LaplandUK opens second site in North West

Visitors to Lapland Manchester are promised an "immersive experience"

An immersive Christmas event has opened in the grounds of a historical country house in Cheshire.

LaplandUK has opened its second site at Capesthorne Hall, near Macclesfield - which it is calling Lapland Manchester - after the success of its first site, Lapland Ascot.

When tickets launched in March, more than 750,000 people joined the virtual queue across both sites.

Visitors to the four-hour experience can expect live theatre, storytelling and the chance to help Father Christmas make toys in his workshop.

They can also go ice skating, bake gingerbread and write letters to Father Christmas before meeting him at the site.

Owners of LaplandUK, Mike and Alison Battle said Lapland Manchester is a £30m investment, creating more than 1,200 jobs.

The experience is held in the grounds of a historical country house in Cheshire

The owners said they decided to name the new attraction Lapland Manchester despite it being in Cheshire, as it was a global name that national and international visitors would recognise.

"We've always dreamed of bringing LaplandUK's magic to more families," they said.

LaplandUK opened its first site in 2007 at Swinley Forest, called Lapland Ascot

Mr and Mrs Battle said they founded LaplandUK as they saw Christmas as the "greatest celebration of childhood" yet could find nowhere that reflected how important this moment was to them.

They have four young sons and said they "dreamt of revelling in the joy of their children's innocent belief in Father Christmas".

The Ascot site has welcomed families from more than 50 countries in recent years.

It was founded by a couple who wanted to revel in their children's belief in Father Christmas