Lapland UK, the country's most expensive Santa's grotto experience, has sold out for the season, but the high prices have left some families unimpressed. The immersive Christmas attraction, located in Ascot, Berkshire, charges up to £179 per person, meaning a family of six could easily spend over £1,000 on entry alone, before extras like food and gifts.
Launched 15 years ago by former hedge fund trader Mike Battle and his wife Alison, a primary school teacher, Lapland UK has become a festive phenomenon. This year, 100,000 people joined a virtual queue when tickets went on sale in March, and the attraction is expected to generate over £20 million in revenue.
Visitors enjoy a four-and-a-half-hour experience including ice skating, decorating gingerbread with Mother Christmas, helping elves in the toy factory, and meeting Father Christmas. The package includes parking, a photo, and two toys. Celebrities such as Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Beckhams, and Sir Elton John have visited.
However, some customers have expressed disappointment on Tripadvisor, calling it a "complete waste of money" and "massively overpriced." One reviewer said: "Plenty of other places I would have preferred to have taken my children for a magical day for a fraction of the price." Another added: "You are rushed through and I actually think it is unacceptable."
Despite the criticism, Lapland UK maintains a four-star rating on the review site, with many parents praising the magic. One wrote: "My daughter was mesmerised the whole time... Go, you won't regret it." Another said: "The look on my five-year-old's face was worth every single penny."
