Ultimate Guide: Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park London 2026
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park London is one of the biggest tourist attractions in London during Christmas. It can be daunting to navigate this huge festival. So this ultimate guide will let you know what to expect, mistakes to avoid, and how to make the most out of your visit.
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🎅🎄Top Christmas Themed Tours in London!
1. Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus Open Top
2. London: Christmas Lights by Night Open-Top Bus Tour
3. London Vintage Bus Afternoon Tea (Christmas Themed)
4. Christmas Sights and Sounds of London Tour
5. Guided Winter Markets Food Tour
What is Winter Wonderland?
Winter Wonderland is London’s biggest Christmas Market, amusement park, and annual festive event. It’s held in Hyde Park and features endless attractions including an ice skating rink, a circus, live music, and carnival rides.
It’s the perfect festive activity in London! Just stroll around with a mulled wine, shop the stalls, try the fair food, and try to win prizes by playing games or riding one of the many rides.
There are also themed areas like Santa’s Grotto and a magical ice kingdom.
Winter Wonderland is family-friendly and designed for all ages.
Where to Stay
If you want to be near Winter Wonderland, I recommend staying at The Milestone, but I have more suggestions in my guide on the Best Festive Hotels in London for Christmas
Winter Wonderland Info
Winter Wonderland Address
Hyde Park, London, W2 2UH, United Kingdom (Google Maps)
How to get there
You can take the London Underground to any of the nearest tube stations:
- Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly Line)
- Lancaster Gate (Central Line)
- Marble Arch (Central Line)
Map
Winter Wonderland has multiple entrances, making it easy to access from various points around Hyde Park. The main entrance is usually at Hyde Park Corner, but there are also entrances at Marble Arch and Lancaster Gate.
Check out the map below which will indicate what attractions are where so you can plan the best entrance to arrive at.
Accessibility
Winter Wonderland is designed to be accessible for everyone, with wheelchair-friendly entrances and facilities.
Is it free to go to Winter Wonderland London?
Winter Wonderland is free to enter if you go during off-peak hours. It’s also free if you spend £25 or more on rides and food when you get in.
You can get free tickets to Winter Wonderland daily before 2pm from November 21st to December 12th. During January, off-peak hours are anytime before 4pm. You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like as long as you come at the ticketed time.
You can check the booking page graph for the exact off-peak timings because they vary per day.
When you enter, you will still have to pay for rides and food if you choose to but wondering the grounds is free.
Winter Wonderland Tickets
Winter Wonderland London 2024 tickets are on sale now!
If you visit Winter Wonderland during peak timings, they will cost anywhere from free to £5 to £7.50 depending on the booking time.
Although, you can buy tickets at the door, it’s best to purchase tickets ahead here to avoid it being sold out.
Winter Wonderland 2024 Dates
Winter Wonderland 2025 dates are from November 21, 2025 to January 1st, 2026.
During this time, Winter Wonderland Hyde Park is open daily Monday – Sunday from 10am – 10pm.
NOTE: Winter Wonderland is closed on Christmas Day.
Best Things to do at Winter Wonderland
1. Ice Skating
One of the highlights of Winter Wonderland is the ice skating rink, it’s the UK’s largest open-air ice rink.
The ice skating rink times run every hour from 10am – 9pm. Each session is 45 minutes long.
The cost to ice skate range from £11.50 to £16.50 for adults and £8.50 to £11.50 for Children (depending on peak or off-peak time). The skates rental are included in this price.
2. Visit the Christmas Market
Stroll through the charming Christmas market, where you can find stall after stall selling handcrafted gifts, Christmas decorations, and unique souvenirs.
3. Enjoy the Carnival Rides
There are tons of rides, which cater to all ages. From roller coasters to carousels. The rides all are an additional cost so buy tickets ahead so you can enjoy as many as you want. The lines do tend to get long depending on the popularity of the ride.
Some of the best rides include:
- Wilde Maus XXL: a roller coaster ride
- Blizzard: This ride will spin you around through the air, 65m above Hyde Park.
- Snow Jet: You get into a sleigh and it goes around and around.
4. See a Show
Catch a performance at the circus or enjoy live music throughout the event. You can check the events schedule here.
5. Explore the Magical Attractions
Don’t miss themed areas like Santa’s Grotto, where kids can meet Santa Claus. There’s also the Ice Kingdom, filled with amazing ice sculptures and festive decorations.
6. Play Games
Test your skills at the many games throughout Winter Wonderland. You can win prizes while having fun trying your luck at the traditional carnival games. Some people were carrying giant stuffed animals and other cool prizes.
7. See the Views from the Giant Observation Wheel
For a stunning view of the park from above, hop on the Giant Observation Wheel. It’s the best way to capture the entirety of the festival. The cost to ride it is £9.
8. Relax by the Fire Pits
After a day of exploring Winter Wonderland, chill out by the fire pits. Grab a hot drink and soak in the festive atmosphere. It’s a perfect way to end your day at Winter Wonderland.
Do you need to Pre-book rides?
Many of the main attractions, such as ice skating, the Giant Wheel, or the circus shows, have limited capacity and specific time slots. It’s usually best to pre-book these if you have something specific you really want to do. This ensures your spot since some attractions can sell out.
However, for smaller rides, games, or food stalls, you don’t need to pre-book—these can be paid for on the day.
Best Food to Try at Winter Wonderland
The food will of course be a bit overpriced (anywhere from £7 for churros to £9 for chicken tacos) but it’s one of London’s major Christmas attractions so it makes sense.
Here’s some of the top foods to try while there:
- Mulled Wine: Warm, spiced wine is a must-have to keep you cozy while you explore the market.
- Bailey’s Hot Chocolate: A delicious chocolate drink to keep warm. You can get it non-alcoholic too.
- EL&N’s Churro Doughnuts
- Potato spirals: These are made by spiraling a whole potato onto a stick, deep-frying it, and then seasoning it with toppings like salt, paprika, or cheese.
- Bratwurst: This sausage is delicous and you’ll find them being prepared right in front of you.
- Cheese Fondue: Dip bread and veggies into a pot of gooey melted cheese. Le Chalet Fondue is the place to try it near the Sleigh-By. Pre-booked tables are available.
- Festive Treats: Look for gingerbread cookies, candy canes, and chocolate-covered pretzels.
- Fish and Chips: A British classic
Where to go for food:
There’s many food stalls throughout the whole Christmas Market. You can even find a Bavarian Village which will feel like a German Christmas Market. Don’t miss the Bar Ice for the festivals coolest bar (no pun intended). Here everything’s made of ice!
Is Winter Wonderland really worth it?
Here’s my Winter Wonderland review after visiting a couple of times throughout the years. If you really want to do something Christmassy and fun in London, Winter Wonderland is worth a visit in my opinion at least once. The festive atmosphere, endless attractions, and the chance to enjoy some unique winter activities make it really memorable.
However, you should be warned to expect very large crowds especially over the weekend and in the evenings.
Also, aside from entry fee, Winter Wonderland can be really expensive. You have to pay for all the rides and attractions separately. If you’re planning on enjoying a few rides and grabbing some food, you’re looking at spending anywhere from £50 to £100 (or more) per person.
This, of course, depends on how many activities you want to do. Each ride typically costs between £5-£10, and food and drinks can add up quickly, especially if you’re tempted by the festive treats like mulled wine, churros, and bratwurst.
To save money and be amongst less crowds, you might want to consider visiting during off-peak times or sticking to the free or lower-cost activities.
If you’re exploring more markets check out my full guide on the best European Christmas Markets .
🎅 More Christmas in London Guides:
– Christmassy Restaurants in London
– Christmas Decorations in London
– Festive Things to Do in London
– Best Christmas Afternoon Teas
– How to Spend 4 Days in London
– Best Festive Hotels in London for Christmas
