Legoland Windsor is a theme park for older kids, but it's a great sensory adventure for little ones too.
Here at Mother&Baby, we've got all the info on tickets, opening times and hotels - along with how to have the most fun when you're there! If you live elsewhere in the UK, we'd recommend checking out Legoland Discovery Centre, the ultimate indoor Lego playground, in either Manchester or Birmingham!
While all of the big kids are busy at school mid-week, Legoland Windsor is queue-free and a great day out for a toddler. There are loads for them to do, from going on a submarine trip to see tropical fish, to making cupcakes on a touchscreen, to getting snowed on!
Here is our advice for Legoland with a little one:
What are the Legoland opening times?
The resort will open again on 9th March 2018. Opening hours will be 10am-5pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-6pm Friday to Sunday for most of March, and will then change again in April. During July and August, the resort is open from 10am-6pm every day. Remember to ask for a Lost Parent wristband when you get there.
What's the address?
Winkfield Rd, Windsor SL4 4AY
Legoland prices
Under-threes get in free! But if your child is aged three to five and you don’t live far away, then the pre-school Legoland Annual Pass is well worth getting. It buys a year's unlimited entry for tots between three and five and an accompanying adult from Monday to Friday during school term-time (subject to opening times) for £60. Click here, to get your tickets.
Are there any Legoland offers/deals?
The 'Second Day Free' dealon overnight stays is available now. Every break includes an overnight stay, use of the hotel facilities, not to mention breakfast the next morning - and you'll get the second day completely free. You can even choose to stay in a themed room at the Legoland Resort Hotel, or the brand new Legoland Castle Hotel which opened its doors earlier this year.
Or if you're looking for a good deal on a hotel nearby, SuperBreak offer discounted tickets to Legoland when you buy them alongside a hotel. Otherwise, just check out Legoland's handy tool that lets you find out when the cheapest time to go to the park is, splitting the days into green (£30), yellow (£35) or blue (£45).
What are the hotels like in Windsor?
If you're looking for the ultimate sleepover that your child will never forget, there is only one place to go: Legoland Hotel. From the dragon-guarded entrance to the brightly coloured pirate splash pool and fully themed bedrooms, the hotel inspires little imaginations! Themed family rooms (2 adults/ 2 children) are available from £331 in low season but special rates arevavailable for Legoland Annual Pass Holders. If you're looking for something on the cheaper side, there are also plenty of options at the [32 nearby partner hotels]{href='http://www.legoland.co.uk/legoland-hotels/partner-hotels/' target='_blank' rel='nofollow noopener'} that are all family-friendly!
Christmas at Legoland!
Santa Sleepovers are available this Christmas at Legoland! These sleepovers are a magical family experience, book yours now on the 1st – 2nd, 8 – 9th, 15th – 17th or 18th — 23rd December.
The Santa sleepovers host a whole night of Christmas entertainment and festive fun for little ones, including meeting the Legoland Characters and joining them at their own disco. For the whole family, there is an Elves' Magic Show and lots of Lego building activities. But the highlight of the day will be meeting Father Christmas in his magical grotto, where every child receives a Lego gift.
What Legoland rides and attractions are best for little ones?
Look for the teddy bear symbol on the map, it shows you which rides are most suited to youngsters. One place that toddlers love is Miniland, the model ‘village’ made out of nearly 40 million Lego bricks. Leave plenty of time to wander round it as there is lots to see. Everything's at their height, there are boats and cars and trains tootling about, and the low fences mean you don't have to worry about them touching everything.
The new 4D movie showing in the Imagination Centre, 'The Lego Movie 4D, A New Adventure', is a fab sensory experience for young and old alike (this is where the snow is!). But if you have a youngster, then sit at the back or to the sides of the theatre – if you sit in the centre, the effects are a bit too much for a little one to handle and you're likely to get wet!
Can you celebrate birthdays at Legoland?
Legoland is the best place celebrate a little one’s birthday, so make sure you take advantage of all the perks by visiting the Guest Services (there's one at The Beginning and another in Heartlake City). Here you can ask for your youngster's name to be added to the birthday boards around the resort – he'll think he's famous!
What else will little ones like?
There are puppet shows on in the Duplo Valley Theatre! Watch a show before going for a boat ride around Fairy Tale Brook to get in the fairy-tale mood.
Another tot-pleaser is the Lego pony called Bella outside Mia's Riding Adventure. If you stroke its nose and tickle under its chin, it neighs. Forget all the big rides – this lump of plastic is the one thing that youngsters always want to go back and see just one more time!
What if it all gets too much?
Need to take five...? Head to the Enchanted Forest for a quiet walk through the trees to find the woodland creatures.
What's Legoland like in summer?
Once the water warms up at the end of May, there are two live shows in the lake area of Heartlake City: Pirates of Skeleton Bay Stunt Show and Lego Friends to the Rescue. Youngsters really enjoy them, but get there well before the show start-time so there's room to sit down on the steps for a good view. This is a great spot to have your packed lunch too.
Take swimsuits and towels, and go and find the super-sized Duplo whale in the toddler water-play area, Splash Safari. Take a £1 coin too, so you can stash your wet cozzies in a locker once you're all done. Check on the website if this area is open before you go, as it's seasonal.
What about food and changing facilities?
You can buy baby food from Heartlake Café and Hill Top Café. All the cafés and restaurants will give you a jug of hot water to warm your own baby food.
There's a Baby Care Centre in Heartlake City, with an area to feed your baby and change nappies. It has been recently revamped, so although there are baby-changing facilities and extra-large cubicles with additional seating for children in the toilet blocks throughout the resort, the Baby Care Centre is much nicer.
ReadM&B's review of Legoland Windsor Resort, here
Fancy booking a visit? Head to legoland.co.uk for more information.