Last year tickets sold out within hours of going on sale
(Image: MEN)
Hit Christmas family attraction LaplandUK has confirmed it will return to the North West of England again in 2026. The announcement has been greeted with excitement as news of this year’s ticket launch date was also unveiled.
The immersive Christmas extravaganza, where families get to walk through a ‘magical’ portal to meet Father Christmas and his elves, will be held in both its original Ascot home in Berkshire and in the north west in 2026. Last year the “Manchester” event was held in Cheshire, within the sprawling grounds of the Capesthorne Hall country estate, near Congleton, playing host.
Last year, tickets sold out within hours of going on sale such was demand, with prices starting from £65 for early dates in November up to £195 per person at peak times in December. Both adults and kids pay the same ticket price to get in.
Bosses say this year’s prices will be revealed in full on Thursday, March 12, as well as all dates for both Ascot and Manchester events, likely to be in November and December 2026. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, March 27, from 10am.
The return of a north west site was confirmed by LaplandUK bosses last night, with an announcement on social media, accompanied by a magical video of Father Christmas preparing for the event with his elves. The video shows Father Christmas preparing the invites that are sent to all children, known as “Small Folk” in Lapland, who attend the event, reports the MEN.
Santa is then heard showing what visitors can expect, including walking through whispering woods, baking gingerbread, making toys with the elves, walking through snow and skating on a frozen pond.
The announcement on Facebook said: “LAPLAND 2026 At 10 AM on Friday 27th March, booking for Lapland 2026 in both Ascot and Manchester will open. All dates and prices will be confirmed this Thursday 12 March.”
It added: “We truly cannot wait to make treasured memories together this Christmas in Lapland.” Fans of the event had been eagerly anticipating the announcement after weeks of teases on the Lapland pages, and once it hit on Monday night many were left: “screaming with excitement”.
Some parents were already panicking about being able to get hold of tickets when both events go on sale after last year’s frenzy. Many took to social media to loop friends in to get organised for getting tickets, with one saying: “thank god I’m off work,” and another writing: “THANK GOD FOR THAT, it’s after pay day”, although one added: “Time to remortgage.”
The Lapland Manchester event saw families walk through a series of portals to experience immersive Christmas events, all under cover, across a four-hour theatrical experience. There’s also food market areas where visitors can purchase hot food and drinks while inside. The journey comes to an end with all children getting to meet Father Christmas himself. You can read the MEN’s review of last year’s event here.
Conceived from six best-selling books written by founders MIke and Alison Battle, and brought to life by world class production teams and costume designers within a Hollywood-grade film set, it depicts a magical world in which 31 characters come together, to tell in intricate detail, the “untold story of Father Christmas and the elves as they prepare for the biggest night of the year”.
Voted the UK’s best tourist attraction in 2022, Lapland Live has welcomed over 1,000,000 families since first opening in 2007.. It has been attended by some of the biggest celebrity names including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Tom Hardy, Elton John, The Beckhams and many more.
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