A new adventure series has debuted on Channel 4, with fans quickly sharing their thoughts on social media

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A fresh adventure reality programme has launched on Channel 4, and viewers are already impressed.

The Hunt: Prey vs Predator features ten contestants embarking on an exceptional test of endurance and tactical prowess, competing for a prize pot of up to £100,000.

Set within an expansive, isolated woodland, participants face off against one another in a prey versus predator format. They must endure intense hunts where the prey search for cash, whilst predators pursue them, until a sole survivor remains to secure the full prize money.

“Popularity, plotting, power plays, loyalty and friendship will all come into play and will, in fact, be crucial – as victory will depend not just on stealth in the wild, but skill as a social animal,” the official synopsis teases.

The opening instalment of the “epic” new programme aired on Sunday (March 22), with “obsessed” viewers swiftly taking to social media to share their reactions, reports the Mirror.

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“Great format and contestants. So far so good – well done,” one person posted on X (formerly Twitter), whilst another commented: “This is gooood.”

A third remarked: “Between this and Handcuffed, Channel 4 is kind of bringing back good reality competition shows,” with another similarly posting: “This is perfect viewing. Need more eps asap.”

A fifth viewer echoed these sentiments, stating: “Channel 4 getting rights back to #BigBrother vibe at mo,” whilst another contributed: “Love the premise of the show.”

Whilst most of the feedback was positive, some viewers were somewhat puzzled by the programme’s distinctive format, with one individual commenting: “Finding this new reality series #TheHunt very random !!! Got classic Byker Grove vibes with the look. Missing handcuffed series already lol.”

Another contributed: “So it’s all bogus or a re-enactment just like in Hunted, otherwise the camera operators would give them away.”

Every episode holds the potential for an exciting twist, with the participants’ roles being reversed once a predator captures a prey – resulting in the entire game being turned upside down.

Each competitor must wear state-of-the-art tracking technology, meaning they cannot hide for extended periods in the thick forest hunting ground. Consequently, they must keep moving to stay in the competition or surrender their earnings.

Smart alliances, tactical teamwork, and psychological tactics are crucial to survival, as at the conclusion of each hunt, one predator will face removal from the game back at a futuristic basecamp.

At the beginning of the opening episode, Nathan, Chris, Mia, Chloe and Roy were selected to be predators, with Shelley, Mel, Ameer, Marc and Charlotte designated as prey – with each of them beginning with £1,000.

Six competitors exchanged positions at the conclusion of the first hunt, bringing the total prize pot to £10,000, shortly before the first predator was eliminated from the game.

The Hunt: Prey vs Predator is available to stream on Channel 4

Farnley Tower, located on The Avenue, is described as a “prominent property” on one of the city’s most sought after private residential addresses, while just a 10 minute walk from the city centre.

Currently offering a hotel and residential development opportunity, the building is full of character and history, with distinctive Victorian architecture throughout.

Inside, the property is arranged over four floors and boasts 17 en-suite bedrooms.

Farnley Tower (Image: BRADLEY HALL)

Farnley Tower (Image: BRADLEY HALL)

Farnley Tower (Image: BRADLEY HALL)

Farnley Tower (Image: BRADLEY HALL)

Many of the rooms enjoy views towards Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral.

On the ground floor, there is a bar and restaurant area alongside a reception space and five of the bedrooms. A further bedroom is located on the half landing.

Farnley Tower (Image: BRADLEY HALL)

Farnley Tower (Image: BRADLEY HALL)

Farnley Tower (Image: BRADLEY HALL)

Farnley Tower (Image: BRADLEY HALL)

You can view the property here: Farnley Tower, The Avenue

The remaining 11 bedrooms are spread across the upper floors, providing extensive accommodation suitable for large families and groups.

The property is within easy reach of the wide range of amenities available in Durham, including restaurants, bars, shops and cafes, as well as its well-known historic attractions.

Agents say the property offers a “rare opportunity” to buy a distinctive building in a prime location in the city.

Americans are more confused about the Trump administration’s goals in launching a war with Iran now than when President Donald Trump initiated the military strikes in February, a new survey from CBS News and YouGov found.

In a survey conducted between March 17 and March 20, approximately 68 percent of the 3,300 respondents said the administration had yet to clearly explain the goals of attacking Iran.

That’s six percentage points higher than when the same question was asked in a similar survey conducted between March 2 and March 4 – shortly after the U.S. and Israel launched missiles against Iran.

In that CBS News / YouGov survey, 62 percent of respondents said the administration had not clearly explained its goals. At the time, 38 percent of people said they had been clearly explained – now, that number is 32 percent.

Trump initially said the goals of the war were to eliminate Iran’s navy, ensuring it cannot attack neighbors in the Middle East, and that it cannot produce a nuclear weapon.

But it’s unclear how much of a threat Iran posed to the U.S. During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing last week, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard indicated in her written opening statement that Iran was not rebuilding its nuclear facilities damaged by the U.S. in strikes last year.

Although not a stated goal, the president has also made comments indicating he wanted a say in choosing a new leader for the regime. When asked about the president’s goals in early March, 80 percent of respondents said the president was trying to change leadership in Iran.

Administration officials have also given different timelines. Trump initially said the conflict could last anywhere from four to five weeks, or potentially longer. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later told reporters there was no timeline for the war.

While the president has insisted the U.S. is close to fulfilling its goals in Iran, Trump said in early March he wouldn’t take anything less than “unconditional surrender” from Iran.

But as recently as Friday, Trump indicated he could be winding down the conflict soon because the U.S. has achieved objectives “ahead of schedule” – however, he said that would not mean a ceasefire.

The shifting explanations have led to confusion; even members of the president’s political party have criticized the changing statements.

When asked by ABC News what the primary objective of the war is, Republican Senator Thom Tillis replied: “I don’t know, and I think it’s a real problem.”

Joe Kent, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned last week, saying he could not support the war with Iran because there was no evidence it posed a threat to the U.S. The resignation has led to more questions about the U.S.’s intention in starting the war with Iran.

The Independent has asked the White House for comment.

Overwhelmingly, Americans think ending the conflict with Iran as quickly as possible is important for the U.S. More than half of respondents to the CBS News / YouGov survey said that changing Iran’s leadership to people who are pro-U.S. was not important.

Many are not confident the war will last a matter of weeks, 37 percent believe the war could go on for months and 14 percent said it could continue for years.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses after a fatal crash on the A64 near York on Saturday (March 21).

It happened at about 9.40pm on the eastbound carriageway of the A64 between Grimston Bar and the Hopgrove roundabout, and involved a pedestrian and vehicles.

A police spokesperson said: “Sadly, the pedestrian suffered fatal injuries.

“We are urging any witnesses, or anyone with relevant dashcam footage, to come forward. We would particularly like to hear from anyone who may have seen a man on foot near Grimston Bar or the A64 last night.

“If you can assist the investigation, please email mcit@northyorkshire.police.uk, or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and speak to the Major Collision Investigation Team. Please quote reference 12260050942 when passing information.”

Mikel Arteta made a mistake not replacing Piero Hincapie at half-time in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City, according to Micah Richards.

A second-half brace from Nico O’Reilly sealed a 2-0 victory for City at Wembley on Sunday, dashing Arsenal’s hopes of winning an unprecedented quadruple this season.

With Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly named among the subs, Hincapie started at left-back, placing him up against Antoine Semenyo in City’s attack.

While it was a foul on Matheus Nunes that led to his first-half booking, Semenyo tormented the Ecuador international in the opening period, repeatedly beating him down the right flank to create City’s best openings.

It continued in the second-half with Semenyo providing the cross that led to O’Rielly’s opening goal after Kepa Arrizabalaga spilled his cross.

The former Bournemouth star noted post-match Hincapie’s booking had the Arsenal star ‘backing off’ and ‘gave me the opportunity to drive at him’.

Arteta appeared to be considering replacing his summer signing early on with Calafiori spotted warming up midway through the first-half. The change did not come until after 65 minutes however with the damage already done.

Former City star Richards identified Hincapie’s reluctance to get tight on his man as a result of that first-half booking as a real problem, believing he should have been replaced at the break.

‘You need to get tighter, and he could have got tighter if he wasn’t on that yellow card,’ Richards said.

‘That’s the difference and that is why I think Arteta should have made the change at half time because when you are defending on a yellow card, you defend differently especially when you are up against someone like Semenyo on that right hand side.’

Arsenal 0-2 Man City – Metro at the Match

Manchester City have secured the first silverware of the season after Arsenal failed to deliver at Wembley.

The quadruple dream is over and the Gunners must now pick up the pieces after a sobering setback.

For City, it has breathed life into their campaign after a dismal Champions League exit this week.

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Kepa gamble backfires spectacularly

Mikel Arteta decided to keep faith in Kepa Arrizabalaga after starting the Spaniard in each round of the competition leading up to the final at Wembley today.

Pep Guardiola did likewise with James Trafford, but it was Arsenal who paid the price for dropping one of their best players. From the moment the second-half kicked off, Kepa dallied on the ball, inviting the pressure that would inevitably swarm all over the Gunners and trigger their downfall.

Raya has been spectacular this season, the best goalkeeper in the Premier League by some margin and in sublime form. Had he started, Sunday may have been a very different story.

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Old Arsenal fears reignited

We have seen Arsenal collapse in the past. Past failures have so often been used as a stick to beat them with but things have felt different this season.

Victory today would have gone some way in erasing the lingering fears over another derailment . But defeat at Wembley could serve as a catalyst for something much bleaker.

Arsenal are still fighting on three fronts, in control of the Premier League title race and well-placed to continue marching on in Europe. But the effects of today could be season-altering. The woeful second-half showing was as bad as anything served up by them this term on the stage where they needed to be their best.

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O’Reilly steps up

City needed a hero at Wembley and they found a home-grown one. With Phil Foden only coming on as an injury time substitute, left-back O’Reilly stepped up as City’s savour with two headers to save their season.

City were fantastic in the second period to a man and fed off Arsenal’s apprehension but it was the 21-year-old set the standard when they needed inspiration.  

Tony Mogan, live sports editor

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City signed Semenyo for an initial £62million in the January transfer window with the Ghana international an instant hit in Manchester with seven goals to his name.

After clinching his first trophy with the club, he told Sky Sports: ‘It feels like a fairy tale to be honest.

‘But I’ve got a lot more to show. I want to play out wide, I want to play as a No9, I want to show how versatile I am and the help the team as much as I can.

‘I’m enjoying my football and it can only get better.

‘For me, it’s so personal, I’ve never won a trophy before. Give God all the glory.’

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The Original Factory Shop, located at 46-51 Front Street, Stanley, announced on March 17 that its final day of trading will be Saturday, April 4.

Front Street in Stanley (Image: STUART BOULTON)

In a message to customers, the store’s team said: “It is with heavy hearts that we officially announce our Stanley store will be closing its doors for the final time on Saturday, 4th April.

“For over 20 years, we’ve been a proud part of this community. We want to say a massive THANK YOU to every single customer who has supported us over the years you’ve made this journey unforgettable.

“We’d love to see your faces one last time, so please do pop in before we close.

“As we navigate these final weeks, we kindly ask for your patience and kindness. Our team is going through a very emotional transition, and while there will be plenty of tears and laughter, we are doing our best to give this store the send-off it deserves.

“Thank you for everything Stanley and thank you for being part of our story.”

The closure follows the appointment of administrators from Interpath Advisory, who were officially brought in on Wednesday, January 28.

Rick Harrison, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, previously said “trading challenges” have caused the business to go into administration.

He said: “The Original Factory Shop has long been a cornerstone of local high streets up and down the country.

“Unfortunately, however, trading challenges have impacted the business such that the company had to be placed into administration.”

The Stanley closure comes after other nearby branches in Shildon, Chester-le-Street and Spennymoor also shut within the past year.

Bukayo Saka and Arsenal endured an afternoon to forget as they trophy drought was extended following their Carabao Cup loss – with the winger’s form being called out

Jamie Redknapp claims that Bukayo Saka “isn’t performing to the level he can” for Arsenal with the winger needing to step up if the Gunners are to be a success this season.

Saka played in his side’s Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City, but was largely ineffective at Wembley. It isn’t the first time the Englishman has seen his performance levels drop for the Gunners as questions continue to be asked of his displays.

Saka was previously the shining light for Arsenal and recently signed a lucrative deal to keep him at the Emirates. But his impact on games is not what it used to be, with Redknapp questioning the winger following another afternoon that seemed to pass him by.

Arsenal now have huge depth in attack with several players serving as credible alternatives to the academy graduate. The north Londoners are well placed to land silverware this term, but Saka has been challenged to step up having struggled to get the better of his opposite number recently.

Redknapp said on Sky Sports: “This is where you need your star players to step up. The player that I feel right now isn’t performing to the level he can, is Bukayo Saka. I want to see more from him.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta details what comes next for Arsenal after Carabao Cup final failureREAD MORE: Jamie Redknapp slams Mikel Arteta decision as ‘monumental error’ costs Arsenal dear

“He’s been a difference maker for Arsenal for so long, so many times. Of late, I haven’t seen that guile and imagination and skill and goals that we need to see from him. Obviously he’s got Max Dowman breathing down his neck, [Noni] Madueke down that right hand side. Maybe even playing down the left sometimes. Because it feels like he’s not getting the success against anyone he’s playing against.

“I’m a big fan. I love the way he plays. But he is the man that needs to start taking the game by the scruff of the neck and playing with no fear if Arsenal are to win the title.”

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Saka has only scored six times in the Premier League and, in all competitions, is yet to hit double figures. He remains a talismanic figure at Arsenal and remains almost a guaranteed starter, despite his performance levels dropping off recently.

Saka’s goal against Wolves last month ended a long run of 15 games without scoring, but Arteta has defended the winger’s drop off. He claimed that the notable changes to their frontline may have disrupted his flow whilst also citing the amount of minutes played by the England ace.

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Around 30 protestors in support of the Access2Transport group stood outside Hillhead Subway for around two hours this afternoon.

Disability activists have staged a protest in Glasgow this afternoon, March 22, to call for more accessible stations on the city’s iconic Subway line. Around 30 protestors in support of Access2Transport stood outside Hillhead Subway for around two hours this afternoon.

Just two out of Glasgow’s 15 Subway stations are accessible – Govan and St Enoch – which are fitted with lifts for wheelchair users to get down to the platforms. Access2Transport, a local group advocating for better public transport options for disabled people and wheelchair users, is demanding change.

The protestors believe every station should be made accessible, branding Glasgow’s Subway a “disgrace” for it’s “unacceptable” lack of accessibility. The group’s protest staged on Sunday is the first of its organised actions to demand more accessibility on the Clockwork Orange, reports Glasgow Live.

In response to the protest, SPT says modernisation works are ongoing but that it is “fully aware of the challenges and restrictions” involved in updating the Victorian underground.

Announcing the protest on Instagram earlier this week, Access2Transport said: “We must show everyone (including and ESPECIALLY SPT) that inaccessibility is unacceptable. Show everyone that we know better.”

The group called on people to spread the word of the protest, adding: “You are not immune! Access aids everyone, let’s start this movement by showing that we are aware of the disgrace that is the Glasgow subway, and that we will NOT stop until everyone can use it. Public transport for all of the public now.”

An SPT spokesperson responded: “Glasgow Subway is the third oldest in the world and still operates and works within a Victorian tunnel system that is almost a 130 years old. It was a built on a very unique 4ft gauge and was, and remains, an engineering feat of the 19th century.

“It is now undergoing only it’s third major modernisation phase in its lifetime and we, more than ever, are fully aware of the challenges and restrictions it places on us as we endeavour to develop it as much as we can into a more modern 21st century transport system.

“The brief for modernisation agreed in 2010 was to overhaul the entire system with new ticketing, new trains, new signalling and communications and to refurbish all 15 stations on the network for a cost of £288million.

“As part of the refurbishment of our stations we looked at the possibility to introduce lift access at all stations on the network but it quickly became clear that where we have single, island platforms this is simply not possible.

“There are a number of requirements we must meet before we can add lifts to platforms. Most importantly, there must be a suitable location on the platform. This is not possible on any of our single ‘island’ platforms which is the case at nine of our fifteen stations.

“For our double or ‘flank’ platform stations, we need to be able to run a lift vertically from the concourse to each platform which must be structurally viable. This was shown to be possible at two stations, Govan and St Enoch, where we could achieve this on both Inner and Outer Circles, so this was included as part of the modernisation programme. The size of the lifts is dictated by the space available.

“SPT has always committed that it would continue to look for ways to introduce more step-free access at our stations as opportunities and alternative solutions became available.

“There is now an opportunity to look at lift access from street level to platform on one circle at both Buchanan Street and at Hillhead. A contractor to look at possible designs for this addition at these stations has already been appointed.

“We are fully aware of the importance of the Subway and that it is the preferred mode to get around the city for many. We also take our responsibilities to help those who require extra assistance to travel with us, for whatever reason, very seriously. We welcome all our disabled passengers on our service, while also recognising and working within its limitations.

“Our first priority is always the safety of everyone travelling with us and at this moment, the only safe way for wheelchair users to access the system without endangering themselves or others is to use Govan or St Enoch stations.

“Everyone should be assured that we have carefully considered all options, however the realities of working within our small Victorian tunnel system does mean we are heavily restricted in some of the things we would like to be able to do. That does not mean we are not continually seeking ways round the challenges presented.

“We are always working to improve access where we can and when new technical developments enable us to relook at decisions as we are at Buchanan Street and Hillhead, we will do so.”

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After an injury-blighted first season as Olympic champion, 2026 is about one thing for Keely Hodgkinson: “domination”.

The 24-year-old captured her first world indoor title in commanding fashion as she claimed 800m gold in a championship record time on a historic night for Great Britain in Poland on Sunday.

That success came one month after she smashed the long-standing women’s indoor 800m world record, set by Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak on the day the Briton was born in 2002.

The first of two serious hamstring injuries prevented her from attacking that mark 12 months ago, and she was forced to wait 376 days to race again following her crowning moment at Paris 2024.

But Hodgkinson – branded ‘Keely 2.0’ within her training group following her impressive rebuild in the gym – is already making up for lost time.

“My word this year has been domination,” Hodgkinson told BBC Sport.

“When I’m in the shape of my life, why leave it to chance?

“If you want to beat me, I’ll make you work hard for it.”

Hodgkinson made further history by becoming Britain’s first women’s 800m world champion – indoors or outdoors – crossing the line more than a second clear of her rivals in one minute 55.30 seconds.

That triumph wrapped up 28 minutes of success after golds for her training partner Georgia Hunter Bell and pole vaulter Molly Caudery on a sensational Sunday for the British team.

Following Josh Kerr’s 3,000m triumph on Saturday, it guaranteed the British team’s most successful World Indoor Championships of all time, surpassing the three gold medals achieved in 1999.

Hodgkinson reappeared on the track less than an hour after her gold to join the bid for a women’s 4x400m relay medal at the end of the final day of action in Torun.

Despite her best efforts – and running the quickest leg of any athlete in the event with a 50.10-second split – she was unable to overturn a substantial deficit on her anchor leg.

Everything you need to know if you’re hoping to secure tickets for the “Glastonbury of Christmas” when Lapland Manchester goes on sale on Friday, with tickets set to be available from £60 up to £195 per person

Families are preparing themselves for a ticket-buying frenzy this week as the hugely popular Lapland UK events, dubbed the “Glastonbury of Christmas” go on sale on Friday. Organisers have confirmed that for a second year, Lapland Manchester will also return, alongside the original Ascot location.

As those who were lucky enough to get tickets last year will know, it really is quite the extraordinary event – certainly unlike any Christmas attraction I’ve ever been to during my ten years of parenting two children that’s for sure.

So I totally get why families are gearing themselves up for an online battle this Friday when the tickets officially go live. Bosses from Lapland sent out an update on Sunday night to try and reassure fans that they’ve made improvements behind the scenes “to ensure every part of your experience, from booking to Christmas Day, feels just as it should.”

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They say they’ve made “significant investment in our booking systems to reduce queuing times, so that you reach the front more quickly and can secure your preferred dates with as little waiting time as possible.”

That’s set to be some comfort to those eager to secure tickets on Friday.

For those who haven’t been before, I’ve seen lots of comments on online forums wondering if it’s really worth it when they’ve looked at the ticket prices. Organisers say prices range from £60 – £195 per ticket this year depending on the date and time you book.

And yep, that price is for EACH person. Whether you’re a child or adult you will pay the same price to get in – with only under 12 month old babies going in free.

Oh, and don’t forget to factor in the booking fee of £4.95 each, and a £5.95 postage fee for the special boxed invitations to be sent to the children on your booking.

With a family of four potentially looking at paying anything from £250 to over £700 to head along on peak dates in December, there’s naturally a lot of questions from parents and carers about what they can expect for this kind of experience and if it’s worth it.

Having headed along to the Manchester event last year, I can certainly answer some of the questions of what to expect. So here, I’ve gone through some of the main points ahead of the big on-sale window opening on Friday, March 27, from 10am.

Where exactly is Lapland Manchester?

Yep, this is a good question. It might be called Lapland Manchester, but the event is actually held in Cheshire.

It’s set in the grounds of Capesthorne Hall which is in a countryside setting. The nearest towns are Macclesfield or Alderley Edge, and it’s 20 miles from Manchester city centre.

For those who don’t know the area all that well, this means if you’re planning on staying overnight in Manchester city centre, then you’re looking at around a 40 minute drive to actually get there. And that’s on a good day with no traffic.

The nearest train station would be Alderley Edge (which is on the main line from Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe) – but again you’d be needing a taxi from there to get to Capesthorne Hall which is around four miles away.

What are the dates and times, and when is the best time to go?

LaplandUK in Ascot and Lapland Manchester will both open this year on Saturday November 7 and will then run every day right through until Thursday, December 24.

Superstar Day, for those with additional needs and access requirements, has been confirmed as taking place on Wednesday, November 25.

When you go onto the ticket booking site, you will have the option of booking times in half hour intervals across each date from 8am to 6pm. You need to choose carefully as you must attend on your allocated timeslot on the date you have booked.

As for when is the best time to go – if you want the cheapest tickets, consider going mid-November, and if you’re able, pick either an early morning or later afternoon time slot.

You’re not likely to have a “quieter” session (aside from the Superstar Day) as all slots sold out last year, so be warned, it will be busy whichever slot you go for.

How much are tickets?

LaplandUK has already confirned the “prices from” for every date in 2026, and the cheapest options currently are £60 tickets on Tuesday November 10 and Wednesday November 11.

The most expensive tickets are, predictably, the closer you get to Christmas, and the priciest options currently listed are for £155 per person on Saturday December 5 and Saturday December 19.

But organisers have stated that these are “prices from” and will fluctuate depending on the timeslots when they go on sale. Organisers have told the MEN that prices will range from £65 to £195 for tickets this year.

As mentioned above, don’t forget to factor in the £4.95 booking fee per ticket when you’re looking at the options, and also the £5.95 postage fee for invitations to be sent out per booking.

How long does the experience take?

Organisers say you can expect to be in the Lapland Manchester experience for 4.5 hours.

We found we took around 3.5 hours though when we went, on a Sunday morning in November last year. This might be because we didn’t arrive early enough at the departure desk for our timeslot, so missed out on experiencing the shop and cafe at the front entrance.

If you want to make the most of your time here, you need to be at the entrance gate 45 minutes before the time on your invite – we thought it meant to be at the car park at this time, but it was a good 10 minute walk to the entrance from here.

Just as an idea of what to expect, you are taken through each immersive experience at timed intervals. The only way you can expect to stay inside longer, is if you are opting for the “Golden Experience” VIP tickets in which case you can spend unlimited time in the Elven Village.

Is it cold?

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You’re heading into a magical portal to Lapland, folks, so yes, it’s cold! Expect snowy scenes and a chill in the air.

Not to ruin the magic too much, but Lapland Manchester is all under cover, so you don’t have to worry about it raining (except for the walk from the car park to the entrance which is all outdoors obviously). But warm layers and winter jackets are a must I’d say after our experience.

Once inside though, you cannot fail to be swept away by the festive magic that unfolds.

What’s it like?

From the moment we checked in at the departure lounge, collecting the kids’ “Elven Passports”, it really is like being transported to another world. If you don’t want any spoilers by the way, then look away now.

It feels like a traditional Christmas show at the start of the day as you are introduced into the Lapland world by the colourful cast of Elves, with children (and parents) encouraged to use the “cheery-hi” greeting of fingers waggling on your nose – this will come in handy to greet any of the Elven folk throughout the adventure.

It’s then through to a vast magical woodland that will take your breath away, and then on to the more interactive elements of the day. We all gazed in wonder as we entered the huge Toy Factory – I mean this is really a spectacular space complete with magic wishing jars and festooned with toys.

Here, children get to help the elves make some toys – an adorable polar bear that they then get to take over to a converyor belt to help Father Christmas out, which was a truly enchanting experience. It’s then on to Mother Christmas’ kitchen where kids get to decorate their own gingerbread house, again an activity that my two boys absolutely loved.

What follows is an adventure into the vast Elven Village, where you have 90 minutes to spend between ice skating, writing a letter to Father Christmas, a range of hot food and drinks and browsing the assorted Lapland shops.

The finale of the day is walking through the Reindeer Lodge before the big one – a meeting with Father Christmas. Here at Lapland the bearded one seems to know an awful lot about your kids (if you know you know), checks if they’re on the Good List and is happy to pose for loads of photos.

There’s really no doubting this is the most epic, and extravagant, Christmas attraction I’ve ever been to in terms of scale and attention to detail. And that’s from a mum who has spent ten years trudging around all sorts of festive events, lights, grottos, Christmas farms and Santa adventures with my kids across the north west.

How far do you have to walk?

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This is a HUGE attraction spread out across acres and acres of the Capesthorne Estate. And that means there is a lot of walking involved.

Sparkly, tree-lined tunnels connect all the different areas which we found fun to walk through, but that’s because my two kids are now fully mobile and able to run off without my assistance. I know that if you’re still parenting in the toddler stage it may become more of an issue walking with lots of bags and prams etc over the distances involved.

Don’t worry about mud though – inside the venue is all undercover, and outside the car park itself is all completely boarded and the path to the entrance is all wood-chipped so it’s a really good route.

How many people are in each session?

Having never been before, I didn’t know what to expect on this front, although seeing other Facebook posts did prepare me a bit.

I thought we’d be in fairly small groups, but in our time session of 11.30am at the 2025 event I counted around 200 people. That was split into two groups, so last year you were either Team Husky or Team Little Rudi.

For the start you are all together, but then each group splits so you have around 100 people in each themed interactive area, like the Gingerbread making.

It sounds like a lot of people, but actually it’s so well organised, it’s not like you’re fighting over seats or anything – there are enough for everybody. But what it does mean is that inevitably you will have to queue for a little bit going in and out of each zone.

Is there food and drink?

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There is a cafe at the start of the experience, and then the next spot to eat is in the Elven Village, around half way through your experience. You can take your own food in though, and my advice would be to load up with snacks.

Once in the Elven Village there’s an array of hot and cold food and drink options that you can buy (be warned, it’s not cheap!), and lots of seating here and toilets. Oh, and trust me when I say the hot chocolates are epic.

What do you get for your money?

On the date we went in November 2025, the tickets were £105 each (that’s for adults and children alike). So there’s no getting away from the fact that for a family of four, you’re looking at shelling out a lot of money for this attraction.

For me, I was keen to see what you get for that kind of money and whether it represents value for money. What I would say is that when you break down everything you experience during the day, and how much you would usually spend for things like skating for a family on a day out, you can start to see why the price tag is what it is.

Essentially you get a Christmas show, skating, gingerbread making, meeting Santa, a cuddly toy for the kids and an extra surprise that parents get to take home at the end too (no spoilers) as well as one free souvenir photo in a presentation booklet.

Sadly, parents don’t get to partake of activities like toy-making or getting a toy from santa, but you do get to watch the joy on your child’s face so it depends what kind of price tag you put on that.

For me, when I totted everything up, paying up to £105 for the tickets would seem a fair price (tickets are set to be available from £60 in November). But I’m not sure I could justify paying more than that to be able to go in December (when tickets are priced from £95 – £155), but naturally it’s personal choice and circumstances on the dates you opt for.

Ultimately, it’s an experience you either buy into or you don’t. In for a penny, in for a pound and all that.

What else can you buy?

Apart from food and drinks, there are lots of shops dotted around the Lapland Manchester experience – at the start, in the Elven Village, and one you can’t avoid walking through to get out at the end. They are filled with Lapland themed memorabilia, as well as hats that you can also pre-order with your tickets.

You can buy “Jingles” which are gold coins in a pouch for your kids at the start (or you can also buy these when the tickets go on sale as well). These can then be used to buy treats in the shops, but we didn’t have time to do this and you could get away without doing it.

But basically 1 Jingle equals 1 pound and you can buy everything on cards throughout the day if you don’t have the Jingles.

How to get tickets for 2026

Prepare to join the online queues on Friday, March 27, with tickets going on sale at 10am.

Tickets will be available exclusively from the Lapland UK website here.