We recently took our first-ever trip to LEGOLAND, taking with us our two children, aged seven and two.
While LEGOLAND was always going to be a big hit with our older child, I thought I’d take the time to share our thoughts on how toddler-friendly we found LEGOLAND, Windsor.
Before diving in, I want to recognise that toddlers aged one to three aren’t exactly the main focus for LEGOLAND.
That said, I know we’re not the only family juggling both older kids and little ones under three, so it’s helpful to know what to expect if you’re in the same boat.
It’s also worth pointing out that our youngest is just over two, which can be quite different developmentally from a child who’s approaching their fourth birthday.
Your child’s height plays a big role in what they’ll be able to do at LEGOLAND. Our two-year-old is 89 cm, which meant he just missed the cutoff for quite a few rides, many have a minimum height requirement of 90 cm.
Of course, these restrictions are there for safety, which I completely understand.
If you’ve got an older or taller toddler, they may get more out of the visit simply because they’ll be able to join in on more of the rides and attractions.
Is LEGOLAND Good For Toddlers?
Overall, we didn’t find LEGOLAND particularly toddler-friendly, at least not for a child as young as ours.
While there’s certainly plenty to look at and some things to do, much of the park is clearly designed with older children in mind.
Take the two main play areas, for example, according to the signage, both are intended for children aged five to twelve.
At a resort as large and well-established as LEGOLAND it doesn’t seem unreasonable to expect at least a small section or a few pieces of equipment tailored specifically to younger visitors – especially as they can go on fewer rides than everyone else.
The play area in Duplo Valley, in particular, includes structures that aren’t easily accessible for adults, which makes it difficult to supervise toddlers properly.
Although the area is technically fenced, the wide-open entrance and the café exit nearby make it far too easy for little ones to wander off, something that’s especially nerve-wracking when you’re trying to keep an eye on an energetic toddler.
It didn’t help that the day we visited was particularly crowded and boiling hot, which added to the stress.
When it came to the rides our toddler could go on, we found that some of the restraints just didn’t quite do the job of keeping him securely seated.
And while I get that, as a parent, it’s my responsibility to keep him sat still, there were a few rides—like Lego Ninjago The Ride, where I genuinely struggled.
Yes, he was technically allowed on, but it didn’t feel safe. He could have easily climbed out and absolutely tried his best to attempt this, and that made the whole experience stressful rather than fun.
One of the real positives about visiting LEGOLAND with a toddler was the toilet facilities. Every set of toilets we used had spacious cubicles, which made it easy to bring him in with me when needed, and there were plenty of baby changing stations throughout the park.
I also have to say, for such a busy, high-traffic place, every toilet we came across was clean and well looked after.
Areas our toddler particularly enjoyed were the Magical Forest walkthrough and the Fairytale Brook ride. He also liked the LEGO City Deep Sea Adventure.
LEGOLAND Woodland Village With A Toddler
As part of our LEGOLAND trip, we stayed overnight in the Woodland Village, a fairly new addition to the park.
The setting has a relaxed, nature-inspired vibe, and the wooden lodges definitely give off Center Parcs energy.
There’s also the option of staying in a smaller glamping pod called a Woodland Barrel, which is what we went for.
Now, in hindsight, I probably wouldn’t recommend the Woodland Barrels if you’re travelling with a toddler, unless you’re seasoned campers and know exactly what to expect.
The pod itself was lovely and cosy, but I hadn’t thought through a few practical things (and this is on me!).
For example, because our toddler has a habit of trying to make a run for it, we couldn’t leave the door open, which made it nearly impossible to cool the place down on a very hot day.
There were fans provided, but they didn’t really do much.
The setting of the Woodland Barrels is charming, but from a practical point of view, it definitely wasn’t designed with toddlers or pushchairs in mind.
The gravel paths leading up to the pods made pushing a buggy a bit of a struggle, and the whole area felt a little unfinished as a result.
Right outside the Clubhouse, which houses both check-in and the onsite restaurant, is a large children’s play area.
It’s been built with older kids in mind (ages 5 – 12 according to signage), and our toddler couldn’t really manage most of it.
It’s a bit disappointing, especially given that this is a newly built area. I’m not expecting the entire space to cater to toddlers, but a small climbing frame and slide combo designed for under-fives would go a long way in making the area more inclusive for younger guests.
LEGOLAND Clubhouse Restaurant With A Toddler
In the evening, we had dinner at the Clubhouse Restaurant and Bar. The food was… fine. Fairly average and definitely overpriced, but an unexpected silver lining was that under-threes eat free.
That said, we did have one strange moment – toddler meals are served in a tapas dish. Not a bowl. Not a plate. A tiny tapas dish.
Of course, we asked for a plate (which they provided), but I couldn’t help but wonder, how are toddlers supposed to eat properly from a tapas dish?
Where do you cut up the food?
Where does the ketchup go?
I’m trying to teach my children how to eat appropriately in restaurants.
My toddler can use a knife and fork fairly well, so why isn’t he given a proper plate like everyone else?
I did pass on this feedback to LEGOLAND and the response I got was that tapas dishes are just the “standard” way meals are served for toddlers in this restaurant. I’m guessing it’s maybe a portion control thing? Even so. We want plates.
Even with the above issues, we did really like the overall vibe of the Woodland Village, and if we were to return, I’d definitely opt for one of the lodges instead of a barrel and order a takeaway to be delivered instead of eating in the restaurant.
Would We Take Our Toddler To LEGOLAND Again?
Would we return to LEGOLAND with our toddler?
Yes, but not for a while.
He’d need to be at least a year or two older, by which point he won’t really be a toddler anymore.
Now, I do recognise that some of the challenges we faced might be more of a “me” thing than a LEGOLAND thing.
My toddler is wonderful (of course, I’d say that, I’m his mum), but he’s also wildly energetic, incredibly headstrong, climbs absolutely everything, and has zero concept of danger.
The phrase “bull in a china shop” springs to mind on a near-daily basis.
Maybe this is just one of those classic parenting situations where what’s meant to be a fun break away ends up feeling like stressful everyday parenting, just in a different, and more expensive setting.
Maybe I expected too much.
I’m sure there are lots of families with toddlers who love LEGOLAND, visit often, and have a brilliant time.
But for us there were too many little things that added up to a visit that felt more stressful than special.
Part of me wonders if we should have gone to Paultons Park instead. I ruled it out because my toddler isn’t into Peppa Pig and my older child has outgrown it, but in hindsight, it might’ve been a better fit.
A Few Things to Know If You’re Visiting LEGOLAND with a Toddler
If you’re planning a trip to LEGOLAND with a toddler in tow, here are a few things I wish I’d known ahead of time. Hopefully, they’ll help you feel a little more prepared!
Your Toddler Might Be Measured at the Gate
If your child is in a buggy, be prepared to lift them out when you arrive. Staff at the entrance will measure them, kids under 90cm get free entry, but this is checked on arrival.
One thing to note: if you’re staying at a LEGOLAND hotel or the Woodland Village, the rule is slightly different. When you book a hotel package that includes park tickets, under 3s go free – or at least they did when we booked it’s worth double-checking this when planning.
Buggies Aren’t Allowed in Queues
You can’t take your buggy into ride queues, which can be a bit of a pain if you’ve got a toddler who isn’t the biggest fan of walking (or waiting).
We brought reins, which helped… kind of.
There are buggy parks outside most rides, but keep in mind you’re leaving your pram at your own risk.
The only exception I saw was one mum who was allowed to push a buggy into the carousel queue because her toddler was fast asleep and she had other children to supervise.
LEGOLAND Provide Suncream
One thing I really liked: free sunscreen is available at several points around the park. Super handy if you forget to pack some or the day ends up sunnier than expected.
Download the App
Definitely grab the LEGOLAND app before you go. It’s useful for checking queue times, but also for figuring out which rides your toddler can go on, you can input their height and filter the rides accordingly. Saves a lot of time (and false hope).
Don’t Rely Too Much on Crowd Calendars
We planned our visit for a random Friday in July when our daughter had a parent-teacher day. I thought we’d be ahead of the curve going on a weekday, not during official school holidays, and the crowd calendar looked promising at around 50% capacity.
Spoiler: it was absolutely heaving.
What I hadn’t factored in were the schools up in Scotland and private schools already being on summer break.
Or that London might also have an inset day.
Or that there might be multiple school trips (which there were).
In the end, Friday was far busier than Saturday. Next time, I’d probably aim for midweek in May, still off-peak, but hopefully quieter.
Hot Weather Doesn’t Mean Splash Towers Will Be Open
Splash Towers is LEGOLAND’s dedicated water play area, and on a hot day, it looks like the perfect place to cool off.
However, it’s not always open, even when the sun is blazing.
The opening times are set in advance and don’t necessarily line up with the weather. Just because it’s hot doesn’t mean Splash Towers will be open.
In our case, we visited on a day when it was meant to be operating, and still found it closed. So even on scheduled days, it seems a bit unpredictable.
If your toddler loves water play, it’s worth checking ahead and packing swimwear and towels on the off chance it is open though.
Conclusion – Is Legoland Good For Toddlers?
So, would I recommend LEGOLAND with a toddler?
Honestly, not just yet.
There were definitely some positives: clean facilities, thoughtful touches like free suncream, and a good app that helped us navigate the day.
But overall, it just didn’t feel designed with very young children in mind.
That’s not to say families with toddlers can’t have a great time here. Every child is different, and every parent has a different threshold for chaos!
But for us, it felt like a lot of effort for not quite enough reward.
In the future, we’ll wait until our little one is older, and in the meantime, probably look at places better suited for younger kids.
If you’re still keen to go, I’d say go in with realistic expectations, plan ahead, and don’t be afraid to make adjustments as you go.
And pack snacks. Always pack snacks.