Organisers behind Winter Wonderland have announced the popular attraction will return to Hyde Park for six weeks this year, from November 21 until January 5. It will be open from 10am until 10pm daily, excluding Christmas Day.
Tickets for the Wonderland are now on sale and can be purchased here. Off-peak entrance is free, standard entry is £5 and entrance at peak times will cost £7.50, though various packages — including prebooked rides and food and drink bundles — are available. Those who spend £25 or more online on rides and refreshment will not pay for entry, and unlike previous years, Game Coins — which are used to pay for various attractions — can be bought in advance at a discount.
The fair, which began in 2007 and attracts as many as 2.5 million visitors each winter, will this year boast more than 100 rides and attractions, including the UK's largest open-air ice rink, various rollercoasters, a giant wheel and performances by Zippos Christmas Circus. There will also be a haunted mansion, an ice slide and shows from Cirque Beserk.
Expected to be a highlight is the so-called Magical Ice Kingdom, made up from 500 tonnes of snow and ice and for 2024 themed to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. In -10°C surrounds, it will include the Queen of Hearts’ castle, the Mad Hatter’s tea party, the rabbit hole itself, and a chance to interact with the likes of the Cheshire Cat and the Giant Caterpillar. There will also be a number of carved sculptures, some more than five metres high.
Elsewhere, the Wilde Maus XXL rollercoaster will return, alongside the Aeronaut Starflyer and a drop ride ominously called the Hangover. There will also be more than 20 new traders at the Christmas Market this year, selling a selection of locally-sourced and handmade crafts. Parents may be relieved to know there will be a number of bars on site, including at the Bavarian Village, which also boasts seasonal sing-a-longs, chalets and outdoor seating.
Some of the proceeds from Winter Wonderland will go towards the Royal Parks charity, which works to maintain the eight Royal Parks of London, of which Hyde Park is one.
