Lapland UK: The interactive winter wonderful won't fail to wow your kids

Queen facing ‘very different’ Christmas period says expert

“They must have come from somewhere snowy,” I announce to my children, William, 10, and Charlotte, eight. I point my smartphone at the envelopes and suddenly, with a little help from ElfVision, woodland characters Sage and Eeko, spring to life by augumented reality. They have a very important request for the kids – from Father Christmas. With this year being a bit unusual, he’s a bit behind with everything, so could they go and help out with some last-minute toy making… in Lapland?

Big hello from Santa and his elf workers (Image: Handout)

Once the children have done their bit in the factory, they’re invited to discover the secrets of Santa’s enchanted world and meet the big man himself! As every parent knows, Christmas is as much about the buzz of the build-up as it is about tearing open presents.

This letter, direct from Santa, together with the tech wizardry of Lapland’s very own Wishing Glass app, which I had previously downloaded, means anticipation is riding high.

In the days between the invitation being delivered and our visit, we spend time listening to the stories, playing the games and doing activities on the app so we get to know the characters we’ll be meeting – and the excitement level ramps up even further.

On our big day, we follow the directions given by Compass, the wise elf pathfinder – 51.4 degrees north, 0.7 degrees west – and arrive to find Lapland looking fabulous in its pine forest setting… just off the A332 near Ascot in Berkshire.

Busy toy workshop to entertain the kids (Image: Handout)

Members of the Elven civilisation are there to meet us. They teach us their special wave. Put your thumb to your nose, then wiggle your fingers very much like Giovanna Fletcher in I’m a Celeb.

There is then a very warm and welcoming hotel-style check-in, where the “Small Folk” are given Elven passports, issued by the Elf Council, which allow them to travel around Lapland’s secret pathways.

We grown-ups, or “Big Folk”, are wearing our special face masks – the grinning animal designs show we are either “team reindeer” or “team husky”. It’s a cheerfully festive way of steering visitors safely around this award-winning, four-hour, walk-through theatrical attraction.

“Children live in the best nation,” declare the elves as we begin the adventure, “the imagination.”

“And no grumpalumps!” is the message to the parents!

Young people are given Elven passports (Image: Handout)

After weaving through passageways festooned with fairy lights, each bubble group is shown to a socially-distanced bench beneath the twisted branches of a huge tree and we get to meet Sage and Eeko, the characters first seen on the app, in person.

Then we’re off to the Toy Factory where we encounter Whittle, Conker and Wish, who show us how to build the extra toys for Santa to give to the many children who’ve made it on to this year’s good list.

Next we meet Mother Christmas in her kitchen, where she and her dancing elves have been busy making gingerbread. Icing and sweets are placed on the spaced out tables for us to decorate the treats. Then she settles everyone down for story-time.

Still nibbling, we say our goodbyes then follow the trail of snow-dusted Christmas trees to the Elven Village, a winter wonderland filled with decorated pines, wooden huts, festive stalls, stores and music.

The winter wonderland is decorated with wooden huts (Image: Handout)

There is Elva’s Post Office to send off your wish-list to Santa and Bauble’s Shop caters for all your shiny and glittery needs. Pixie Mixie’s sweets is a kaleidoscope of candy and at Pumpernickel’s restaurant, there’s a menu of Elven gourmet burgers, winter warmers and Mother Christmas’s perfect pies.

If you prefer to grab something on the go, there are crepes and ice-cream at Pippy’s Pantry and bratwurst and pretzels at Pickle’s Sausages.