Have you heard about Lapland UK?
Up until this year, it has been running in Ascot only, but in 2025 they opened a site just outside Manchester, and as soon as this honorary Manc heard the news, she was all over it.
It looked incredible. I just knew that my kids would love it, and I also knew it would be mega expensive, but for me, this was one of those opportunities that won’t come around again. Yes, I know that Christmas comes but once a year, but my son won’t be 5 again next year, he might already be starting to doubt the magic of Christmas, so it felt like the perfect timing for Lapland UK.
So I coughed up over £500 for tickets (more on the price later), was sick in my mouth a little bit, and booked my family onto possibly the most magical trip we have ever, and will ever, go on.
If you are hoping to get tickets you may be disappointed, they went fast, but the good news is that you are just in time for next year.
They released the tickets at midday on the 31st of March, which is exactly when I clicked the link to book. Despite it being about 3 seconds past 12, I was number 64,806 in the queue!
It might have been about as difficult as getting tickets for an Oasis reunion, but I got there in the end. Now I just had to keep it a secret from the kids for NINE MONTHS.
I can’t tell you how many times I excitedly watched the promotional video. Then, when the box came with the invitation from Father Christmas at the end of October, we read through it all countless times.
But nothing compared to the excitement when the big day came. We got the kids up early (it felt like we were going on holiday 😂) and headed to Capesthorne Hall, otherwise known as Lapland UK.
My Review of Lapland UK
I won’t try to cover absolutely everything in this review, because honestly, you would need half a day to read it all! I think the best approach is to walk you through it logistically, do a bit of a photo dump, and throw in some tips at the end.
The whole experience is basically split into two parts:
- An immersive, interactive, theatrical experience.
- A free rein explorative area with loads to do and Father Christmas at the end of it.
You begin by entering the Whispering Wood, where a magical doorway to Lapland has appeared. This is where the elves live, and they can help you get through the door to see Lapland for yourself, and eventually even meet the big man himself 🎅
Arrival
I’m a girl who appreciates a well oiled machine, and I have to say, everything about our visit was planned to perfection. Even the parking system. It might sound boring but this bit could be stressful and start the visit on the wrong foot, but the team are really well organised.
There’s a fair walk from the car park to the entrance, but it has all been beautified with fairy lights and Christmas trees, getting more and more magical the closer you get. The anticipation builds and builds.
People will be stopping for photos from the very first entry point. We took lots of photos for other families and they did the same for us. It’s a lovely atmosphere right from the start.
When you arrive at the Elven Departures entrance, things get very impressive very quickly:
The whole place is connected with tunnels and the traffic is all one way, so you can’t get lost. But the level of detail is next level. Even the walkways have been given lots of attention. They also serve as a place to remind you of the rules: No Grump-a-Lumps!
They still let my fella in though 😂
Your first stop is the Elven Departure Lounge. It’s the elf equivalent of an airport lounge, with a cafe, a shop, a place to check in and get your passport plus any extras if you have bought any (I’ll cover this at the end). It’s all done in character. Every member of staff has an elf name, they all do the elf wave (thumb on your nose and wiggle your fingers), and all engage in role to keep the kids engaged and immersed.
This is also when you get put in your team. This is just to make logistics easier when moving guests through the site, but it’s a fun way of doing it. We were on Team Rudi:
From here, you go to visit the Elven Council. This is the first of the really theatrical bits. The actors do a sort of show for everyone and even get one of the Dads up as an example of a grump a lump, and everyone has to cheer him up. Cue huge embarrassment for one poor chap!
This is where we really learn about the world we have entered, and what lies beyond. Once the show is over, you make your way into Eeko’s Glade.
Eeko’s Glade, the Toy Factory, and the Bakery
It’s impossible to pick a favourite part of the day, but Eeko’s Glade was pretty special. It was like being on the set of a movie.
This is where the magical doorway to Lapland is carved into a ginormous tree. There is another little show with a couple of actors who teach the children how elves are born from acorns, then how to use their magical thoughts to open the door. You have to join in with all the rhymes – as parents, it’s down to you to make the experience feel as immersive as possible for the kids.
So don’t be a grump-a-lump! Join in!
Once the door has lit up and opened, you’re into Lapland. This is where it gets snowy.
I’m going to photo dump this bit. The Toy Factory and the Lapland Bakery are both theatre shows where you learn more about the world, about the story and why the elves need your help to save Christmas. As part of this, the kids need to build a toy (Bertie the Bear) and put it on the conveyor belt, and then decorate their own gingerbread house (which they also get to eat). Even the big folk get a little biscuit 🍪 Oh, and Mother Christmas reads you a story in the Bakery 🤶📖
The main cast of elves are supported by elf helpers who bring everything out and help keep each section running smoothly, then at the end you are wished well on your journey and on you go.
The Lapland Bakery is the last section of the theatrical half of the whole thing. Next up is the Elven Village – and this is where things go up yet another level.
The Elven Village
By this point, I already thought Lapland UK was incredible, but entering the Elven Village is genuinely breathtaking. It feels as though you are in another world entirely. The whole experience is indoor, but it genuinely feels like you are in a mystical magical woodland. They use a combination of smoke and lighting to create a sky effect that you just don’t question.
This bit is free rein, so you can explore in any way you like.
There is ice skating, a sweet shop, a bauble shop, a library, a blacksmith, food and drink (and cakes), and a post office where the kids can write a letter to Father Christmas and post it in the special letterbox outside. My little boy wrote a thank you letter for inviting him to Lapland instead, every word spelled incorrectly, and it just melted my heart 🥲🥰
What really brings it to life though, are a huge cast of elf characters wandering around. They are 100% in character, when talking to each other or talking to you and your children. So if you walk past them chatting among themselves they are discussing elven things that you just catch a few moments of. It’s so immersive.
They all have their own personalities and backstories, and are very obliging when asked to take what must be thousands of photos a day!
Honestly, I can’t do the place justice and neither can my photographs. It’s experiential, so being there genuinely makes you feel different. You’re not cold but you feel like you’re in a cold place. There is loads of atmospheric sound. The textures underfoot have all been considered. There is no sign of the real world once you step inside.
Here’s another photo dump:
The Elven Village is where you will probably spend most of your ‘jingles’ if you decided to get any. This is the Lapland currency, but it basically works out as £1 to J1 (1 jingle). All the prices are marked up in jingles which was a great little touch.
Reindeers and Father Christmas
When your time in the Elven Village comes to an end, it’s through another snowy tunnel until you come to Little Rudi’s Stables.
This is where you can see the sleeping reindeer (which I’m 95% sure were mechanical, but they looked very realistic), get yourself some reindeer food to take home for Christmas eve, and have a look at Father Christmas’s real life sleigh.
This place has a workshop feel to it, and the elves are more practical in appearance and in nature. There’s no show or anything, you just have a look around and get your final passport page stamped.
Next you arrive in Compass’ Study. Compass is the elf who plans the flight path for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve. In reality this is the waiting area to see Santa, but as with everything else at Lapland UK, they have made it much more than that.
You will register your arrival and then an elf will come and call your child’s name, before leading you into a snow covered forest, down a winding path, until you reach a small cosy wooden hut, where Father Christmas lives. After a short wait, you will be invited inside, and your child will meet the big man himself.
I have to tell you, this was the best Father Christmas experience I have ever had. You can give some info about your child online well in advance, and because you registered your arrival, Father Christmas will know all about your child. He knew my boy was Star Writer at school the week before, for example, and it blew his mind. It makes the whole thing so authentic.
I didn’t take pictures in here, because there is a camera operated by someone unseen and I just wanted to experience it without any distractions. Father Christmas made my boy an honorary elf, gave him a special bell for his hat, gave him a husky dog toy, and even gave our baby girl a soft rattle present too. We had loads of time in there, it wasn’t rushed at all, and my boy left believing he had genuinely met the real deal.
In the gift shop, you can spend any jingles you have left or spend even more money on countless Lapland UK themed goodies, get your photo with Father Christmas printed, and then it’s back out into the real world.
The whole thing was about 4.5 hours, and it flew by. It was, quite honestly, one of the best family experiences we have ever had.
Tips For Your Visit
If you have tickets and are after some tips for your visit, you’ve come to the right place. Bear in mind this is specific to the Manchester site.
- Personalise in advance – It’s easy to miss this, but you should personalise your visit. Answer a few questions about your small folk and Father Christmas will magically know all about them when they meet.
- Arrive 45 minutes early – Get the most out of your day and don’t rush the start.
- It’s all indoors – Once you get in, it’s all covered and not cold. No need for hundreds of layers.
- Buy jingles – Jingles enhance the immersion for the kids. They cost a pound per jingle, basically, and leftovers can be converted back to human folk money at the end.
- Get your passport stamped – Everywhere you go you can get your passport stamped. Check the pages to find out more. This is supposed to be how you get to meet Father Christmas. It’s part of the story but in reality no one is going to stop you seeing him if you miss a page or two.
- Go to the Elven Village quickly – The earlier you get into the Elven Village the better. Time is limited here and there is a lot to do, so once you leave the Lapland Bakery get a wiggle on.
- Go ice skating early – If there’s not already a queue, this is the first thing you should do in the Elven Village.
- Take note of story time – There is a story session in the Library in the Elven Village, and it’s easy to miss. We did!
- Take a packed lunch – The food is fairly priced, but if you want to save £50 or so, take sandwiches to eat in the village.
- You get one free photo – The ticket cost includes one free printed photo, but you can pay extra for more or for the digital copies.
- Don’t forget your bear! – That bear you made in the Toy Factory? That will be handed over when you get your photo, the idea being that Father Christmas delivers it on Christmas eve. So one parent take the kids to the loo or something while the other sorts this out.
A Note on Upselling
It’s true that Lapland UK bombard you with emails once you have booked. The upselling is wild. You can opt out, but if you don’t expect to be offered hats, advent calendars, VIP upgrades, and all sorts of other upsells.
It’s flipping expensive in the first place – totally justified, but still very expensive – so being asked to spend more feels a bit cheeky, but they are a business after all.
We caved and bought a £25 elf hat for our son. It’s great quality, but not at all necessary – although it did get him an honorary elf bell with Father Christmas which felt extra special.
We spent £510 on the tickets plus 25 jingles and cancellation protection. We spent around another £70 on the day, so all in all it cost about £600 for a family of 4, one of which was a baby.
And do you know what? I would do it again tomorrow. It was, hands down, the best money I have spent all year.