Visiting Hyde Park Winter Wonderland this Christmas

Last updated: 20 December 2023

Nothing says Christmas time in London quite like Winter Wonderland. The festive carnival, located in Hyde Park, now in its 16th year is widely considered to be one of the most popular Christmas events in town.

Overheard on the Tube

Home to a variety of attractions, including the world-famous ice rink (the largest outdoor rink in the UK!) and the Giant Wheel that stands 70m tall and is perfect for a unique vantage point overlooking London. Visitors will be able to enjoy rides, games, and an assortment of food stalls and unique experiences to create a memorable night out. There’s definitely something on offer for everyone. 

This year, Winter Wonderland will be running from Friday 17 November 2023 to Monday 1 January 2024 and open from 10am to 10pm (last entry is 9:30pm) every day (closed on Christmas Day). 

One of our favourite things about Winter Wonderland is that it’s held in a huge space! Hyde Park is a great location because it’s large enough to contain the crowds and still provides good personal space when walking around without being shoulder to shoulder with everyone all the time.

This doesn’t mean that crowds don’t exist, they definitely do, but if you need some time out for some personal space, it doesn’t take too much effort.

What’s on offer in Winter Wonderland this year?

Attractions

This year’s Winter Wonderland sees the return of some of your old favourites and some brand new experiences too

Ice Skating

One of the most popular things to do at Winter Wonderland every year is to go ice skating. The ice rink is the largest outdoor rink in the UK! Visitors will be able enjoy the wide open space with the opportunity to skate around the famous Victorian bandstand.

The best way to book an ice skating session is online where you can select your preferred skating time (off-peak, standard, or peak). Booking via the website also enables you to select other Winter Wonderland attractions at the same time to bundle together and save on entry costs too. 

If the thought of ice skating in London appeals then you might be interested in some other popular locations running throughout the festive season, here’s a dedicated post on ice skating in London.

Things to know: Your skating session will last 45 min so be sure to arrive with enough time to organise your skate hire to maximise your time on the ice.  

The Giant Wheel

There’s no missing the Giant Wheel at Winter Wonderland! A 70m tall beacon which provides unique views of London and an ideal opportunity to appreciate the size and scale of Winter Wonderland that you can’t can’t do at ground level. 

Like at the Disney theme parks, there’s an option to purchase a Fast Track pass to skip the lines at The Giant Wheel. The cost for one adult is £11 (peak) and if you want the Fast Track then this increases to £16. Is it worth it? It depends on how much you dislike waiting in a queue. 

Things to know: A ride on The Giant Wheel takes about 10 min to do a full rotation

Magical Ice Kingdom

This year’s Magical Ice Kingdom is a Norse adventure as you explore a Viking Ice Village and traverse through Lands of Giants, Fire, and Ice! Prepare to meet various Gods along your journey through the nine realms.

It’s like stepping into a frozen world carved out of 500 tonnes of ice! Plenty of ice sculptures to take photos of as you make your way through secret passageways during your 30 min walk through the frozen kingdom. 

Things to know: The average temperature is -10° celsius so dress warm

Bar Ice

If you’re looking for a fun date night idea then perhaps stopping by Bar Ice, a 1980s-themed ski lodge, for a cocktail in a cool (make that very cool) environment might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Wrap yourself in a warm jacket and don your gloves before taking a seat at your frozen table and very cold chair whilst enjoying your complimentary cocktail (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available) served up in an ice-carved glass. Enjoy the vibe as a DJ creates the mood in Bar Ice. 

Things to know: An adult ticket costs £15.50 off-peak, £16.50 standard, and £17.50 peak. Your experience will last 20 min and includes a Mixtons cocktail.

Zippos Christmas Circus and Cirque Berserk 

If you’re looking to stay warm and be dazzled by some breathtaking circus performances then step foot into the Megadome and be amazed by both Zippos Christmas Circus and Cirque Berserk. 

Zippos Christmas Circus offers family-fun featuring stunning acrobatic and aerial performances, plenty of clowning, and dizzying juggling! 

Whilst Cirque Berserk is all about pumping the adrenaline through fearless, death-defying performances which will leave everyone stunned! If you’ve never seen the Globe of Death before then it’s an absolute must this year! 

Things to know: Both Zippos Christmas Circus and Cirque Berserk performances last 45 min.

Ice Sculpting Workshops

Are you looking for an unusual date idea? Well, we think it doesn’t get any cooler than taking your special someone to an ice sculpting experience at Winter Wonderland! Over a 40 min period, you will be given the tools and expert guidance needed to carve out your own masterpiece in the ice sculpting studio. 

Things to know: Each ice sculpting workstation is designed for two people. So embrace your inner Michelangelo and get sculpting

Real Ice Slide 

Embrace your inner children and head to the Real Ice Slide to experience the 45m long ice slide and experience a trip back to childhood! Following on from last year’s designed slide with an extra lane (6 in total) meaning that more people can ride at the same time which means less waiting in line! 

Things to know: Ticket prices are standard £5 each, regardless of age or time visited

Located near Santa’s Grotto

Santaland

For those of you with children and travelling to Winter Wonderland as a family, we’re sure that a visit to Santaland is on the cards! With its own dedicated section of Winter Wonderland, Santaland is about as Christmassy as it gets with Santa’s Grotto, dedicated rides for kids, and even a dedicated Santa’s Parade! 

Brand new for 2023, Santaland now offers an unlimited ride pass which gives riders unlimited access to over 15 Santaland rides for only £25.

Rides

If this is the year that you’re going to make the most of what Winter Wonderland has to offer then you’re probably going to be jumping on some of the many rides on offer! Here’s a small selection of what’s currently available but if you’d like to see a full list then check out the Winter Wonderland website

• Wilde Maus (NEW)
• Superstarke Troika (NEW)
• Santa’s Sleigh Stop (NEW)
• Aeronaut Starflyer
• Apres-ski Party Funhouse
• The Time Machine
• Canadian Mountie Funhouse
• Dr Archibald (VR experience)
• Dragon’s Nest

Games

For those wanting to indulge in some games this year, you may be interested in the Winter Wonderland Game Coins which can be purchased in advance and redeemed at any Game stalls displaying the coin symbol.

Street Food

There are new street food areas across Winter Wonderland which is perfect for grabbing some food on the go whilst exploring the various areas. We’ve also enjoyed this aspect of Winter Wonderland because we can take our time to walk and explore everything on offer without needing to try and nab a table at a busy sit-down restaurant. 

Food and Drinks

Food and drinks are a mainstay at Winter Wonderland and this year is no exception with plenty of villages, restaurants, and bars available to satisfy everyone’s appetite! Here’s a small selection of what’s on offer.

• Bavarian Village – Experience the best of Bavaria right in the heart of London! 
• The Fire Pit – With an actual fire-pit on display, it’s one of the warmest places to be
• The Sleigh-By – Collection of food stalls and bars to browse and experience. This one is definitely our kind of place
• Thor’s Tipi – If you’re into anything Norse then this is the place for you! It’s cosy, unique, and very cool. I loved visiting and do recommend spending some time here.

How much are tickets to Winter Wonderland?

Winter Wonderland offers timed tickets which are available as Peak (£7.50), Standard (£5), and Off-Peak (Free). The off-peak times are between 10am-12pm, standard times are 12pm-6pm, and peak times are 6pm-9:30pm

The good news is that if you’re planning on visiting during the peak and standard times and likely to spend more than £25 on food, attractions, and rides then the entry fee is waived. 

Let’s face it, a night out at Winter Wonderland is not the cheapest thing that you can do in London. However, if you’re planning a Christmas night out or end of year celebration then it might be one to put aside some extra funds for. It really depends on your budget. 

If you’re looking for some cheap romantic things to do in London as an alternative then we have a post specifically on that.  

How to get to Winter Wonderland?

Since Winter Wonderland is located in London’s Hyde Park, there are plenty of public transport options available. We suggest leaving the car at home and taking the Tube or bus instead.

The Tube

The closest Tube lines depend on which entrance you’re planning to enter from;

• Gold Gate
  • Paddington station on the Elizabeth line
  • Marble Arch | Bond St | Oxford Circus stations 
• Red Gate
  • Marble Arch | Bond St | Oxford Circus stations 
• Blue Gate
  • Green Park | Hyde Park Corner | Victoria stations
• Green Gate
  • Knightsbridge | High Street Kensington stations

Bus

The good thing about Winter Wonderland being located in the middle of London is that there are plenty of transport options available and taking the bus is no exception. 

If you’re planning on taking the bus to Winter Wonderland then we suggest using the TFL Journey Planner for the most efficient bus route for your specific journey. 

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Map

The Hyde Park Winter Wonderland website has a really helpful map for not only getting around the site during your visit but it’s excellent for planning your journey because of the inclusion of What Three Words locations for the entry gates. 

You can download a local copy of the Winter Wonderland Map directly from the official Hyde Park Winter Wonderland website

Final Thoughts

There’s a reason why Winter Wonderland has been running for 16 years and continues to attract crowds year after year, it’s just a really fun way to ring in the festive season. Whether you’re visiting just for one attraction, such as the UK’s largest outdoor ice rink, or planning a big night out with your friends, there is certainly something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season. 

If you’re looking for other things to do in London then we suggest checking out this post with 37 things to do for couples or this post highlighting some of the iconic London landmarks. If you need any other help for what to do in London, our adopted home, then be sure to let us know!