Travel test

WHAT: Lapland UK, the ultimate Christmas theme park which brings the magic of Santa’s Arctic home to the South of England.

The four-hour immersive experience costs from £69 per person, which – among other things – includes playing with the elves, making toys, decorating gingerbread, ice skating and a meeting with the man himself. portal.laplanduk.co.uk

WHERE: The park is in Ascot, Berks, close to both the M3 and M4, on the edge of Swinley Forest.

The whole experience is on site with plenty of heating to get you through the winter day or evening, depending on what time slot you choose.

Parking is also straightforward with plenty of staff to guide you. EXPERIENCE: Every effort has been made to recreate Father Christmas’s homeland, from snowy tree-lined pathways, beautiful log cabins and excellent performances by the various actors during the journey through Lapland.

It didn’t take long for the small folk – or the big folk – to throw themselves into making sure that Team Husky made the best wooden toys in the elves’ workshop and the tastiest gingerbread men in Mother Christmas’s kitchen.

And once the excitement had reached fever pitch for my fourand seven-year-old boys we were released into the Elven village where if you’re brave you can ice skate and meet the huskies.

Or if you want a gentler time you can wander round the snowy wonderland with a glass of mulled wine and a hot dog.

After a trip to the post office to write to Father Christmas, and a browse through the shops, the grand finale is a visit to Santa’s grotto itself… and it’s well worth the wait.

QUIBBLES: It’s not the cheapest trip around, especially if you have a large family, but it certainly doesn’t feel like a rip-off either with high-quality gifts and some very happy kids.

You do have to queue – the whole season is sold out. But the organisation is fantastic, which keeps the waiting around to a minimum.

VERDICT: A real Christmas treat to get you in the mood for the festive season.

For young kids especially, it’s a day out they are unlikely to forget in a while.