One of the biggest (and most expensive) Christmas experiences to meet Father Christmas, Lapland UK is well established in Ascot and last year launched in Cheshire.  Lapland Manchester tickets sold out quickly when they first went on sale but if you check, they do release more later in the year around the end of September/ start of October

When do Lapland Ascot and Manchester 2026 tickets go on sale?

Bookings will open for Lapland 2026 in both Ascot and Manchester will open at 10 AM on Friday 27th March

Need an alternative? Check out our Cheshire & Manchester Christmas Events guide for alternative ideas, for big experiences the Ultimate UK Santa’s Grottos  and all the best Cheshire & Manchester Santa grottos

Top Tips for Visiting Lapland Manchester: Honest Mum’s Guide (2025)

Planning a magical family day out to Lapland Manchester? As a mum who has just been and learned a few things the hard way I’ve put together the blog post I wish I’d read beforehand.

If you’re heading to Lapland Manchester this year,  here are the real tips, parent hacks, and things I wish I knew before visiting.

Is Lapland Manchester Actually in Manchester?

Nope — surprise! Despite the name, Lapland Manchester is located in Cheshire, not Manchester.

Congleton Rd, Siddington, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 9JY.

We arrived at 9am for an 10.30am slot, and stayed until almost 3pm, longer than expected as there’s so much to do! I believe some people stayed in local hotels – just make sure yours isn’t in the centre of Manchester!

What age is it suitable for?

Lapland caters for all ages, but I only took my 10 year old daughter. I’m not sure my 13 year old would have enjoyed it as much as her.  What I would say is as there’s lots of waiting around and story telling younger children under 3 years might not understand it as much, so I think the best ages are probably between 4-12 years.  That said, it’s such a magical place that I enjoyed it as an adult just as much as my daughter.

A few things You MUST do before you go

• Complete the Online Portal for the Magic Moment
• Add your children’s hobbies, achievements, and even tiny details. When Santa mentioned something my daughter had done recently, her face lit up with a big smile.
• Open the Invitation box alone first – remove all the adult bits and the Christmas Day postcard.
• You don’t need to put the box in the freezer as it says – I didn’t, and my daughter loved it just as much – it depends on how much time and magic you want from it and how you think your children will react.
• You don’t need to buy the elves’ hats – we just wore Christmas jumpers and headbands, there were plenty of people without them and a few people with them – so if you need to save money, do!
• Ordering jingles is a nice thing to do, but not a necessity… more about jingles later.

What to Bring to Lapland Manchester

• A small bag – you get given quite a lot of things as you do the activities, so always best to keep them safe.
• Snacks / packed lunch / water bottles / drinks – these are allowed, and as there’s quite a bit of waiting around, I would recommend having some things on hand for hungry kids!
• Your phone for photos – photos are allowed, and there are some amazing photo moments – I won’t spoil the surprise!
• Warm clothes – it was a bit chilly went we went.  Although it’s indoors some areas are colder than others, so layers and coats are recommended. My daughter wore Ugg boots, and some areas were muddy going in and wet so although you don’t need wellies, be mindful that shoes can get dirty!
• Thick socks for ice skating – we didn’t take any, but wish we had.

When to Arrive at Lapland Manchester — The 45 Minute Rule

Aim for 45 minutes early, because there’s lots to enjoy before your session, and you go in for your allocated time slot.

On arrival, there’s the opportunity to buy snacks and drinks – in our case, a lovely hot chocolate and a croissant, as we didn’t have time for breakfast.  There are also toilets in the car park – nice porta-cabins or as you get in the main entrance.

Visiting With Family or Friends?

We went alone, but I saw a few people getting separated as they split us into groups.  My advice would be to speak to the main reception desk when you arrive and explain that you’re together.

Jingles – Everything You Need to Know About Elf Money at Lapland Manchester

1 Jingle = £1

You can pre-book or buy on arrival but you don’t have to.  I ordered my daughter £25 worth, and we struggled to spend that; however, you can spend jiggles on food and snacks. I didn’t realise that until the end.  It’s the usual gifts in the shops, cuddly toys, baubles, and there’s a great sweet shop.

I would say a recommended amount would be £10-£15 per child.  You can also top up payments with your cards, so it doesn’t really matter, and you can pay for everything by card too. My daughter loved paying for everything in jiggles though, so I would certainly recommend getting a few!  Any jingles not spent can be redeemed at the end

No cash anywhere though just cards.

Food at Lapland Manchester – Prices & Tips

You can eat in the Elven Village, and it was quicker and better priced than expected. Example prices:

• Hot chocolate £6
• Mulled wine £6
• Smash burger £13
• Pepperoni pizza £13
• Bratwurst £11
• Kids meal £10
• Fries £5

Our food came quickly, and there are plenty of tables to sit. There were only 2 of us, though; some people did struggle to find the larger tables, but more in the sense of waiting time.

Parent hack: Eating here does use up some of your village time — bring a packed lunch to save both time AND money.

How Long Do You Get in the Lapland Manchester Elven Village?

You get 90 minutes, but we checked, and the elves told us there was no rush, so we had extra time eating our food.  There is so much to do there you really need to enjoy every minute.

What’s in Elven Village?

•  Ice skating
•  Letter writing
•  Shops
•  Food
• Cute corners for photos

We did letter writing first before food or skating. I noticed it did get busy in the post office, so my recommendation would be to head there first.

Reindeers, Queues & Reindeer Food

After leaving the village, there are two queues:

One for reindeer & sleigh photos and one for making reindeer food (12 jingles). I didn’t know that they charged for the reindeer food so I happily joined the queue, and my daughter loved doing this, so when we found out towards the front, there was no way I could ask her to empty it.

It’s also a nice treat for the reindeer on Christmas Eve. But if you want to save money, don’t join the reindeer food queue!

Choose based on your priorities, especially if you’re behind schedule.

Meeting Santa – Magical but Quick

You’ll walk through a twinkly forest to reach Compass’ Lobby.

One adult checks in (quietly!) while the kids sit on the benches this is where the portal details are confirmed. Our wait was only about 10 minutes just enough excitement without overtired chaos!

Photos, Souvenirs & The Secret Gift

Before leaving the Santa section:

Collect the printed photo – you get to choose one printed for free and can buy additional if you want.

Collect the secret gift in a large covered bag — think up an excuse quickly if your child notices!

Missing a passport stamp?

Ask in the last shop — they can add them. Please don’t worry!

Lapland Manchester: Final Thoughts From a Mum

Would we go again? Absolutely. But I’m not sure we could go year after year we’d probably need a gap.

Was it worth the cost? Yes, I was actually surprised at the number of activities you get included and all the theatrical experiences.

Was it magical? Yes — more than I expected.

Would I go if I had been to the real Lapland on a plane? I’m not sure, as we’ve not been to the ‘real’ Lapland, but I think if you don’t have the budget to go abroad, this is a really great magical experience.

Can you save money? Yes – bring your own food and drink, avoid the gift shops or set a small budget, don’t buy the reindeer food, stick to accepting the photo that’s included in your ticket  – you can take other photos just as good on your phone, you don’t need to spend money on extra photos.  You don’t need to buy the elves’ hats – wear your Christmas jumpers, t-shirts or make your own elf hat!

Best days to go? We went 2 days after opening, and on a Friday, I’ve heard it’s magical on any day, though and at any time.  Don’t worry about day or night, too as all areas have their own lighting, so it doesn’t matter!

Best ages to take children? Between 4 – 12 years for them to really enjoy the storytelling…although if you do take teenagers, they do have a grump-o-meter!!

If you’ve got any doubts, just book it, you won’t regret it and let’s face it, we all need a bit of magic in our lives!

How Much is Lapland Manchester 2026?

The other question often asked is if Lapland UK is worth it?  At the end of the day it’s all relative, tickets are expensive so it’s really depends on how much you’re prepared to pay for an experience.

If you go in November and on a weekday the prices are less than on the key dates as you get closer to Christmas.  Prices below are for 2026 and it’s important to note that these are the starting from prices on the day.  They usually apply to the 8am slot and get more expensive for more popular time slots through the day.

Prices are the same for a child or an adult and range from £65 to £145 per person.

It’s also worth taking into consideration the age of your children.  Are they young enough to believe but old enough to really enjoy the full experience.