Find Christmas magic at LaplandUK

Could a Christmas trip to LaplandUK ever be as good as the real thing? Bernadette Fallon took two young friends to find out

Would a Christmas trip to a forest in Kent ever come close to the thrill of taking a sleigh ride in the Arctic Circle, hanging with huskies and meeting the great man in Lapland? Ups: not having to get up at the crack of dawn to climb on a plane and worry about the carbon footprint. Downs: well, it's not cold enough for snow...

 

The excitement starts in October when Joey, seven, and Eibhan, five, receive their personal invites from Santa Claus to come and help with his Christmas preparations. So we're off on a train to Wadhurst, the nearest station to Bewl Water estate, home to LaplandUK. From the station it's a short taxi ride to the elves' car park - elves obviously do better in Kent than their Lapp counterparts who surely only hitch rides on sleighs - and the visitor centre café where we wait until it's time to enter the forest.

 

There's no rolling up and barging in whatever time you like. Entrance is timed and the journey takes in various themed activities leading up to that great moment when we get to meet Santa Claus. Elves keep us entertained as we wait for the magic hour of midday to strike (these are full-sized elves - nonetheless, very good at their jobs!). Once in, we're in a giant forest clearing, beautifully illuminated and still under canvas. By now elves and children are great friends and the kids cluster tightly around them, so great photo opportunities as we, the ‘big people' prowl around the outside, cameras clicking furiously.

 

Snowy landscapes

 

Then after a magic spell unlocks the door to the forest it swings open to reveal... snow! We're back outside in a snowy landscape where rows of snow-covered fir trees, strung with fairy lights, lead us through to a forest clearing and a snow-covered log cabin. Here the children met the Sami, one of the oldest indigenous ethnic groups of north Europe, who still live by traditional skills of coastal fishing and reindeer herding. And if the elves are the jolly juniors of the cast, the Sami seem to be the considered elders, slightly older - maybe middle management compared to entrance-level elves?

 

There's an hour of activities as the children are taken to Santa's workshop - a large wooden cabin - to help assemble wooden horses' heads and earn a stamp in their passports; then to Mrs Claus's kitchen - another wooden cabin - where they decorate gingerbread men and receive another passport stamp. Afterwards lunch is served in - you guessed it - a super-large wooden cabin, before our group assembles again beside the ice rink in the village square (wooden cabins all over the place), ready to meet the great man.

 

Meeting Santa

 

And how magically it's handled. An elf takes Joey, Eibhan, mum Fiona and myself through fir-lined paths deep into the forest. Once we meet another small group returning, being led by their own elf, but mostly we have the forest to ourselves. And now the trees clear and we come to a small cosy cottage in a snowy clearing with a light burning in the window. ‘Ssshhh,' says the elf, ‘we're here. I'll just see if he's ready', and we sit excitedly on the wooden bench in the small entranceway.

 

The elf opens the door to beckon us through and a loud ‘hello there' booms out as we step into the cosiest little room in the world, warmly lit with soft lamps, a fire flickering in the grate. And it's Santa!, sitting on a sofa with a large list in his hand. And you could bottle the excitement when Santa asks Eibhan about Ben 10 (his favourite cartoon character) and checks with Joey on Chelsea's results. ‘You knew!' gasps Joey in utter surprise. But of course he knew, because Santa knows everything (aided by the fact that LaplandUK ask for details of every child's hobbies, interests and friends in advance of the visit).

 

Finally it's time to leave the magical cottage and Joey and Eibhan are given a furry husky each to take away. There's just time for a quick photo with Santa and we are taken back through the forest maze by our elf. We end our journey in the Lapland shop, where we can pick up our photo (£10 for a large print) and browse a really beautiful selection of Christmas toys, ornaments and gifts. Prices seem quite reasonable, I bought a lovely wooden angel for £5 - and the merchandise is classy rather than tat.

 

Is it value for money?

 

Classy is how I would sum up the whole experience in fact; it's not a cheap day out but the price reflects the high standards and quality of the whole experience. It looks great, the staff are excellent and it captures a wonderful sense of Christmas magic.

 

It's managed very well, timed entry means that group size is controlled and every child gets to partake fully in the activities. Lunch, included in the price, was excellent - a serve-yourself selection of home-cooked hot dishes, including a good range of meat - sausage and mash, turkey and ham pie, cottage pie - and non-meat - macaroni cheese, fish pie, lentil casserole - dishes, as well as a selection of hot and cold desserts. Lunch tables were stocked with large jugs of juice, and there was also a pay-for menu of hot and cold drinks, including wine and beer, and a lovely bakery selection of home-made cakes.

 

After the visit to Santa you can stay as long as you like in the park - trying out the ice skating, enjoying an outdoor hot chocolate, visiting the reindeer enclosure or settling down for a story in the story-telling tent, which also houses an exhibition of the history of the Sami people. Education is deftly worked into the day with even the elves contributing words of eco-wisdom in the walk through the forest. But being green and learning history are a long way down the list behind magic - and magic is what LaplandUK does very well. And all that without getting on a plane - it's a great alternative!

 

Find out more

 

LaplandUK is open until Christmas Eve, and tickets cost from £57.50. Bookings must be completed in advance, online at www.laplanduk.co.uk, or by phoning 0871 221 9627. Now in its second year, LaplandUK is located at Bewl Water Estate, near Tunbridge Wells in Kent.

 

NEWS JUST IN - GREAT DEALS: Enjoy great money-saving offers in the run up to Christmas. BUY 2 GET 2 FREE until December 11 and BUY 2 GET 1 FREE on December 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 December. Visit www.laplandUK.co.uk for more info. 

 

Getting there

 

Our group travelled from London Charing Cross to Wadhurst with Southeastern Trains; for train times and bookings visit www.southeasternrailway.co.uk or phone 0845 748 4950.

 

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