WHEN I heard that 150 new lodges are being built at Legoland Windsor to open next year, I was beyond excited.
My sons and I love a lodge and think it adds an extra element to your theme park stay if you're visiting as a family.
We bagged a bargain when we took my eldest son to the fairytale log cabins at the Alton Towers Enchanted Village for his fifth birthday.
Tickets and an overnight stay for four came to about £120, including free parking and a trip to the water park in the Splash Landings hotel.
But what was really lovely about having a room that opens out into the great outdoors is that there were little play areas in the middle of each circular set of cabins, so children could burn off their energy and get some fresh air while parents watched on with a glass of wine from their own veranda.
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A bigger playground could be found by the restaurant and reception area.
And when children bed down for the night, ready for the next day's adventure, adults can leave them in peace and hang out in the outdoor space.
We sat out on our porch and listened to the bird song, protected from a sudden shower that gave way to a beautiful sunset.
It really was a spectacular way to end the day, so much better than being stuck indoors in one room.
The huts' little round doors and crooked roofs could have come straight out of The Hobbit and the magical woodland theme continued inside, with cosy furnishings and little touches like log-shaped cushions.
We particularly liked the little sachets of bodywash and shampoo shaped like woodland insects and there was even a themed book in the room to enjoy as a bedtime story.
Breakfast at the Crooked Spoon restaurant the next morning was plentiful and perfect for filling us up, ready for our busy day exploring the rides at Cbeebies Land and beyond.
The shows and character appearances from beloved TV programmes such as the Octonauts and Hey Duggee will delight small children.
And now our boys are a bit bigger, they love the new David Walliams area, as well as testing their nerves on established rides such as Wickerman.
No doubt the Legoland lodges will have a magic all of their own for little Lego lovers.
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Located in a meadow on the outskirts of the park, the new woodland village will also boast a clubhouse with restaurant, bar and entertainment space.
The cabins will be Lego themed and there will be immersive play areas and nature trails on site, with youngsters having the chance to become a Legoland ranger.
My son stayed at the Legoland Hotel with friends for his seventh birthday, but we've never checked in as a family.
Hopefully adding lodges into the mix, alongside the two hotels already on site, will build on what's available for families and maybe even bring the cost of a stay down.
Overnight visitors can already choose to stay in pirate, Lego Friends, Ninjago and adventure-themed rooms in the main hotel, while the newer Castle Hotel has rooms fit for knights and wizards.
Those staying on-site have their own entrance into the park and can usually get in earlier than day visitors.
There's a treasure hunt in every room that unlocks a safe with a Lego gift inside.
It'll be exciting to see how the Legoland lodges develop and whether they will have their own dedicated entry to the main attraction.
Who knows what added extras might be introduced to enhance a Lego lover's stay?
One thing's for sure, my sons and I will be at the front of the queue to book when the cabins are ready to welcome visitors in 2024.
