Parents are already scrambling for LaplandUK 2026 tickets nine months before Christmas

It might sound mildly bonkers to start talking about Christmas in March, but it’s time to plan ahead.

As many parents with young children will know, getting tickets to LaplandUK — an experience which brings the North Pole to our shores — is akin to securing a Glastonbury pass.

Those who are lucky enough to secure (and afford) the golden ticket are in for a treat, as the immersive experience is described by visitors as ‘the best Santa experience that you will get’.

But it won’t be easy. Previously posting on Mumsnet, @StylishM recalled ‘firing up multiple devices’ and said that one year, it took ‘five hours to book.’

She added: ‘Honestly, it’d be easier to get tickets to see Taylor Swift.’

And after tickets for the Ascot and Manchester events went live at 10am this morning, parents have already been in a scramble to treat their little ones.

On Facebook, there are already panicked stories of online queues packed with tens of thousands of eager parents.

When the booking link went live, Jamie Martin wondered whether they ‘stood a chance’ with 73,000 ahead of them, while Lynda Stewart said she was 17,447 behind.

Beth Hobbs wrote: ‘Did everything as the email said, with the timings. Have been glued to my computer since 9am.

‘Feel like I’m already fighting a losing battle! Good luck to everyone else out there trying to get tickets!’

Sam Heath said that they got to the front of the queue, only to receive a an error message. Needless to say, they weren’t able to complete their booking.

Elsewhere, Beverley Hodson alleged that the Superstar Day Ascot — an experience tailored specifically for children with additional needs — has already ‘completely sold out.’

However, there were plenty of happy campers, as Lauren Thomson said at eight minutes in, she’d selected her date and paid. ‘Much better than last year’s system,’ she penned.

When did tickets for LaplandUK 2026 go on sale?

Tickets for LaplandUK 2026 went on sale at 10am on March 27. This includes both the Ascot and Manchester sites.

They’ll be sold exclusively via the LaplandUK website, with customers placed in a randomised queue upon entering.

The standard entry fee starts from £60, but this might vary depending on the time and date you choose. It also excludes booking and postage fees.

In November, there are tickets starting at the lower end, but by the time December rolls around, parents can expect to pay a slightly heftier premium.

Naturally, if you want to visit on Christmas Eve, you’ll be paying £140 a pop – and that’s only the starting price.

What does a LaplandUK ticket include?

It’s a four and a half hour experience that takes families on the pilgrimage to see Father Christmas and his hardworking elves.

It doesn’t skip out on the pomp and ceremony, either, as each child is given an Elf passport, with each pinpoint along the way stamped by Santa’s helpers.

It begins with a visit to the Toy Factory Elves, where little ones can help build toys for Father Christmas to deliver on the night of December 25.

At the end of their visit, they’ll be given their own stuffed toy — which they helped to make — as well as a photo with the man himself.

Along the way, there’s also an opportunity to help Mother Christmas decorate gingerbread cookies inside the Lapland Bakery, before moving on to ice skating inside the Lapland Elven Village (complete with a frozen pond, no less).

And, of course, no one’s going to go hungry, as there’s food for sale inside Pumpernickel’s Restaurant and extra snacks available at Pixie Mixie’s Sweetshop.

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