Legoland Windsor is a
LEGO theme park. I have never visited any other
Legoland parks (there is one is Carlsbad CA USA and another in Denmark) but I hear that they are both bigger. The park, which opened in 1996, contains several attractions, including water attractions and themed
rollercoaster-type rides. What makes Legoland
unique are the impressive
LEGO models. The park contains many themed sections which contain large Lego models. These sections are also described in detail below.
Where is it?
Legoland Windsor is situated on the B3022, 2 miles from
Windsor Town Centre. It is just off the
M25 and easily reached from the
M4 (signed from junction 6) or the
M3 (signed from junction 3).
Cost
The cost of entry (correct at time of noding) is £18 for
adults, or £15 for
children (3 - 15 years).
Senior Citizens get in for just £12.
Opening Times
Opening hours are 10am to 6pm, except during summer School holidays, when it will not close until 8pm.
Sections
Legoland Windsor is divided into distinct sections, each of which is discussed below. I visited Legoland Windsor last week, so this stuff is still fresh in my memory. However, this does not promise to be a complete description of the Park. I hope that the info below will help other decide where to spend there time, and where to find the best rides.
The Beginning
Having parked, you walk into The Beginning. Here is a camera shop, which sells film and disposable cameras. The Beginning is also the highest point of Legoland Windsor, with panoramic views across Legoland. This is useful if you go (as I did) to see the firework display, offering a quick getaway to the carpark and home, avoiding the thousands of people filtering up through the rest of the park.
Also in The Beginning is The Big Shop. This claims to have "the widest selection of LEGO toys in the UK" and a "Best Price Guarantee". I found the selection to be very good across the whole range of products. The prices mainly match those of a large store like Toys 'R' Us but with a few good (as in 20% off) bargains. For example, at the moment The Big Shop is a good place to buy Star Wars Lego.
Miniland
Miniland is where most of the Lego models seem to be. It covers a few acres, and is a Lego version of several towns, cities and landmarks from across the world. It is quite impressive, and about as Lego-ey as Legoland gets. Most people seem to favour the Model of London, which now includes the Millennium Dome. Because all of this is outside, the towns are complete with correctly-scaled Bonsai Trees, which is cool.
Duplo Gardens
This is a section dedicated to toddlers. I'm afraid to say I can't tell you anything about it as I detoured around it.
Traffic
This is cool. In one attraction sponsored by Vauxhall, kids (6 - 13 year olds only I'm afraid) can drive little cars around a town, obeying the rules (like red lights and roundabouts etc. Next to it is the Boating School, around which you get to steer electric-powered boats around a circuitous canal.
My Town
A bit of a random mixture of stuff here. The whole area is set out as a town, with shop fronts on the buildings. There is a Coca-Cola Fountain, which is much less exciting than it sounds. Nearby is the Technic Garage, which contains a number of large hands-on displays, explaining how simple mechanical principals such as gears, clutches, brakes and so on work. As with any hands-on technology, kids are guaranteed to be fascinated. This section also contains the Wave Surfer, a water ride new for 2000. It involves being spun around a pool on a little 'jet ski', while the pool randomly spays water. Quite cool to watch, as well as ride. I confess that I didn't actually ride this, as it was a little cold at the time and I didn't fancy getting wet. My Town also boasts a souvenir shop, although I didn't see much in it not for sale in the Big Shop back at The Beginning.
Wild Woods
The Wild Woods host the second-best ride in Legoland Windsor, a log flume called 'Pirate Falls'.
The 'Enchanted Forest' is a pleasant walk through a sparse woodland, and contains a few Lego models of a few random things (like squirrels) and also some larger (non-Lego) mechanical dinosaurs. I was bitterly disappointed to find so much that was non-Lego in this area. The one that squirts water from its mouth, however, is a complete hit with the little kids, who love the danger of getting close to it.
Castleland
Castleland is the furthest point from The Beginning. It holds the best ride in the park, a rollercoaster called The Dragon. When queueing, and as the ride begins, you are lead through beautiful and original Lego creations. The ride itself is a relatively tame compared to the Nemesis or the Oblivion at Alton Towers (Alton Towers is probably the UK's best theme park), but does contain one or two good drops.
Conclusion
Legoland Windsor is a great day out. Even though I'm over 20 (not exactly the target age group) I did enjoy myself there enormously. As with anywhere like it, the food is expensive (a (very very weak)
hot chocolate cost £1.10), but the shop is great,
My visit coincided with the fireworks display, which made it even better. However, unlike other British theme parks (Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures) I have visited, I can't imagine going back until I have children of my own.
Legoland Windsor has a website, from which some of the above factual information was drawn: http://www.legoland.co.uk/