Resolutely aimed at children but successfully delighting adults, the LEGOLAND Resort Hotel Windsor is a riot of primary colours, themed rooms and building bricks at the heart of one of the UK’s favourite theme parks. Part of the Merlin Entertainment Group, one of the world’s largest attraction operators, it’s one of two hotels within the grounds of LEGOLAND Resort.
Where is it?
LEGOLAND is two miles from Windsor – you’ll soon spot the cars lining up on Winkfield Road as you approach – and the LEGOLAND Resort Hotel has pole position. Park your car in the free dedicated car park, walk into the hotel and a lift controlled by your room card takes you directly into the park itself. The location is unbeatable and means you can easily return to the room at any time during your stay for a breather from the non-stop LEGOLAND action.
Style
Bright and unmistakably LEGO themed, it’s like falling headfirst (and happily) into a massive box of LEGO. “Kids are our main guests,” the website proclaims, and it clearly works because children who know their LEGO from their DUPLO or Ninjago models from Pirates will be enthralled. There’s colour and pattern everywhere and you’re never more than a few steps from a mound of bricks.
Facilities
If you manage to drag your children away from the LEGOLAND rides, the hotel has a small swimming pool complete with swashbuckling pirate slides (make sure to pre-book), an adults-only gym and an outdoor playground. New this year is the LEGOLAND Playroom, an interactive space for children aged two and over offering Creative Workshops and plenty of building opportunities across all ages. An entertainment space hosts daily shows, there’s a Lego-filled area in the reception so that children can get building as soon as they arrive and the obligatory Lego shop. A Total Sensory Room is a thoughtful addition, a calming and interactive space of bright colours and fibre optics designed for children with additional sensory needs.
Extracurricular
There’s only one goal for hotel guests and that’s getting into LEGOLAND itself. The 150-acre park has over 55 interactive rides, attractions, excellent live shows and building workshops. The hotel offers the chance to be first in for the 10am start each day with selective rides opening 30 minutes early exclusively for hotel guests.
Food & drink
BRICKS restaurant offers breakfast from 7am to 10.30 am and dinner from 5pm to 8.30pm with well-judged menus that include vegetarian and vegan options, fast-food choices and healthy options. Prices are fairly high, as they are throughout the resort, and so are the noise levels but it’s a colourful, clean space, filled with Lego models, and the young staff are remarkably patient and good humoured. Reserve your mealtimes for both breakfast and dinner as soon as you can as they get booked up. The Skyline Bar opposite, where pre-booking is not required, is aimed at older children and adults.
Which room?
Standard and premium rooms are well-designed for two adults and up to three children with a comfortable large double bed and bunk beds and a single pull out bed in an alcove and themed throughout. Choices include Ninjago, Adventure, Pirate and Kingdom and Ninjago appears to be the one in top demand so again, request it when you book. Real thought has gone into the entire experience. There’s a big crate of Lego in every room and a mystery present hidden in a padlocked safe with a fun puzzle for children to solve to crack the code. Rooms are comfortable, all with TVs, strong WIFI and tea and coffee making facilities, especially welcome when excited children wake you up at dawn.
Best for...
Children Lego-crazed or not will be in heaven and most parents seemed to be having a good time too. Expect it to be loud, though excellent sound proofing meant we couldn’t hear the playground which was directly below our window and the low average age of guests means there’s no late night rowdiness. This is a hotel that understands and delights its main audience, even if they are not the ones paying the bill. Kids, you’re in for a treat.
Detals
Hotel rooms for a family of four start from £325 including entrance to the LEGOLAND park; legoland.co.uk
