Whether you’re taking the little ones for a family day out or just fancy a few winter warming drinks at Cafe Bavaria with friends, the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park is a fabulous start to the festive season. Visit Santa and his elves in the little grotto inside the giant snow globe and have your picture taken with Santa Claus himself or get that much needed adrenaline fix on the numerous fairground rides that are dotted around this spacious green. What’s more, with a myriad of Christmas lights overhead and festive tunes aplenty as well as containing its very own circus…phew…boredom is practically a crime.  
 
For those who are a little older, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is a great place to try out the variety of German beers on offer at the nearby stalls or perhaps try some mulled wine. There are quite a few rides and attractions that appeal to all ages, for instance, a hall of mirrors, haunted house, ghost train, merry-go-round, big wheel and a rollercoaster. I can assure you these activities can be quite interesting and funny after a few drinks depending on your inclination towards fairground rides. However, if the latter sounds like an absolute nightmare then it’s always good fun watching people glide gracefully or shuffle across the smooth surface of London’s largest ice rink.I’m going back when thoughts of Christmas Shopping threaten to send me over the edge.  
 
Top Tip: Seek out the annimatronic mounted moose-head singing crimbo songs from one of the many wooden structures that make up the village. That certainly lifted my Christmas spirits. 

 

Open: 10am - 10pm every day (except Christmas Day) until January 4th 2011. 
 
http://www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/