Disclaimer: We were invited to a family press day to Winter Wonderland which included free entry to some shows and rides.
We don’t celebrate Christmas but we love the festive atmosphere. The girls tend to get involved with school activities and we also go to Winter Wonderland. This year we again headed to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland for a fun day out.
Located in the heart of London in Hyde Park, get ready to fully immerse yourself in all things festive from 21st November 2019 to 5th January 2020. Open at 4pm on Thursday 21st November, Winter Wonderland is then open every day from 10am to 10pm. Offering an array of attractions, activities and entertainment for visitors of all ages – there really is something for everyone
Zippos Circus
Having attended Zippos circus last year and absolutely loving it, I did wonder if it would be the same acts and therefore less thrilling. However we were not disappointed as the acts were new and equally, if not more, amazing.
Overseen by Ringmaster Paul Winston, acts include New Revolution, a roller-skating duo, from Cuba, double trapeze act The Gemini Sisters from Norfolk, Khametov’s High Wire troupe from Uzbeckstan and award-winning funny man Emillion.
You are sure to be amazed by all the acts, but my personal favourites were Khametov’s High Wire troupe who had me on the edge of my seat!
Zippos Christmas Circus at London’s Winter Wonderland runs until 5 January 2020. Tickets should be pre-booked to avoid disappointment
https://hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/attraction/zipposchristmascircus/
Magical Ice Kingdom
Another of our favourites at the Winter Wonderland is the Magical Ice Kingdom. However it does get cold in there as the temperature is -10°C so you do have to make sure you wrap up warm!
This year the theme was Charles Dickens’ traditional story of A Christmas Carol. The intricate ice sculptures are amazing to look at and there is even an ice slide towards the end.
Winter Wonderland Giant Wheel
See London’s skyline from a brand new 70m height and be one of the first customers to experience a bigger and better view beyond the treetops of Hyde Park and the city. Sit back, relax and enjoy the peace of being high above while watching the festivities below.
This is the first time we have been on the giant wheel and it was enjoyed by all. You sit in comfortable pods which allow you to get a good view all around you.
The flight time is around 10 minutes and you go around the wheel 3 times.
Winter Wonderland Rides
There are over 100 rides and games at Winter Wonderland and there is sure to be something that appeals to everyone, from Roller Coasters and Thrills to children’s rides.
And for those who are specifically going to do Santa related activities there is a dedicated Santa Land with Santa’s Grotto.
Food
There is a range of food available at Winter Wonderland. However, they are not cheap. I was surprised to have to pay £6 for a few churros and then £7 for a simple baguette…..and £7 for a very small pizza.
We wanted to find something that was vegetarian so there was no cross contamination and managed to find a vegetarian stall. However as we left we spotted a halal stall called Chicken Shack…this is by the gold gate if you are looking for it as it didn’t seem to be mentioned on the map.
Overall Winter Wonderland is a fun day out for all the family but depending on how many activities you want to do and how many rides you want to have, it will not be cheap. With so much to do you can spend all day at Winter Wonderland!
Although it is more atmospheric in the evening when it is dark and the lights are more visible, I would highly recommend going with the children, or indeed if you simply don’t like crowded places, when it is early. We left at just after 3pm as we had a train to catch, and it was getting very busy with lots more people still coming to the entrance.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is managed and produced by IMG.
Entry to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is FREE. Attraction tickets sell out, especially at weekends and evenings. Advance booking is strongly recommended.
Zippos Christmas Circus session times are 13:00, 14:30 and 16:00. The show lasts approximately 50 min, please arrive 20 minutes before start time to take to your seats.
Tickets to Zippos Christmas Circus are priced from £7.50 for a child (2-12 years), £10.50 adult, and £30 for a Family Ticket (2 adults/teens and 2 children or 1 adult, 3 children. Under 2’s go free when not occupying a seat. These prices exclude transaction fees.
For details of other attractions and for prices of all other attractions, please see the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Website.