A Magical Winter Wonderland

Brrrrr, I’m feeling the chill today. Out comes the faux-fur coat and the fluffy snow boots, despite the fact that it’s still relatively mild for this time of year! However, the true mark that Autumn has really given way is the magical transformation of Hyde Park into a Winter Wonderland (aptly named just that). On Friday 18th November, this Christmas themed utopia will come alive; it will be there until 3rd January so there’s no hurry! Book a Hyde Park Corner taxi to take you there some time over the next few months.

One of the best things about Winter Wonderland is that it’s absolutely free to get in. Walking through after the sun goes down is really atmospheric, with fairy lights galore and Christmas tunes playing. If you’re a bit of a scrooge, I wouldn’t recommend coming along to this - there’s festive cheer everywhere you turn! The only thing to watch out for is that each of the fairground rides is priced quite highly; adults can expect to pay £8.00 for a ride on the Observation Wheel (is that superior to the humble Ferris Wheel?) during peak times. There’s also the largest ice rink in London to enjoy here, in its new location surrounding the Victorian Bandstand. Prices range between £8.50 and £13.50 for this, which seems to be the going rate around the city.

If you like a bit of Bratwurst, don’t miss out on the Bavarian Village; here you’ll find food, drink and live music. There are plenty of other places to eat too, from festive snacks to traditional English meals. A glass of mulled wine is highly recommended for the grown-ups to warm your cockles whilst the little ones get merry on Christmas-time excitement. If you have some pennies left over, there are two circuses running regular performances; you can buy tickets in advance from the Winter Wonderland website or queue up on the day. I, for one, can’t wait to get involved!