Maxine Gordon and family enjoy a visit to Legoland.

PHILEAS Fogg may have gone around the world in 80 days, but we managed it in 80 steps.

From the banks of Loch Ness in Scotland to Big Ben in London; the windmills of Holland to a market town in France; the Cape Canaveral space centre in Florida to a wooden village in Sweden - world landmarks are but a few paces from each other in Legoland's Miniland.

There is a perfectly scaled-down version of Anthony Gormley's Angel of The North and recognisable recreation of Edinburgh Castle and the city's Old Town ridge too. I could happily have spent most of my visit appreciating the art of the model maker, but my husband Nick and daughter Eva were keen to explore territories new at the extensive Windsor attraction.

There is more to Legoland than putting together pieces of plastic. It is a sprawling theme park with rides and activities to keep you busy for the entire day. Our daughter was three and too small for many rides. We thought the park would be better value for families with older children.

Like most theme parks, visitors have to be prepared to queue. Notices abound, telling you how long before you reach your desired destination. Several said there would be a 45-minute wait. That's a good 40 minutes too long for me let alone my daughter, although we did stay the course for 15 minutes so she could take part in 'Driving School' where she was able to whiz round a track in a push-pedal car.

It was baking hot on the day of our visit and the queues for food and drink made us wish we had brought a picnic, although there were few places offering shade.

Luckily, Eva managed to cool down in the Water Works wet play area, where jets of cool water erupted from the floor, swinging the shriekometer to its furthest point.

A highlight of our visit was the boat ride around Fairytale Brook where models of Little Red Riding Hood, Grandma and the Big Bad Wolf, along with a host of other storybook favourites, were displayed on its tree-lined slopes.

Also not to be missed are the regular puppet shows, where a jolly storyteller interacts with cloth characters to bring to life classic tales such as The Emperor's New Clothes.

New for 2006 are an updated Miniland London featuring Canary Wharf and the Millennium Bridge; 4D medieval action movie Spellbreaker and the Digger Challenge where kids can enrol in construction school and drive JCBs.

Our visit to Legoland was part of a family leisure break at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Marlow, a half hour drive away from Legoland.

We visited late last summer, driving for three hours from York in baking heat. It made us appreciate all the more the fantastic leisure facilities at the Crowne Plaza, a thoroughly modern and airy hotel, which boasts a family-sized pool to cool down after the sticky car journey.

There is a small children's pool and indoor and outdoor Jacuzzi as well as a steam and sauna by the main pool. Guests can also use the well-equipped gym or book in for treatments at the hotel beauty salon.

We enjoyed a fabulous evening meal in the hotel restaurant, which offers a la carte choices for parents and child-friendly dishes for children.

The buffet breakfast was worth getting up for, featuring full English breakfast, a choice of continental-style pastries, breads, ham and cheeses as well as cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurt.

The hotel is a great stopping point for day trips to London, Windsor, Oxford and of course Legoland.

o A Legoland family break at the Crowne Plaza Marlow costs £164 for two adults and one child and includes one night's accommodation, full English breakfast and a two-day family pass to Legoland. Additional child or adult costs £25. For more information, or to book, telephone 0870 444 8940 or visit www.crowneplazamarlow.co.uk o For details about Legoland opening times and admission costs visit www.LEGOLAND.co.uk.

Ticket prices are £29 adult/£23 child or senior (one day) or £57/£45 (two days).