Seven weeks into Lockdown here in Northern Ireland and we’ve been talking a lot about our favourite trips. We may not be able to go anywhere, but that doesn’t stop us looking back and remembering the places we’ve already been. In May 2017 we spent our annual Megan / Daddy joint birthday trip at LEGOLAND Windsor. Megan had just started to get into LEGO, and loved LEGO FRIENDS, so we thought it was the perfect place to go.
Where is LEGOLAND Windsor
LEGOLAND is located on Winkfield Road, Windsor, SL4 4AY.
There is a huge car park on site and if travelling from Windsor there is a shuttle bus that runs between the train/bus station and LEGOLAND.
Opening Times and Costs
Opening hours and days vary, have a look at the site to see if it’s open a time or date that suits you.
Costs again can vary depending on how you book your ticket. Prices for booking directly with LEGOLAND Windsor can be found here. However, have a look around and see if you can find any offers. We had saved up our Tesco Clubcard points which we were able to use to cover the price of the tickets for all three of us for one days admission.
Where to Stay
We found a decently priced hotel at Heathrow which suited us, as we wanted to spend one day at LEGOLAND, one day exploring London and our last day in Windsor itself. However, there are plenty of options in the surrounding area of Windsor or Slough to suit all budgets. If you really want the full on LEGOLAND experience, then there are hotels in the resort.
Highlights from our Day
Miniland
Miniland was the first area we visited while we waited on the rest of the park opening. We were able to walk around scaled famous landmarks from all around the world all made from LEGO. All the models are recreated using standard LEGO bricks – over 30 million of them!
Megan stood in absolute amazement, shouting out every time she spotted somewhere she had been before. A wonderful part of the park and needs to be seen to be believed.
L-Drivers
There are two driving schools in the park. A smaller one for younger kids which suited Megan at the time and a bigger more complex one for more older kids. Both driving schools are very popular, so we made a bee line here first to beat the massive queues. Megan was given a safety briefing before being shown to her LEGO built car to complete laps of a circuit. At the end she was delighted to be informed that she had passed her test, and received her driving licence. If only it was that easy, maybe Mummy would have her licence too! Megan absolutely loved this ride and kept wanting to go back.
The Dragon
The Dragon can be found in the castle just behind Megan in the above photo. Being the largest roller coaster in the park, this was the scariest ride for us. Megan was just bang on the right height, if not a little under. However, being the dare devil she is, she was determined to get on, so she stood up tall and crossed her fingers, which worked a treat! She loved it – she spent the entire time screaming with laughter, as the ride took us on a journey the castle and out high above the park making many twists and turns.
Heart Lake City arena
At this point during the day Megan was complaining her legs were about to fall off and Daddy was complaining that he was getting thirsty for beer. On entry we were given stage times for the ‘Return to Skeleton Bay’ show at the Heart Lake City arena. We grabbed some refreshments, and made our way there to find a seat ready for the interactive stunt show.
Take note of where you choose to sit. “Splash” and “Wet” Zones are marked by signs, so be mindful, especially if you have just dried off and are all out of changes of clothes!
The show itself was fantastic, and well worth the watch. Megan loved joining in the the chants and actions, and really enjoyed herself – and the snacks!
DUPLO Airport
Megan absolutely loved this ride. The combination of Daddy being afraid of heights and the thrill of being in control of a helicopter made it a firm favourite for her. She even worked out you could shake the helicopter which obviously made it more scary for Daddy! I am sure she could be heard roaring with laughter for miles!
Fairy Tale Brook
After some of the more adventurous rides, we headed back to Duplo Valley and took a scenic ride around Fairy Tale Brook, which suits both adults and younger kids.
Megan had a great time trying to work out which iconic fairy tale she could see in the distance. Some of the models were very weather beaten when we visited however, Megan enjoyed it, as it was some time away from the mayhem in the park.
LEGO LAND Express
The train starts in Heart lake city and goes the whole way around the park. The train is a great way to see the park from a different perspective. Make sure you wave at everyone as you pass. Choo Choo!! Don’t be put off if the queue seems long, it moves very quickly.
Fire Academy
Mummy and Daddy certainly got a work out on this ride. We done all the leg work and raced the other LEGO fire engines across the track and then pumped the water through the hose. Megan took all the glory by putting the fire out. An absolute must for all mini fire fighters.
Raft Racers
This 20 sec ride involves climbing on a raft and racing another one along the course. In hindsight we should have left this to the end, but it was on Megan’s must do list and she wouldn’t let it go. Daddy didn’t bring a change of shorts and in turn walked around with a soggy bum most of the day, much to Megan’s amusement!
Splash Safari
Splash Safari is a brilliant alternative for younger kids who cannot use the much bigger drench towers. Megan had an absolute ball avoiding other kids squirting water from the giant animals. This area isn’t open all year around, but if going in the summer months we recommend you bring a swim suit and give it a go, it is very popular as we found out.
Would we recommend?
100%. There is something for the whole family here. Megan still talks about Daddy and her going on some of the scary rides. We had read many mixed reports before we went, people saying that many of the LEGO models are ageing and becoming weather beaten. That is true for some parts, but we can only imagine the time it takes to go around every model and update it. We also heard a lot of people complaining about the price. If you pay on the day or do not avail of offers, then yes it could be a very expensive place to visit.
Handy Tips
- Plan your day… if you have kids who have must do this ride on their minds, get the map out and get planning a great day out. Avoid the huge queues which develop during the day for the popular rides and go there first.
- Q-bots, we didn’t bother the day we went it wasn’t overly busy. However, I was speaking to a woman, who was telling me on busier days if she doesn’t get Q-bots the kids won’t get on any rides. They do sell them around the park, if you notice queues are long.
- We found the food to be not overly expensive. There were kids eat free offers in most places, when an adult meal was purchased. We visited a garage before hand and picked up sandwiches which we ate on our way around.
- Bring sun cream and a change of clothes. We visited on a beautiful sunny day, and thankfully had sun cream with us. Places in the park do sell if your stuck. A change of clothes is required as you are almost guaranteed to get soaked at some point.
- On entry to the park, there is an ID bracelet stand. Get one and put it on your child’s arm, along with your mobile number.
Thank you for taking the time to read our review on LEGOLAND Windsor, we really hope you enjoy your visit.
The Lewis Family.
Feel free to have a read over other places we have visited in England.
