Wondrous fair
IF you haven’t heard of Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland then you’ve obviously never been in London over the festive period.
It’s the biggest Christmas event of the year, home to great attractions, activities and entertainment for visitors of all ages right in the centre of London.
It opens in just a couple of weeks so it’s definitely time to get planning your trip – and here’s everything you need to know.
It opens at 4pm on Thursday, November 21 and runs every day (except Christmas Day) from 10am to 10pm until Sunday, January 5. Plenty of time to get down there with friends and family – maybe even twice!
How much is it?
Entry is free, so you can just wander around the magical festival and take in the buzz of Christmas excitement without spending a penny. You pay for the various rides and stalls, each priced individually, and there are some attractions that are ticketed which you can book here .
You can use tokens for rides and games – each token costs £1. Children’s rides start at £2 and other rides start at £3.
Seeing Father Christmas is free!
How do I get there?
Winter Wonderland takes place in
Hyde Park , and the nearest tube stations are Bond Street, Knightsbridge, Green Park, Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner.
It’s so huge that there are four entrance gates, depending on where you want to go.
Enter straight into Santa Land via the red gate, for the closest entrance to the ice rink use the blue gate, for other pre-booked attractions go via the purple gate and to get to the Bavarian Village use the green gate.
What’s on?
New this year are attractions including the world’s tallest transportable observation wheel, a A Christmas Carol-themed Magical Ice Kingdom, and a fantastic new programme of comics at the Winter Wonderland Comedy Club.
Returning favourites include the UK’s largest open-air ice rink, Bar Ice, jaw dropping acts in the Circus MegaDome plus nine rollercoasters (and more gentle rides for the faint-hearted).
There’s also a chance to let out your creative side – do some karaoke at Bar Hütte or take an ice sculpting workshop.
There are also loads of street food and drinks available, Christmas markets to do some last-minute shopping, and a Bavarian Village for a true taste of old Bavaria.
To see a full list of things to do and to book tickets see here .
Is it suitable for families?
Yes! It’s recommended you go in the mornings though – evenings are a bit rowdier!
There’s Santa Land, a whole area dedicated to little ones , and shows such as Paddington on Ice and Mr Men and Little Miss – The Show.
Other useful information
This year contactless, debit and credit cards will be accepted throughout Winter Wonderland.
Security checks will be in place throughout the event, including bag searches, which may result in delays when entering the site.
No alcohol or glass is permitted to be brought into Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, and any open plastic bottles will be disposed of.
You can download Hyde Park Winter Wonderland App to stay up-to-date with the latest information – download on iOS or download on Android .