IF you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a brick surprise.
Because tucked away in the trees of Legoland Windsor Resort is the wonderful new Woodland Village, home to 130 lodges set in cute cul-de-sacs, all with their own mini playgrounds.
This charming cabin retreat, amid lush greenery, was our home for the weekend (my wife, myself and our very own woodland critter, aged eight).
Set against the backdrop of theme park craziness, the Woodland Village is a calm oasis where parents can recharge batteries – and refill wine glasses.
The £35million development is Legoland’s first carbon-neutral accommodation – a fact emphasised by the wooden keycards you collect at check-in.
And in true Legoland fashion, our cabin is gloriously childish and bright in its design – like a giant version of something my son would craft from the avalanche of bricks strewn throughout the house.
The standard lodges sleep five people, with a double bed in the main room and the kids’ area next door – complete with your standard Lego-making pit, TV and bunk beds.
Premium lodges are slightly bigger and sleep seven, with a mezzanine area overlooking a lounge section, and around the back of the village are 20 trendy glamping barrels.
The clever Woodland Village AR Experience kept our boy busy for a while, bringing to life plants and animals on the cabin walls, while Mum and Dad snuck in some downtime on the decking outside.
Everything in the Woodland Village is so enchanting that you’d be forgiven for wanting to stay there all weekend instead of heading to the theme park. Alas, not a chance in our case.
The thrill-seeking lad was chipping away at us like Woody Woodpecker to get to the main park.
And he wasn’t disappointed by the sheer number of crazy attractions.
There’s the Jolly Rocker swinging pirate ship, mini coaster The Dragon and Lego City Driving School – although the new Minifigure Speedway dual roller coaster was the highlight.
After relentless loops and whoops, we were eventually able to tear our lad away to head back to the Woodland Village for much-needed fuel.
The Clubhouse restaurant and bar serves up steaks, burgers and pizzas as well as succulent fish, juicy chicken wings and ridiculously sticky ribs – and, of course, there’s a decent kids’ menu too.
And don’t forget to save room for the moreish and gooey marsh-mallow s’mores for dessert.
Kids are even kept entertained here in the restaurant while waiting for their meals, with yet another building station around the Lego campfire and an interactive show with the Lego Rangers.
We preferred to stay outside though, where there is a wheelchair-accessible play area – the perfect place to set the kids loose while you sit back on the terrace above and cheers to your own creature comforts.
After burning off the s’mores sugar rush in the park, a quick build in the brick pit and a night-time clamber all over the lodge’s playground was the icing on the cake.
Needless to say, our Lego-mad kid slept like a log that night.
STAYING THERE: One night’s B&B at Legoland Woodland Village is from £69pp, based on four people sharing a Woodland Barrel and including entry to the Legoland Windsor theme park and a round of Legoland Adventure golf.
See legoland.co.uk.
