SLEIGH RIDES
Inside the best Christmas theme park takeovers across the UK – from Legoland to Alton Towers
Plus, we reveal what it's like to stay overnight on a festive break
CHRISTMAS is getting closer and some of the UK's biggest attractions are dusting off their baubles and hanging up the festive lights in preparation.
If you fancy treating the kids to some extra fun in the run up to Christmas, theme parks across the country will soon start running festive entertainment alongside their most popular rides.
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Legoland
Twinkling lights and a giant Duplo Christmas tree are set to transform Legoland Windsor later this year.
From November 23, 2024, guests will enjoy Father Christmas’s Magical Sleigh as it travels from Heartlake City to Pirate Shores.
After making its debut in 2022, Ollie’s Christmas Chaos show is back for another year and it promises the same level of mischief.
A selection of 25 rides will also be open to the public, and there will also be an opportunity to visit the big man himself.
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as well as an additional £25 per child to see Father Christmas inside Santa's Grotto.
What's it like to visit Legoland at Christmas?
WHEN it comes to the Christmas build-up, there’s only one place to be.
Legoland Windsor promises to get budding builders of all ages into the festive spirit after transforming the brilliant brick paradise into a winter wonderland.
And it didn’t take long for my lad and his mate to be bowled over by the Christmas delights on offer. On entering the park we were met by a towering 33ft Duplo tree, cleverly adorned with intricately built baubles and a huge star.
While the boys stood in wonder, I used the Legoland app to plan our day – a useful tool to avoid any pesky queues. As we headed to the Driving School – a family fave – sleigh bells were suddenly heard ringing in the distance.
This was very soon followed by squeals of delight ringing in my ears as the boys whooped and waved at Santa whizzing past on his sleigh – made of Lego, obvs.
But now it was time for the main event. A meeting with a gruffly-voiced fellow with a bit of a belly and scraggly beard. No, not Daddy, but the main man himself – Father Christmas.
If you really want to spoil the kids then a visit to see Santa in his log cabin costs a little extra but is worth every penny when you see the smiles that result.
The boys, led by Mr C’s little helpers, were buzzing as they weaved through a maze of snowy Lego trees right up to Mr Claus’s ho-ho-home. After a nervous wait, his door opened and the kids were led in, their jaws dragging on the floor behind them.
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Alton Towers
On selected dates from November 29 until January 5, 2025, Alton Towers will also be on the receiving end of some festive magic.
The theme park's Magical Days Out have returned for another year, and they're set to feature a new live show called Santa's Toy Workshop.
Park-goers will watch as a team of hard-working elves prepares for Christmas Day, with Santa even making an appearance.
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Also new for 2024 is the Reindeer Games, where visitors to Alton Towers must help find a missing reindeer.
Christmas event is back with new features - and Harry Potter fans will love it
Tickets to the Magical Days Out start from £18 per person and include entry to CBeebies Land and Mutiny Bay.
Santa Sleepovers are also back for another year, with the festive staycation including a visit to Santa's grotto, Christmas activities and entertainment, a festive meal and an overnight stay.
The stay also includes complimentary breakfast, entry to the Caribbean-themed waterpark and crazy golf.
Two new pantomime shows have been added for 2024, including a Jack and the Beanstalk Panto and a festive courtyard show featuring Santa.
The Christmas-themed staycations are available from £90pp this November and December.
During the days, not all of the standard theme park rides are available, but there are plenty of other activities to keep the little ones busy.
For instance, make sure to schedule time for the included visit to Santa's Grotto, where the kids will be able to speak to the big man himself.
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Drayton Manor Park
On selected dates from November 23 until December 31, Drayton Manor will also play host to a range of festive attractions.
Christmas at Drayton Manor will feature decorations, Santa's grotto and access to 25 family-friendly rides and attractions in Thomas Land too.
In Thomas Land, a Festive Light Train, which is new for 2024, will take passengers on a journey where they'll enjoy a magical Christmas tale with Sir Topham Hatt.
The journey will end at Rusty and Dusty's Hot Chocolate Factory, which is also new for 2024.
Park-goers will learn the secrets behind the art of hot chocolate making as they warm their little hands on a cup of sweet cocoa topped with marshmallows - other treats are also set to await.
Santa's Grotto experience will return for another year where children will be provided with entertainment as well as the chance to meet Father Christmas who will give them a gift.
An accessible Christmas Grotto that's been specially designed for kids who need more time or a calmer setting will also feature in this year's line-up.
Park entry starts from £19pp, with tickets that include festive additions like a visit to Santa's Grotto, starting from £32pp.
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Chessington World of Adventures Resort
The Winter's Tail is back for another year and, from November 23 to December 31, guests can visit Father Christmas and be given access to a top-secret toy workshop.
A new Christmas village has been installed for 2024 complete with a cosy grotto where guests can meet Father Christmas.
Park-goers can also explore the Enchanted Hollow where Santa's Elves have set up their Toy Workshops in the underground town.
Guests can also visit selected theme park rides, and a zoo with its very own reindeer.
Tickets for the Winter's Tail event start from £32pp.
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Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World
On selected dates from December 6 until December 23, Paultons Park will also be getting into the festive spirit.
The park will be filled with magical illuminations, and a selection of rides and attractions will be open for the festive period too.
Guests will get the opportunity to meet their favourite Christmas characters like Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Reindeer and Billy and Belinda Elves.
Theatre shows have also returned for another year, with Santa's Christmas Wish Show set to feature singing, dancing, special effects and Christmas characters.
Christmas tickets cost £38.75 each for those over 1m tall.
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THOUSANDS of Christmas lights sparkle as we walk up to the Alton Towers Hotel.
I’ve arrived for a Santa’s Sleepover with my two and four-year-old children and it already feels like we are in a winter wonderland.
Our moon voyage-themed room is spacious with a double bed and bunk beds tucked in their own cove.
It’s the perfect set-up for families and my four-year-old boy is especially excited to see an Xbox.
We head to the bar where a Christmas helper draws all the kids into fun and games so that Mummy can get into the festive spirit with a tipple.
The atrium is decorated with gorgeous garlands and a huge tree.
Then it’s time for dinner at the Secret Garden – a roast dinner buffet with all the trimmings, plus kids’ specials.
The food gets the thumbs-up from my two fussy eaters.
We hotfoot it to the Robin Hood panto.
Filled with laughs, singing and dancing, the show really impressed me.
In the morning, we head to Mistletoe Lane where we’re booked in to meet Father Christmas.
The little ones are excited to head to the grotto and knock at the big red door, answered by one of Santa’s elves.
There’s two chances for photos before we meet the big man himself.
Miraculously, my kids have made it on to the nice list and are overjoyed to get an Alton Towers teddy to take home.
We’ve made it to lunchtime and most of the rides are working – we clamber aboard Postman Pat Parcel Post and the In The Night Garden boat rides.
Queue times are short and we manage to pack in most of the attractions.
Tickets to LaplandUK went on sale earlier this year - and they may already be sold out.
And a much-loved Christmas steam train is set to make a return to the UK this year where passengers can meet Santa.
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