This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
From the giant, primary-coloured Lego bricks and yellow figures that pop up along the roads to the hopscotch routes that encircle the town, Billund offers a unique family adventure. This tiny hub in central Denmark is where Lego was founded in the 1930s. Today, it bills itself as the Capital of Children and has multiple attractions that stretch the imagination and champion creativity in fun ways.
The brand’s original ‘family park’ was conceived in the 1960s as a way to ease the pressure of thousands of fans visiting the Lego models on show at its Billund factory each year. Over the following decades, it has transformed into the Legoland theme park and been exported to other areas of the world including the UK, North America and Asia, its popularity aided by the recent film franchise and TV offshoots like Ninjago. But a trip to Billund is about more than just the park itself. Here are all the highlights, from a tropical water park to a wild forest adventure playground and a restaurant manned by robots.
1. Legoland
An aerial ascent of the Legotop, which slowly rises to 118 feet near the park’s entrance, is a good way to survey the park zones upon arrival. Below, the original outdoor model display area has grown into a ‘miniland’, featuring famous landmarks, a smoke-billowing rocket launchpad, a monorail and an animatronic safari area. The biggest park queues are for the most thrilling rollercoasters (Polar X-plorer, X-treme Racers and Flying Eagle) and for the Lego Canoe and Vikings River Splash water rides.
Lots of the other park attractions are interactive. In Adventure Land, The Temple ride cars come with laser guns for families to shoot at targets as they travel through Egyptian tombs; on the Ninjago ride, you shoot at giant snakes and zombie warriors by ninja-chopping over clever sensors in the moving car. The Pirate Splash Battle is huge fun for bystanders who can pick water fights with families on the ride’s lagoon boats, using cannons around the water’s edge. In The Lego Movie World zone, Emmet’s Flying Adventure is a highlight, dropping film fans into a magical virtual-reality ride where families jump aboard Emmet’s double-decker sofa invention to fly through worlds. There’s plenty in the park to entertain kids up to around 12 years, with the very youngest catered for at Duplo Land and, new for 2024, the Peppa Pig Playground.
2. Lego House
A not-to-be-missed complementary attraction to Legoland, Lego House is a kingdom of hands-on creativity. There are six zones, including the Masterpiece Gallery, and at its heart is the Tree of Creativity — one of the largest Lego models in the world, towering 50 feet and using more than 6.3 million bricks, with miniature worlds in its branches. Here, it’s all about what you can make: stop-animation Lego films; fish that can be digitised and brought to life in the aquarium; cars that you can race against other visitors; dancing characters that groove together once uploaded. The way Lego has used digital technology to enhance the model-building creativity brings the brand right into the 21st century, and kids love it. Wrist bands provided with your ticket can also be scanned to upload digitised creations for you to revisit once back home. Book well in advance for a meal at Lego House’s Mini Chef restaurant, where food is ordered by building Lego models and is then delivered by two robots called Robert and Roberta.
3. Wow Park
Kids can roast popcorn around campfires, clamber through the treetops and whoosh down slides at this wholesome outdoor adventure park on the southeast outskirts of Billund. There are 360 feet of suspended nets threaded through the forest, connected by small elven-style woodland treetop houses perched 45 feet above ground. The park is founded on the Danish belief in the importance of outdoors play for children, and almost all the structures are big enough for both adults and children to enjoy.
Woodland paths connect the park’s many areas, which also include a labyrinth, hammocks, giant Tarzan swings and treetop bouncing nets filled with giant balls. A highlight is The Giant, new last year, a plant-filled slide structure that includes the tallest slide in Scandinavia — a breath-stealing 65-foot freefall drop (for kids aged seven and over). But even if your kids aren’t old enough to try it, there’s easily enough here to consume an entire summer’s day.
4. Lalandia
Denmark being in northern Europe, the weather is unreliable and that’s where an attraction like Lalandia comes in handy. Kids gasp when they enter the indoor complex to find a virtual-reality sky with moving clouds, over a plaza lined by cafes and restaurants. Beyond that, there are trampoline nets, classic amusement arcades, an indoor golf park, bowling alley and ice rink.
The highlight is the tropical Aquadome, housing a first-class water park for all ages. Families can jump waves, warm up in the steamy hot pool or let the indoor river’s strong current whisk them around on giant inflatable rubber rings. There’s also a brightly coloured fun park with small slides for younger children, while older kids gravitate towards the excellent big ones. Several of them can take two people at a time and one, the Tornado — which has all the stomach-clenching thrills of a rollercoaster in water — has rings that can take a family of four. Children have to be over 110cm to enjoy most of the slides.
Top tips for visiting Legoland:
Rides:
The first hour after opening is typically the quietest and visitors tend to start with the attractions immediately inside the park entrance. As soon as the park opens, head straight to the big, popular rollercoasters furthest away from the gates, where you’ll have the best chance of short queues. Download the Legoland app for descriptions of rides and live wait times; if you only have one park day and you’re travelling in peak summer, consider paying for Reserve and Ride virtual queuing.
Food:
Follow the lead of Danish visitors and bring a picnic in an easy-to-carry backpack. The Danish krone is strong at the moment and a family of four will struggle to get a basic lunch in the park for under £50. Save your money for the pricey ice creams, slushies, popcorn and candyfloss.
Where to stay:
Legoland has its own holiday village close to the park, with various accommodations including Ninjago-themed cabins and camping. However, the most convenient options are Hotel Legoland and Legoland Castle Hotel, right outside the park entrance, both with unique themed family rooms based on different Lego worlds such as wizarding and pirates.
Of the two, the Castle hotel has slightly bigger rooms with separate sleeping areas, and the wizarding wing is the quietest option. It also has an on-site Knights’ Tavern restaurant with a kids’ playroom and daily visits from a costumed Lego prince and princess, and a huge castle-shaped playground area. Deep troughs of Lego bricks for kids to play with can be found all over both hotels, including in the bedrooms. Hotel Legoland from 1,199 DKK (£138).
Published in the October 2024 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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