmas in all his glory. Are my eyes deceiving me? I can’t quite believe that he’s there and reach out to touch his bushy beard (it’s even bigger than daddy’s). He knows everything that I’ve been up too and I tell him that I’ve been shouting up the chimney to him. He says that he heard me. We spend a long time talking and as we say our goodbyes for another year I can’t help but wonder if he watches me all the time.
Out we step into the frosty air and as we walk the pathway turns from snowy into brown mush as we step out of the portal and back into Whitmoor Forest. It’s reassuring to know that LaplandUK is there each year to guide me back to the elves and the home of Father Christmas. After a four hour immersive winter wonderland experience we are all content and happy, full of wonderment and Christmas promise.
Another year has past and a chapter of my book has closed. We can’t wait to see what delights LaplandUK has in store for the children of the world next year. It’s the most magical place on this earth.
Love Bella x
Did you like reading our post about LaplandUK? Then why not see it through our eyes! Check out the video on our YouTube Channel.
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Disclosure: We were offered tickets to LaplandUK in return for an honest review. All purchases on site and thoughts are our own.
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This looks incredible, definitely somewhere we want to try and go next year.
You’ll love it! Keep your eyes peeled on their Facebook page for ticket release as this year they sold out! xx
Oh my goodness, this looks so magical. It is like you walked right into the Christmas story and became the main characters. I can only begin to imagine the impression Lapland UK must leave on children and to have real snow while you here there really was the icing on the cake! A beautiful adventure so expertly told and shown.
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
Thanks Fiona! It sure has left a big impression on me. We’re still talking about it a week after!
Oh wow ! I didn’t even know this place existed – it looks fantastic and so magical. Definitely memories that will last forever … even for the grown-ups 🙂 #countrykids
Especially for the grown ups! There are so many wonderful photo opportunities to take lovely pictures for Christmas cards and loved ones too x
It really is such an amazing place. I feel so happy to have been able to visit this year. Amazing memories and beautiful photos to treasure. Sarah #CountryKids
It was extra special this year with all the new elves walking around and the snow 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it too Sarah x
Lapland always looks amazing for all the family. Would love to take N but never get round to getting tickets #countryside
My kids adored it again this year. I was worried that it wouldn’t seem quite so magical, but of course it was and they loved all the little changes so it wasn’t exactly the same
It does look magical but beyond my budget with my son’s birthday in December too #CountryKids
It’s definitely worth saving up for, even just to experience it once. x
I didn’t know there was a LaplandUK. How magical. Would love to try this, with or without the tots!
This looks just so wonderful! I’ve long wanted to go to Lapland UK – it looks like just such a magical place! Looks like you absolutely loved it 🙂 #countrykids
Your photos are so beautiful! This place looks so magical! Definitely somewhere I’d love to take my boys.
Thanks! There are loads of places to stay nearby and with Legoland on the door step you could make a trip of it x
I’d not heard of Lapland UK until this year and it looks like SO much fun! Talk about bringing the magic of Christmas alive 🙂
Amazing!
I know my nephew would be ecstatic as well if he got to visit Lapland one day and I hope to be the one the bring him for sure
Ahh so glad you enjoyed it! We went again this year and absolutely loved it!
Just read your post x wonderful x
I might have to seriously consider this for next Christmas. It really does look amazing!! #familyfunlinky
Oh wow that this sounds magical. I am off to Iceland and hoping to see the Northern Lights so I will remember that they are wishes.
Lucky thing! Iceland is on our bucket list x
Aww such a lovely post and it really does look magical. It looks and sounds like you had a lovely time! #FamilyFunLinky
This looks amazing. I bet this will be an experience that you’ll all remember forever!
Exactly. It’s one of those places that will be etched onto our memories. I’m still talking about it x
What a magical place, it looks incredible! I love that it really brings the magical alive – what a wonderful childhood memory to create. I love the red coat! #CountryKids
Thanks. The red coat is from Mothercare. I felt like a little elf in it. Red is Mother Christmas’s favourite colour x
Oh look at the smiles on the kids faces! So cute!
Everyone seems to be off to Lapland right now, I’m so jealous. Also, the Little Red Riding Hood in the forest pictures needs printing off huge and turning into wall art, it is amazing!
C x
this looks so amazing – my two would love it. So impressed by the attention to detail 🙂
LaplandUK really does look like the most amazing magical experience. Love the sound of the ice-skating and all the different elves encountered along the way. How amazing to have snow falling from the skies as well. Looks like you had the most amazing time. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas too 🙂 #countrykids
Thanks Louise, we couldn’t believe our luck. A one in a lifetime chance of snow at the same time the enchanted doors opened. Even the elves were amazed 🙂
Everyone is going here!! I need to visit ASAP, it looks like so much fun :))
I would love to here, this is on my list for next year it looks fantastic
Wow, it looks like you had the most magical day. I can’t believe you even managed to get real snow too!
This looks like the most magical place for childs, I mean I can hardly believe it’s here in the UK it looks like it should be in Lapland itself!
Meeting the huskies must have been very exciting, they are beautiful dogs. One day I hope I can take my little girl here x
If anything was going to make you festive, it would be a trip to this place – so amazing and magical!
Really is a portal to another world. Looks so realistic and magical and a trip to here would be high on my list for next year x
Shhhhhh. It really is real 😉 x A wishlist destination for 2018 x
We were also lucky enough to visit this year and had an absolutely fantastic time. I have not come across another Christmas experience in the same league. We would recommend this to everyone too, what a greta review and stunning photos xx #CountryKids
This looks like such a fab place to visit over the Christmas holidays with the family. Who says you need to visit a Nordic country to go to lapland!
So lovely to see that you had such a wonderful time and the magic is just as great on each visit. #countrykids
Lapland UK looks so inviting and a great day out with the family. I would love to visit!
It looks absolutely stunning here, I really want to take mine next year.
It looks so wonderfully magical. Love your photos, what a great place to visit.
The attention to detail at Lapland UK really is incredible! Looks like you had a fantastic, magical day 🙂
There was so much to see at LaplandUK. We could spend hours there! They need to offer accommodation 😉
This truly looks and reads as the most wonderful place to go at Christmas time. #DreamTeam
I was worried it wouldn;t be as magical the second time around but the kids seemed to love it even more
Everything looks so quaint and lovely. I also adore your daughter’s coat. Where dod you get it?
The red coat is from Mothercare. This season 🙂
We have been to Lapland UK twice but not for a few years. I love it there but it is so expensive. I’m hoping to return when our little lady is a bit older and can remember more about the visit #CountryKids
I hope you make it back x It’s amazing how much they remember, I was doing the elf wave after our first visit in 2015 and never forgot that!
I’ve heard so many great things about Lapland and everyone’s experience seems totally different in a good way. This place seems too offer so much entertainment.
Never been to Lapland. It looks so magical. We really need to go, before our daughter gets too old.
Thanks for Sharing
John M
I have been seeing so much about this and I really want to go. I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough to appreciate it.
You’ll love it. The first time we went I was 2 years old and every year it keeps getting better and better for me as I notice even more. There’s plenty to do for little folk…. it’s the big folk you have to watch and all that mulled wine! 😉 *hiccup*
It sounds absolutely amazing. I would love to take my little ones, I think we will have to make the journey next year! Thanks for joining us at #familyfun
This place looks and sounds magical, I’ve always wanted to visit x
This looks like a positively magical place to visit! I wish we had something like this near me to visit, I would practically live there during the holiday. #DreamTeam
Seeing so many Lapland posts right now! Looks like you all had a lovely time xx
I was transported into the magic of your Christmas narrative and I love how there was even snow coming from the sky at Lapland UK that is amazing! So glad you had a great time x
We went to LaplandUK for the second time this year & absolutely loved it! #familyfunlinky
How beautiful is it there?! So magical xx