LEGOLAND Windsor is open for almost half the year, before it eventually shuts for the winter.

However, the park opens back up in October to welcome guests for Brick and Treat. Here’s everything you need to know about the event.

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What is Legoland Windsor?

Legoland Windsor is part of the Lego group and operated by Merlin Entertainment.

Initially opened on March 17, 1996, the much-loved attraction has more than 55 rides and attractions inside.

Ideal for families with children between the ages of 2 and 12, the theme park even has Lego-themed hotels and live shows and entertainment.

When does Legoland Windsor close in 2024?

Legoland Windsor normally opens in March to welcome guests for the summer, before it winds down operations for the winter.

In 2024, the park opened on March 15 before closing up for the winter period on September 25.

However, the park reopens to welcome guests for special events and festive activities over the winter.

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What is the Brick or Treat Festival and when is it?

One event that the park reopens for is Legoland Windsor’s Brick or Treat which takes place between October 1 to November 3rd, 2024.

The event sees Legoland Windsor undergo a spooky transformation and features attractions that are unique to Brick or Treat.

Monster Street and The Monster Jam Show are particular favourites for guests.

Monster Street is a walkthrough experience, which features LEGO monsters and ghouls.

The Monster Jam Show is a thrilling concert experience, filled with costumes and music.

Brick and Treat isn’t the only event at that Legoland Windsor reopens for.

The park reopens on certain dates in December to welcome guests for Christmas.

What is the address for Legoland Windsor and how do I get there?

The much-loved resort is located in Windsor, just west of London.

Its full address is Winkfield Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 4AY.

For those travelling by car, these are the best routes:

• M3: exit at Junction 3
• M25 Northbound (Clockwise): exit at Junction 13
• M4: exit at Junction 6

Parking is not included in the ticket.

Legoland Windsor is well-connected by public transport, with trains taking half an hour from London Paddington to Windsor via Slough, or from London Waterloo in under an hour which goes direct to Windsor.

Legoland Windsor Factbox

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Legoland Windsor in 2024:

• Legoland Windsor will be officially open from March 15, 2024, to September 25, 2024
• Located in Windsor, just west of London, the theme park’s full address is Winkfield Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 4AY
• Trains take half an hour from London Paddington to Windsor via Slough
• Trains from London Waterloo take around an hour and go directly to Windsor
• Tickets should be booked in advance online
• An online saver ticket costs £35 per adult, saving you £33 if you purchased the same ticket at the gate
• Parking is not included in the ticket, and you’ll need to pay £8 for a ticket, although booking in advance will save you £1

A POPULAR area in Glasgow’s southside has been named one of the trendiest in the world.

Strathbungo beat stiff competition from Ekkamai in Bangkok, Thailand, and Palace Quarter in Budapest to come in 22nd place in Time Out’s list of the 38 coolest neighbourhoods for 2024.

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Time Out contributing writer Sarah Gillespie claimed it was time for the district to step into the “spotlight.”

She wrote: “Cool new venues have been creeping up Pollokshaws Road for years, and now it’s time for Shawlands’ tiny-but-mighty neighbour to step into the spotlight.

“Strathbungo, in Glasgow’s Southside, began as a village of crofters and weavers before it was consumed by the city’s nineteenth-century expansion.

“Thanks to a dedicated group of residents, it became Glasgow’s first Conservation Area (together with Pollokshields) in 1973, preserving its Victorian terraces and tenements for future generations.

“That same independent spirit endures in its fresh, young businesses: laid back restaurants such as Lobo, boutiques such as BAM and Seamster Vintage, and bars supporting local breweries.”

It went on to point out other popular attractions in the area, such as its wildlife pond, rose gardens, and views over the Southside.

Strathbungo is also on the outskirts of some of Glasgow’s most-loved cultural attractions, including Pollokshields arts venue Tramway.

According to the magazine, the list focused on places that balance great local culture, food, street life, community, and one-of-a-kind local flavour.

To rank the list this year, Time Out’s global network of editors and experts factored in not just great vibes, food, drink, nightlife and independent culture, but also community.

And Notre-Dame-du-Mont in Marseille bagged the top spot.

Despite its reputation as an ‘unholy area’ with a ‘rebellious spirit,’ the town named after the local church boasts colourful cul-de-sacs, graffiti-covered alleyways, streets lined with plane trees, and twisting staircases.

Although it is a far cry from the ‘picturesque charm of Vauban,’ the neighbourhood exudes the jovial, laid-back atmosphere of a local market, the magazine claims.

Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out, said: “Time Out’s annual ranking of the World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods celebrates the most unique and exciting pockets of our cities. The neighbourhoods on this year’s list have a lot in common: great places to eat and drink, cutting-edge culture, street life and a thriving community.

“But they’re also a distinct reflection of their cities, with each of them offering something special you wouldn’t find anywhere else.

“Some have only just reached their moment; others have been ‘cool’ for some time and are finding a new groove – all of them should be on your radar to visit in these cities.”

Last year, we told how Glasgow’s West End and Edinburgh’s lovely Leith made the popular list.

Leith in Edinburgh and Glasgow’s trendy West End came in at 16th and 20th in the top 40 of the World’s Coolest Neighbourhoods.

EUROSTAR could ditch one of the most popular train routes from London next year.

Ongoing maintenance works could see the direct London to Amsterdam route scrapped for the entirety of 2025.

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The direct route has already been suspended since June 15, due to renovations at Amsterdam’s main train station.

Instead, Brits have to travel to Brussels and change there, taking an extra hour.

But plans to restart the direct train in early 2025 may not be possible.

Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave warned that all trains running to Amsterdam may be scrapped entirely next year.

This is because it has not yet been confirmed that the international terminal at Amsterdam Centraal station will reopen in time.

She told local Dutch media Het Financieele Dagblad: “We are concerned there are no guarantees or clear commitments about the readiness of the surrounding infrastructure to reconnect Amsterdam and London.” 

“Without clarity on behalf of the Dutch railway network […] Eurostar will be forced to suspend services between Amsterdam and Rotterdam, on the one hand, and London and Paris, on the other, during the course of 2025.

“This will not be Eurostar leaving the Netherlands, this would be Eurostar being pushed out from the Netherlands.”

She added that the deterioration of the train lines has resulted in “reliability problems, capacity restrictions and particularly inconvenient delays for passengers”.

Trains on the high speed lines have also reduced its top speed since 2023, going down from 99mph to 50mph.

Despite this, Cazenave said they still hoped to restart the services next year, if they can get the go-ahead.

The London-Amsterdam route launched back in 2018.

This follows Eurostar’s first ever London route back in 1994, running from Waterloo station to Paris and Brussels.

This later changed to London St Pancras in 2007.

A second UK train service was added at Ashford International back in 1996, although this was scrapped during Covid and is unlikely to return.

The UK to Disneyland direct service – which launched in 1996 – has also been scrapped, with Brits now having to change at Lille or Paris.

Despite this, Cazenave revealed Eurostar’s future plans for new European routes, as well as additional trains being added to the fleet.

But other train operators have revealed they could soon enter the market with UK routes.

Sun Travel’s favourite train journeys in the world

Sun Travel’s journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.

Davos to Geneva, Switzerland

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“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire

Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen

“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey

London to Paris by Eurostar

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“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski

Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail

“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton

Beijing to Ulaanbatar

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“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray

Virgin Trains could launch between the UK and Europe.

And start-up Evolyn has revealed plans to launch train services between London to Paris.

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