Any children obsessed with Raymond Briggs’s loveable Snowman will appreciate this icy theme park dedicated to anthropomorphic snow sculptures. The vast, labyrinthine complex is part of the famous Santa Claus Village situated just a few kilometres from Rovaniemi, a snow-covered town full of log cabins, reindeer pulling sleighs and twinkling fir trees.

Inside you’ll find a whole range of kid-friendly thrills, including snow and ice slides where guides dressed as cheery-faced snowmen and women pull you about the slippy surfaces on sledges and rubber innertubes (there are gentle slopes for small ones and more extreme gradients for those who’ve reached their daredevil age), a sweeping ice skating track with instructors for those who are taking to blades for the first time and a family-friendly, zero-temperature ice disco where little ones can shuffle on a snowy dance floor to the sounds of a live DJ and parents can sip on cocktails in ice glasses.

Tickets are valid for an entire day and let you access all the activities. Fancy stopping over? The park is a short drive away from the Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos, famous for its snow suites and providing respite from the cold with saunas and jacuzzis.

Picked by Lisa Smosarski, editorial director and mum to a 13-year-old, 11-year-old and an eight-year-old

Unlike many other sleek five-star hotels, this Scandi-style haven set against the dramatic backdrop of the Italian Alps has family at the centre of its ethos. No one will be told to shush here or warned for splashing in the pool; in fact, creative play is encouraged with owner Peter Mader wanting his hotel to “reinvent the magic of the family holiday”.

The place has a sophisticated air with sleek wood and stone interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows that show off the scenery, neat rooms with crisp white linen and a gourmet restaurant with live cooking stations and fine Italian dishes. But you’re never too far away from kid-friendly touches, like the help-yourself fruit bowl in the reception, a play area, activity pool (complete with a huge curly slide), a painting studio, indoor sand pit and DIY ice cream and sprinkle station. In fact, there’s a seemingly endless array of activities for kids here, including 70 hours of childcare per week (which means extra time in the spa and the adults-only roof terrace).

If you can tear yourself away from all the excitement inside, there’s even more to dazzle you among the Alpine scenery, including toboggan slopes, an ice skating rink, ice walks and horse riding tracks.

Picked by Kitty McGee, executive fashion and beauty director and mum to a five-year-old and two-year-old 

If you’re after variety to entertain rambunctious little ones, this wind-swept patch of northern Iceland offers just that. Off the main tourist trail (which lies further south around the capital Reykjavík), Akureyri manages to be full of activities but with the air of being a remote and less-travelled hidden gem.

It’s easy to pitch up at one of the many family-friendly hotels in the city and plan your own self-guided adventure, and you’re spoilt for choice of what to fill it with. Head out on a ‘superjeep’ tour to get a close-up look at the arresting waterfall, go whale-watching off the coast of Husavik, chase the Northern Lights or make like the locals and bring the kids along for a dip in the milky blue geothermal waters of the Myvatn Nature Baths, where you can have a soak surrounded by volcanic wilderness.

Akureyri has recently been made even more family-friendly, for those in the UK at least, thanks to EasyJet’s new direct flights.

Picked by Susan Riley, head of brand and mum to a 10-year-old

After a low-effort vacation? Families Worldwide organise action-packed family-friendly holidays, and its week-long Norwegian itinerary whisks groups off to snowcapped landscapes and rustic villages around Bergen for city exploring and adrenaline-fuelled activities.

A suggested holiday with the group here involves rides on the Flam Railway that whizzes past the region’s world-famous fjords; boat safaris sailing past the craggy coastlines for views of puffins, rock formations and other wildlife; snowshoeing treks through dazzling snowscapes; husky sledging the mountains; sleigh ridges; and a chance to learn about the country’s Viking history. Each itinerary can be tailor-made to your needs, so added breaks for sightseeing around multicoloured house-lined streets of Bergen or resting in an Alpine hotel can also be arranged.

Picked by Susan Riley, head of brand and mum to a 10-year-old

OK, this may be a skiing resort, but there’s so much to do away from the slopes that a holiday here need not involve any kind of salopettes. US ski destinations are renowned for being child-friendly (think pancakes for breakfast and vibrant entertainment for kids) and this snowy paradise hidden away in the centre of Utah’s renowned national park wilderness is no different: there’s a children’s activity centre on-site with full-day programmes and its own lunch service.

Ditch the skis for bobsled rides in the Utah Olympic Park, which lets those aged 13+ zoom around the course that was used in the 2002 Winter Games, guided snowmobile tours over the slopes, snowshoeing and dog sledging. With huge lakes nearby, there’s also the chance for rafting, kayaking and fly fishing. Once you’re tired out, embrace the Wild West surroundings by indulging in some retail therapy in the 19th-century town of Park City, where you‘re sure to find some cowboy boots that fit.

Picked by Kitty McGee, executive fashion and beauty director and mum to a five-year-old and two-year-old 

This wild adventure to Senja Island in south-west Tromsø – the second largest island in Norway – is an action-packed five-night thrill that immerses kids and grown-ups alike in the beauty of the country’s breathtaking natural landscape. 

Organised by Discover the World holidays, it’s billed as a family trip “under the midnight sun” that lets you drive around the dramatic vistas of the National Scenic Route Senja. There’s hiking, kayaking and cycling all included, as well as boat trips to spot wildlife in this patch of the Arctic Circle. If you’re feeling brave, you can even take an Arctic-style dip. 

There’s time to relax too, with a chance to visit idyllic Bergsfjord and chill out in a relaxing hot tub, plus an overnight stay in Tromsø for a cultural interlude and some retail therapy. Picked by Susan Riley, head of brand and mum to a 10-year-old

Another ski resort that offers far more than colour-coded slopes, SalzburgerLand in the heart of western Austria is deep in the sublime snow-capped Alpine mountains, but along with 2,700km of corduroy piste, it also packs in 100 toboggan runs, 66 ice rinks, 2,400km of cross-country and hiking trails, ice-climbing, snow-kiting and sleigh rides. Phew. 

It’s also where The Sound Of Music was filled, so any children obsessed with Julie Andrews et al, will find plenty to occupy them. For adults, the place is also well-served with luxurious spas, natural thermal baths, gourmet dining and a vibrant après-ski scene. Stay in Rauris and Grossarl for a cosy, family-friendly village ambience and take advantage of family-friendly packages like Family Winter on the Farm, which includes a stay in an Alpine hut with caring for animals experiences. 

Picked by Susan Riley, head of brand and mum to a 10-year-old