For anyone visiting London Christmas Markets this year, Winter Wonderland is probably on your itinerary. Read this blog post for a complete guide to Winter Wonderland where you’ll find out everything you need to know about this London attraction!
WHERE AND WHAT IS WINTER WONDERLAND
Winter Wonderland is a major holiday event in London that brings thousands of people to Hyde Park each year. It’s held annually in London’s biggest and most beautiful park, usually from mid-November to early January. Because of Winter Wonderland, each year Hyde Park is transformed into a Christmas oasis filled with attractions, entertainment, and activities perfect for people of all ages.
WINTER WONDERLAND LONDON DATES IN 2024
This year, Winter Wonderland will be held from 21st November 2024 to 5th January 2025. Winter Wonderland is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the last entry being at 9:30 p.m. Keep in mind that you need at least an hour and a half to completely enjoy the attraction.
WINTER WONDERLAND TICKETS
Winter Wonderland is a ticketed event, so make sure you book your tickets in advance. Some time slots are free, and some go up to £7.5. If you’re fine with going early in the day, you can snag one of the free tickets (which still need to be booked online). If you’d like to come in the evening, and especially on the weekend, you’ll have to pay £5 or £7.5, depending on the peak hours you’ve chosen.
On their website, you can book either just the entrance tickets or you can also pay for some of the rides and attractions, so you don’t have to do it on the spot.
IS WINTER WONDERLAND FREE?
Winter Wonderland is not really free. Although you can book some of those free entrance tickets, you still have to pay for rides, attractions, food and whatever else you want to try there. You can obviously enter for free and not pay for anything else, but there won’t be much to do because everything inside costs additional money. If you’re on a budget, check out these free things you can do in London!
IS WINTER WONDERLAND OVERPRICED?
In my opinion, Winter Wonderland is absolutely overpriced. While I think it’s great you can book an entrance ticket for free if you’re on a budget, the prices of the rides and especially food in Winter Wonderland are enormous. Crepes start at £8, and a cup of mulled wine is £6-7.5. When it comes to rides and attractions, ice skating is over £12, while the Ferris wheel starts at £8 and goes to over £15. If you’re alone or in a pair it’s fine, but if you’re coming with a family, it’s going to be pretty pricey.
WHY IS WINTER WONDERLAND SO POPULAR?
Winter Wonderland is really popular for many reasons. Firstly, it’s a really pretty Christmas market. It’s got enchanting decorations, twinkling lights, and festive music. It really immerses people in the Christmas spirit and gives them the lovely opportunity to enjoy and socialize in a Christmas attraction different from the other ones in the city.
Secondly, the event truly offers something for everyone, and every attraction imaginable is right there in one place. Because of that, Winter Wonderland appeals to a broad audience. Whether you want to enjoy the thrilling rides, ice skate at the ice rink, enjoy shows, or eat some Christmassy food, you always something to enjoy. It’s also perfect for solo travelers, couples, and families as well. Winter Wonderland is really inclusive and family-friendly, with a range of activities suitable for both children and adults.
Finally, Winter Wonderland is located in the one place everyone loves and wants to visit. Hyde Park’s central location in London makes Winter Wonderland easily accessible to both locals and tourists. Its in one of the city’s most famous parks, so it’s a must-visit destination during the holiday season.
read more >>> BEST THINGS TO DO IN LONDON AT CHRISTMAS
IS WINTER WONDERLAND WORTH VISITING?
It really depends on what you prefer. If you like adventure rides and funfair games, and aren’t on a strict budget, it’s worth visiting Winter Wonderland. You can spend the whole afternoon or evening having fun, eating, and enjoying your time. Also, if you’re coming with a family, the kids would absolutely love Winter Wonderland, even if just to see it.
On the other hand, if you’re on a strict budget, this might not be the best option as you really have to spend some money to have any type of fun. Moreover, if you don’t like adventure rides, your pool of available things to do really shrinks, so maybe you can find more interesting things to do at some other Christmas market in London.
WHAT DAY IS THE BEST TO GO TO WINTER WONDERLAND?
The best day to visit Winter Wonderland in London largely depends on your priorities. Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect:
BEST DAYS FOR FEWER CROWDS – WEEKDAYS (MONDAY TO THURSDAY)
If you don’t like the crowds and want to escape them as much as possible, visiting on a weekday, especially during the daytime, is your best option. The earlier in the day you go, the quieter it will be. The event is typically less busy during the first few weeks after it opens in mid-November so try and go as soon as possible. The closer to Christmas, the larger the crowds.
BEST DAYS FOR FULL FESTIVE EXPERIENCE – THE WEEKEND (FRIDAY TO SUNDAY)
If you want to experience the full festive atmosphere with lively crowds, live entertainment, and a bustling environment, weekends are the best choice. However, these days will be the busiest, especially in the evenings. The weekends are those days when everyone is available, so most people find their way to Winter Wonderland.
WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN WINTER WONDERLAND LONDON
Here’s a guide to some of the must-see and must-do experiences in Winter Wonderland! There are several others you’ll stumble upon, but these are the ones you shouldn’t skip out on.
GO ICE SKATING
The first and the best activity you must do is ice skating. In Winter Wonderland, you’ll find the UK’s largest open-air ice rink looking picture-perfect with Christmas lights and decorations. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and you can enjoy a 45-minute session of ice skating for £11.50. While it might be the most magical during the evening, if you don’t like crowds try and come during the day!
EXPLORE THE RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS
The rides and several attractions are the key part of Winter Wonderland, and why most people come and visit!
Firstly, there’s the Giant Observation Wheel. This is the most popular attraction in Winter Wonderland because it gives you the best skyline views of London. It’s stunning both during the day and night, but most people prefer the night views, so that’s when the crowds are the biggest. Try to book a Fast Track pass if you want to get onto the Wheel quickly!
When it comes to the rides, there are several roller coasters and thrill rides for adrenaline seekers, the biggest and most popular being the Munich Looping ride. There are also others, such as Euro Coaster, The Hangover, Aeronaut Starflyer, and Blizzard.
There are also several carousel and family rides perfect for families with young children or those looking for something more relaxed.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS
While Winter Wonderland is not a traditional Christmas market, it surely has aspects of it. All throughout the event there are traditional Christmas markets with different stalls selling gifts, decorations, and festive treats. You can use them to relax and grab something to eat after trying out the rides. The Christmas markets are also perfect for holiday shopping and finding unique, handcrafted items or souvenirs.
BAVARIAN VILLAGE
If you’re in Winter Wonderland for relaxing and having fun, Bavarian Village is the place for you! It’s a German-inspired area where you can eat, drink, and sing along to live music. It’s one of the most loved parts of Winter Wonderland each year because the atmosphere is always lively. If you’re interested in spending your evening there, make sure you come early enough to snag a seat, because the Bavarian Village gets crowded each and every day!
SANTALAND
If you’re coming with children, Santaland is the perfect place for you. Santaland is separated from the rest of Winter Wonderland and it’s a recreation of the North Pole. The kids can meet Santa and even receive a present if they’re nice! The children can also enjoy kids-friendly rides at only £2 per ride.
THE MAGICAL ICE KINGDOM
If you’re looking for something interesting for both adults and children, make sure to check out the Magical Ice Kingdom. It’s a walk-through attraction filled with intricate ice sculptures. This year, the sculptures will be portraying the famous story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
It will take you around 30 minutes to walk through the exhibition, and since they’re made of ice, they’re kept at -10°C, so dress warm before coming!
London is one of my favorite cities to visit in the winter – can’t wait to go back and check these markets out! Thanks for this guide 🙂
I didn’t realize London had such great holiday markets. Looks super fun!