Legoland Windsor - Your Guide to the Legoland Windsor Theme Park
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LEGOLAND puts the 'fun' in family trips with something geared towards every family member, and dozens of things to enjoy together.
Older kids will head straight to the coasters, each themed with elements from popular LEGO sets. They'll also get their hands on state-of-the-art robotics components as they build, program and test their own robots. Youngsters will push themselves to achieve as they host their chairs to the top of the Kid Power Towers, pedal a monorail car around an elevated track or earn their very first license at Legoland Windsor's very popular Driving School.
Toddlers will delight in their very own Playtown, with a scaled-for-them village jam-packed with rides, activities and fun. TheLEGOLANDmust-see Miniland attraction will capture the whole family's imagination with its incredibly detailed and animated depictions of life in recognizable cities and regions.
Throughout the park, tempting restaurants, lush landscape and spotless walkways beckon families to discover still more adventures awaiting them around each turn. |
Legoland Windsor Guide
Like many theme parks, Legoland Windsor is split into several separately themed areas, many of which match some of the themes of the Lego products themselves.
The Beginning
Creation Centre building: The round section with large windows is the Creation Centre, and the checkered section is the now closed Rocket RacersThis is where visitors begin their journey. It incorporates the ticket booths and ticket gates, guest services, the Annual Pass room and other facilities such as toilets and cash machines. This area is accessible before the park opens, during which time a barrier closes off the rest of the park.
The Creation Centre is a building where children can watch the Legoland model makers build their models in the Model Maker's Workshop, and this area includes Lego representations of the Crown Jewels and the cockpit of a Virgin Boeing 747.
The Hill Train is the only attraction that was a part of Windsor Safari Park and survived through the conversion. A funicular railway, the train travels down a curved slope, connecting The Beginning with the Wild Woods area. The journey is just over 300 metres long, and the difference in level between the top and bottom stations is approximately 27 metres. Refurbished from its Windsor Safari Park days, the carriages now contain stained glass windows made from translucent Lego bricks, with the designs having been created by local school children.
Imagination Centre
Imagination Theatre and a Sky Rider CarThe Imagination centre lies just above Miniland, and is the site of the park's educational workshops, as well as a small number of rides.
The workshops consist of the Build & Test Workshops, areas filled with Duplo and Lego, the Lego Mindstorms Workshop, where visitors are taught how to use the Lego Mindstorms NXT line of robotics products, and the Robolab Workshop, which teaches different building techniques using the older Lego Mindstorms system. The workshops are sometimes closed off for school groups during term time.
Rides in the area consist of the Space Tower, where guests can 'pull' themselves to the top of the tower, and then gently descend, and the Sky Rider, an aerial track with powered cars, giving good views of the rest of the park. This ride was refurbished for the 2002 season, with new restraints added, a 'non-stop' loading system implemented, and the direction of the cars around the track reversed.
Also in this areas is the Imagination Theatre, a small cinema showing 4D films. The films have changed over the years, with the theatre currently showing Lego Racers 4D and Spellbreaker 4D.
Miniland
Miniland consists of a number of large Lego models and landscapes depicting towns and cities from around the world. Nearly 40 million Lego bricks were used to construct the models, which tend to be on a 1 to 20 scale. The models change frequently from year to year, and contain many animated and moving pieces.
A London section now includes many new buildings including the Gherkin, the Millennium Bridge, a rotating London Eye and Canary Wharf. Other famous London landmarks modelled in Lego include St Paul's Cathedral, Horseguards Parade (with the Queen) and Tower Bridge. A train system operated, modelled on the Docklands Light Railway.
An England section includes Brighton Pier, the Angel of the North, Smiths Arms Wiltshire (the smallest pub in Britain) and Stonehenge. A Scotland are includes Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Eilean Donan, Jedburgh Abbey, Blair Atholl and Loch Ness.
Animation within Miniland
Miniland contains a large number of animated models, many of which interact with each other. Cars, lorries and buses all appear to move and steer on their own, never leaving their set paths, yet not using any rails. These operate using cables buried beneath the paths that emit a low-level radio wave specific to each vehicle. The vehicles pick up this signal, and use it to steer. When a vehicle reaches one of the charging points dotted around its track, it stops, and charges its battery for a set amount of time. Outside park opening hours, the vehicles stop on the charging points and recharge overnight.
The trains work in a similar fashion to the road vehicles, but follow tracks instead of radio signals. When a train approaches a station, the train passes over 'slow down bars', which tell an onboard microprocessor to slow the motor. When a train reaches a charging point, one of which is located at each station, it stops for a set period to recharge its battery. Unlike the road vehicles, the trains can go forwards, backwards, and vary their speed.
The boats use a simpler method of operation - they are attached to rubber loops, visible beneath the water, driven by motors. A piece of metal on the hull of the boat allow sensors along the boat's track to detect the boat, so that bridges can be raised and lowered, and locks opened and closed, at the appropriate points.
Controlling all these vehicles, along with sound and lighting effects, is a bank of 14 computers. These computers are connected to the various models, speakers and other effects using 300 kilometres of underground cabling.
Duplo Land
Previously named 'Explore land' and 'Duplo Gardens', this area is aimed at younger children. Attractions include Fairy Tale Brook, where riders board a boat which drifts past tableaux from popular fairy tales and Chopper Squadron - (renamed from 'Whirly Birds' for the 2007 season), featuring twelve mock helicopters with the ability to rotate and move up and down at the riders control.
The Mole-in-One Golf attraction opened at the beginning of July 2007, and is one of only a few attractions incurring an additional charge. The attraction features two nine-hole minigolf courses, a yellow course and a more difficult red course. Also in the area is Extreme Team Challenge, a pair of 100 m water slides which guests ride down in rubber dinghies reaching speeds of 35 mph.
Other child-friendly attractions in the area include the Duplo Playground play area, the Waterworks, containing fountains, water cannons, and other water play items guaranteed to get young children wet, and the Duplo Train, a short narrow-gauge railway. In addition, regular puppet shows are performed at the Duplo Theatre' (previously 'willow stage')' for young children.
Traffic
Boating School as seen from the Orient ExpeditionThis area is themed around transport, and features the popular and well-advertised Driving School, where children can drive a Lego car around an area of intersecting tracks complete with traffic lights and road signs. Before taking to the wheel, children watch an instructional video, and when their driving time is up, they are presented with a mock license. The attraction is only open to children aged between 6 and 13 years old, with older children and adults not admitted. A smaller version of the attraction called L-Drivers is open to children aged between 3 and 5, featuring smaller cars with a single pedal.
In a similar vein to Driving School, Boating School lets guests take control of boats around a course of waterways. This attraction is open to all. Balloon School, opened since the 1999 season, lets visitors take a 40 ft ride into the sky in a mock hot air balloon, enjoying a good view of Legoland.
Fire Academy, is a ride for groups of 2-4. Guests board a 'fire engine' vehicle, which they must power to a mock-up of a burning building, where they pump water cannons before returning to the start.
LEGO City
The area of 'LEGO City', previously called 'My Town', is a mock-up of a small Lego town. One of the most visible attractions in the area is the LEGO City Harbour, a set where live stunt shows are performed at intervals throughout the day (currently 'The Revenge of the Aztec Queen'), including dives from the top of a lighthouse into the harbour below.
Also in this area is the boarding point for Orient Expedition, a train ride that takes visitors around Lego City, Traffic and Adventure Land, with safari animals constructed of Lego placed along the track. Originally named the I-Spy Express, the models around the track had consisted of a family of badgers having a picnic. Also in LEGO City is Digger Challenge, which offers guests the chance to operate a mock hydraulic digger. The attraction is sponsored by JCB.
Indoor attractions in this area include the Explorer's Institute, featuring Lego models themed around the jungle, ancient Egypt and the Arctic, the Magic Theatre, which contains a number of optical illusions, and the Xbox Gaming Zone, the area's newest attraction.
A small area themed as Brickadilly's Fairground Rides contains a Carousel, Chairoplane, a small Ferris wheel, and the Brickadilly's Circus Tent, which used to be used for circus shows such as The Toy Box, but is now used only for special events.
Land of the Vikings
Viking's River Splash on its opening dayThe newest area of the park, Land of the Vikings opened in 2007, increasing the park's capacity by 15%. Situated behind the Hill Train, the main attraction is the Viking's River Splash, a river rapids ride. Built by ABC Rides, the ride is a traditional rapids ride with nine-seat rafts, interactive water features, and the 'Troll Wash', where buckets of water are emptied from the top of a four metre high bridge across the water channel.
Also in the area is the Longboat Invader, a swinging, spinning boat ride originally due to open in 2007, but delayed until the start of the 2008 season. The ride is a 'Rocking Tug' by Zamperla.
Other rides now considered part of the area are Loki's Labyrinth, which was previously the Tudor themed hedge maze of the Amazing Mazes, now re-branded with a Viking theme, and Spinning Spider, a spinning teacups style ride with a spider theme, previously considered part of the 'Wild Woods'.
Wild Woods
This area has a loose Pirate theme. The main attraction is Pirate Falls, a log flume featuring several pirate lego models, and ending with the traditional splash drop.
Also in the area is the attraction The Rat Trap, a three-storey labyrinth of walkways, scramble nets and chutes, containing interactive elements, and clues to follow with a mystery to solve, and the Enchanted Forest, a woodland area featuring lego model animals.
For an extra charge, visitors can also join the Panning For Gold attraction, where guests can pan for gold in troughs containing sand and fools gold, which can then be exchanged for a medallion. There is also an area containing remote controlled lego lorries called the Truck Stop.
Knights' Kingdom
Knights' KingdomPreviously known as 'CastleLand', this area was the first extension to the park after it opened, opening in 1998. It consists of a castle-shaped building at the bottom of the park.
The main attraction of the area is The Dragon, a roller coaster that starts as an indoor ride, the trains passing lego-constructed tableaux, before exiting the castle building for a faster, more rollercoaster-like outdoor section. The trains can reach speeds of around 30 mph.
As a complement to The Dragon, The Dragon's Apprentice is a smaller rollercoaster for younger children. The ride opened in 1999.
Adventure Land
The Jungle CoasterThe second newest area of the park (after 'Land of the Vikings'), Adventure Land is situated at the bottom of the park behind the newly named 'Adventure Land Lake'.
The most popular attraction of the area is the Jungle Coaster. Built in 2004 by MACK, this is a Wild Mouse style rollercoaster, with 400 metres of track, a highest point of 16 metres, and a top speed of 60 km/h. The cars have a Lego Technic theme.
Other attractions of the area include the Wave Surfer, where riders swing round on a gondola suspended over water, trying to avoid jets of water activated by spectators, the Dino Safari, a car ride featuring lego model dinosaurs, and Dino Dipper, a MACK 'Old Train' ride, featureing a loop of cars travelling at high speeds over bumps. For an extra charge, visitors can also have a go on the seven metre Climbing Wall.
Legoland Ride Highlights
Dino Dipper
Climb aboard the new Dino Dipper, a fast-spinning carrousel ride which revolves around an enormous nest full of dinosaur eggs and young hatchlings.
Dino Safari
Get set for a safari adventure with a difference on our exciting new Dino Safari ride which will take you through a prehistoric jungle full of giant animated LEGO brick dinosaurs.
Cape Canaveral
Space fans can get ready for blast off with the addition of Cape Canaveral and the John F Kennedy Space Centre to Miniland. The new model has an 8ft shuttle, a 12ft tall launch tower, rocket garden and vehicle assembly building made out of 50,000 LEGO bricks.
It's Showtime
To mark the bicentennial anniversary of Denmark's most famous author, Hans Christian Andersen, our DUPLO Theatre will be staging puppet shows to celebrate his classic children's fairy tales including the Emperor's New Clothes and The Princess and the Pea.
Travel to Legoland Windsor
By Rail: Take the train from London Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central, via Slough or take a direct train from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside. A bus service runs to the Park from stops close to both stations.
By Road: LEGOLAND Windsor is on the B3022 Windsor/Ascot road just two miles from Windsor town centre. It is easily reached via the M25 and clearly signposted from the M3 (Junction 3), M4 (Junction 6) and all approach roads. Parking is free.
Access to Legoland Windsor
LEGOLAND's award-winning facilities allow guests with disabilities and special needs the best possible enjoyment and accessibility. The Park is based on a hill, but is serviced by a Hill Train which transports guests from the top to the bottom of the Park and vice versa. Guide dogs are permitted.
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