MY little boy's eyes widened with excitement - Santa Claus had written to him, by name, asking if he could come to help his elves get ready for Christmas!

That letter from the big man, delivered to your home in the days before your visit to LaplandUK, only heightens the anticipation for a truly enchanting day.

That magic continued as we arrived at what is billed as "the UK's premier Christmas experience" in Bewl Water, Kent.

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Our children, aged seven and three, were spellbound as we entered a glade to be greeted by a pair of jolly elves who issued them with special elf passports.

Then the children helped the elves push open a solid wooden door to reveal the elves' world - a real-life, snowy, Christmas forest. It was like walking into Narnia.

You can visit the reindeer, pet the husky dogs, even meet Lapland's native Sami people.

After a break for lunch we enjoyed a spot of ice-skating on a wonderfully snowy, open-air rink.

But you can't go to LaplandUK and not meet you-know-who - and this experience topped the lot.

We were led by an elf deep into the forest before we saw a cottage.

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Our kids nervously knocked on the door and were welcomed in for their own audience with Santa.

The experience, which lasts between three and four hours, is open until Christmas Eve.

Tickets cost from £44.50 to £62.50 and must be booked in advance.

See laplanduk.co.uk