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UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO LEGOLAND WINDSOR

UGLW Top Tips

Here we present the UGLW Top Tips for a great day out at Legoland.

1. If appropriate, approach Legoland from the south (not through Windsor)

See our Getting There page for details of this route. You will avoid most traffic this way.

2. Get there early

If you only remember one top tip from this section, remember this one.

Although the park opens at 10 am, you can actually enter through the turnstiles from 9.30 am. You are allowed in to The Beginning which has toilets, cafes, shops and a great view of the theme park - and Windsor and beyond if the visibility is good enough. From 10 am you are allowed to make your way down the hill in to the rest of the park.

Getting there before 10 am means you miss a lot of the traffic and queues of people entering the park.

3. Remember the target age group 3 to 12

Children between these ages will get the most out of Legoland. Beyond about 11, some kids will start to think some of the park is below them, and not cool enough. Younger than 3 and there's not a huge amount for them to do in any theme park - but hey, it's free for them anyway.

Don't take a 16 year old along and expect them to be blissfully happy all day - other theme parks have more to interest them. If you do have to take along a teenager along with other smaller kids, we suggest you give them some responsibility and let them take off a smaller child to some of the larger rides which need often require a larger person to be with a small child.

4. When you arrive, go straight to the back of the park and work forwards

Most people will meander through the park from The Beginning, trying out attractions as they come to them. If you do the opposite, you'll find the queues are less. e.g. Jungle Coaster and Dragon Coaster are both very popular rides towards the back of the park. Soon after 10 am you should be able to get on them quite quickly. By lunchtime you might not be able to because the queues could be long. Be aware though, sometimes (off peak days) some areas of the theme park do not open at 10am, e.g. Adventure Land with Jungle Coaster. Details of these are shown as you enter the park and on a board at The Beginning overlooking the whole park.

5. Remember the kids's swimming costumes and a towel

Not normally something you'll think about when packing a bag for a theme park, but you won't regret it when you see Waterworks. Most kids cannot get enough of it and quite a few parents appreciate a paddle too.

6. Food is expensive - take a picnic

As you can probably guess the food tends to be pricey at Legoland, although it is generally of good quality. There are plenty of areas you can flop on the grass and have a picnic, particularly around Miniland - so if the weather is good enough, we recommend this.

7. If you sometimes use a buggy for your offspring, bring it

The spread out nature of the Legoland site means there is lots of walking and one big hill. If you are in two minds, bring your buggy. If nothing else it's handy to dump all the bits and bobs in. There are plenty of places to put buggies when you go on rides and they are generally quite safe, since most park visitors are families with children too. There are very few steps to negotiate in the park - and there is always a ramp alternative.

You can hire buggies from The Beginning if you forget yours - and plenty of people do, oddly.

8. Grab a Park Guide leaflet

Perhaps obvious but not everyone does. The leaflet has a detailed map, timings of all the shows, details of ride height restrictions etc. They are available from the ticket booths or Guest Services just as you enter the park on the right. They are free of charge.

9. Consider a "Lost Parents" sticker

If your child is of an age to not know what to do if they get separated, consider getting one of these - fill in your mobile phone number and slap it on their back. If they should get separated from you a Legoland attendant (or more likely another considerate parent) can call the number and reunite you, perhaps within seconds - turning a potential disaster in to a temporary inconvenience.

A great idea, Lost Parents stickers are available at Guest Services, in The Beginning or Lego City.

10. See the Harbour show if you can

The harbour show, The Secret of Scorpion Palace is well worth seeing if you can fit it in. Grab an ice cream and take the weight off your feet for 20 minutes.

11. Consider getting an restricted annual pass

Restricted annual passes are vaid for one year excepting during August when you can enter Legoland after 4pm. See the prices page for details. A restricted annual pass is cheaper than buying 2 normal day tickets and if you live within reasonable striking distance of Windsor, it's well worth considering especially when you consider how much you might use it over a year. You can upgrade any day ticket (as long as it has a price) at the Annual Pass room in The Beginning at any time during your visit. You will need your whole party there as they take photos of you for your entry cards.

12. You won't be able to "do" all of the attractions in one day

There are over 50 rides and attractions in the park - in an 8 hour day, to do them all would mean spending less than 10 minutes at each. This is not going to happen.

Plan your day with this website and decide what you and your family want to see and do.

13. The lockers at The Beginning do not refund coins

Just a little thing, but unlike most lockers at swimming pools etc. the lockers in Legoland do not refund your coins as you might expect, so beware. There are notices which state this but not everyone reads notices. Leave stuff you don't want to carry round in your car. You can leave the park and re-enter if you get your hand stamped (the stamper Legoland-person is normally located on the left near Guest Services as you leave).