A Lapland dream come true! London Southend unveils magical extreme day trip Lapland Experience for winter 2026
Christmas has come early at London Southend Airport, and it’s bringing a whole sleigh-load of festive magic with it! Travellers ho-ho-hoping for the ultimate winter wonderland escape are in for a treat, as a brand-new Lapland day trip is set to launch just in time for Christmas 2026.
In an exciting partnership with The Lapland Experience, families can now jet off to Rovaniemi, the hometown of Santa Claus, first thing in the morning on 22 December 2026 – and be back home the very same day, just like magic!
After arrival in the Arctic Circle, they’ll be whisked to The Lapland Experience’s private winter wonderland just a short drive from the airport. Think snow-dusted forests, twinkling lights and pure Christmas family fun.
Scott Murray from The Lapland Experience said: “We are absolutely delighted to be bringing our Lapland day trip to London Southend Airport. The response to our previous trips from other airports was incredible, and it was genuinely special to see so many families making such magical memories together.
“Lapland is a bucket-list experience for so many people, being able to offer that directly from Southend makes it even more special. It means families can enjoy all the wonder and excitement of a trip to Santa’s homeland, with the added ease and convenience of travelling from their local airport in one festive filled day.”
Nigel Mayes, Business Development Director at London Southend Airport, said: “We are thrilled to add The Lapland Experience to our growing festive proposal from London Southend. Having a day-trip product alongside our existing Lapland offering means we that have a cracker of Christmas for every budget this year!”
Passengers looking to book can visit the website – thelaplandexperience.co.uk – or they can book at any local Hays Travel branch.
Exclusive offers and exciting route updates fly straight to your inbox with London Southend Airport’s newsletter. Sign up to PROPEL here.
About London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport was the UK’s fastest growing airport in 2025, with a 150% increase in passengers compared to 2024. This year, the airport will offer 26 destinations, with new routes to Jersey, Ibiza and Munich launching over the summer. Our dedicated on-site train station ensures seamless connectivity, with a 10-minute train-to-gate time and direct services from Stratford, London in 43 minutes and London Liverpool Street in just 52 minutes.
Renowned for sensational customer experience, we manage all key operations in-house, delivering an easy, speedy, friendly journey from arrival to departure. easyJet passengers rank us among the UK’s top airports for satisfaction and our own private London Southend Jet Centre is the fastest-growing in the country.