The festive season is always welcomed with cheer in London. With light shows, ice skating rinks and beautiful festive lights festooning the city streets, there’s no better place to enjoy the season. Guests of 5 star hotels near Bayswater Road are well placed to experience some of the best winter attractions in London, not least Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.
This annual festival of food, gifts, funfairs and chilly attractions is one of the most anticipated and popular events in the London calendar. Taking place in the city’s most famous Royal Park, Winter Wonderland’s attractions are what you make of them. From festive romance to family friendly adventures, or maybe just a panicked late stint of Christmas shopping, Winter Wonderland is a medley of what makes the city so special at the end of the year.
Easy to reach from the Montcalm Hotel Marble Arch, Winter Wonderland grows a little more with each year. This blog will explore the seasonal staples of the festival and some new additions that visitors can expect in winter 2022.
Dates
Winter Wonderland takes place each year from mid-November until the beginning of January. This year, the festival commences on the 22nd of November and closes on the 3rd of January. Daily opening times are from 10am till 10pm, giving visitors plenty of time to travel home afterwards.
Tickets And Tips
At off-peak times, Winter Wonderland is free to visit. If you’re booking your slot for a peak time visit, then adults must pay £7.50. Peak time at Winter Wonderland is Saturday and Sundays and after 7 pm on weekdays. However, if you spend more than £25 in booking attractions in advance, then you get your entry free. Entry in advance gives visitors the option of 10am to 12pm, 12pm to 2pm, 2pm to 4pm, 4pm to 6pm, 6pm to 8pm and 7pm to 9:30pm – 9:30pm when you book. 2 hours may not seem like enough time to enjoy all of the attractions here, but it’s certainly a
Returning Attractions
There’s a reason that locals and tourists return year after year to Winter Wonderland. These attractions are loyal staples of the festival.
Zippos Circus
One of the best known and well travelled circuses in the world, this family friendly laugh a minute circus show is 45 minutes long and includes acrobats, magic, juggling and much much more. Tickets vary in price depending on peak times, and shows are performed daily at 1pm, 2.30pm and 4pm.
Cirque Berserk
Taking place daily at 6pm, 7.30pm and 9pm, Cirque Beserk is a 12+ age rated show that features fire tricks, daredevil stunts and laugh a minute comedy.
Ice Rink
Open between 10am and 10pm daily, visitors to Winter Wonderland can book a 50 minute ice skating session for their visit to the park. With the backdrop of the Hyde Park Victorian era bandstand, you can enjoy a glide across the ice. If you have your own skates, then bring them along too. There will also be music performances from London singers such as Lulu May and Isabella Luca, giving skaters some live music to accompany their trip.
Ice Kingdom
Every year, the Ice Kingdom returns to its rightful throne with a menagerie of beautiful sculptures in Winter Wonderlands very own ice palace. Built from 500 tonnes of ice, each year sees a different set of beautiful sculptures inspired by classic stories and fairytales such as The Snow Queen and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
Bar Ice
Guests of spa deals in London might have thought they’d unwound enough during their visit, but the cool and refreshing Bar Ice, a popular staple of Winter Wonderland takes “keeping it chill” to whole new levels. Wrap up warm, because Bar Ice, with its cocktail menus and crisp chilled beer is set to -10 degrees celsius.
Observation Wheel
Revolving to 70 metres in the air, the giant observation wheel at Winter Wonderland is the largest of its kind in the world. With beautiful lighting and views across the park and wider Westminster, there’s nothing quite like these 10 minute ascents into the London skyline.
Roller Coasters
With some of the best transportable roller coasters in the world, SWinter Wonderland is kitted out with the likes of Oktoberfest favourite Munich Looping, the g-force hurtle of Wild Maus and the Wonderland-favourite Eurocoaster.
New Attractions
Whilst the returnability factor is in part thanks to the great attractions that return year on year, there are plenty of new things to see and do in 2022. Below are some of the standout debuts that guests of luxury accommodation in London can enjoy this year.
Sleigh By Street Food
A new street food area touches down in Winter Wonderland in 2022. Sleigh-By brings new food stalls including Doughnut Time and Mac Daddy to fuel you up during your visit. Bars at Sleigh-By include the North Star Bar and Wilde Hilda, a German themed Bavarian Village bar, authentically wood panelled and tinsel infused with your favourite German beers.
Aeronaut Starflyer
This dizzying neon swing ride will “elevate” your mood, as long as you haven’t eaten beforehand! The Aeronaut Starflyer is the largest transportable swing ride in the world and hurtles customers 80 metres into the air. With dazzling light shows and views to match, the Aeronaut Starflyer is suitable for all ages.
Mountie Funhouse
If the Apres Ski Party Funhouse wasn’t enough, the Mountie Funhouse stretches over 5 floors and is the largest of its kind in the world. With 70 tricks to watch out for, a maze of themed rooms including an aqua trail, the Mountie Funhouse is sure to beguile kids and adults alike.
The Time Machine
This new spinning, careening rollercoaster is a steampunk infused ode to the HG Wells story of the same name. You’ll really feel like you’re travelling through the space time continuum on this child-friendly roller coaster ride, new to 2022.
