We feel like very lucky ducks indeed because last night we were invited to go to the opening of Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park! You simply can’t get more Christmassy than that now can you – well not until it’s Christmas morning, the big man’s been and you’re on the end of your bed opening your stocking!
We visited last year and simply loved the fact that although essentially it’s a just a big fun fair, because of the indulgence into Christmas with regard to decoration, it becomes simply magical! With gorgeous yummy festive smells emanating from the food stalls and mulled wine being served it’s hard not to get in the spirit of the season, despite it not even being December yet! We obviously weren’t the only ones gearing up for this yule because the stars were out in force and many a ‘Made In Chelsea’ face crossed with the likes of Carrie and David Grant to come together and start the build up to Christmas! Well why not? Everyone knows Friday morning when you’re still at work, is in some ways the best part of the weekend because it’s all still to come! I’m taking from now until the big day as a very long Friday morning and am going to enjoy it all!
Winter Wonderland is just as it says on the tin! A wonderland of winter which is geared up for everyone really and while I watched others around me enjoying their time in Hyde Park last night it struck me that everyone was able to take the pieces they wanted and not worry about the rest. Those of us with children weren’t confined to the children’s area, although there is quite an extensive ‘Santa Land’ just for the little ones, because the rest of the park also had many attractions to bring smiles to little faces with ‘little rides’ dotted all over the place. The young couples frolicked on the ice and with the teens and other dare devils, rode the monster rides of which there are many! The more mature wandered and watched and took a spin with the families and love birds in the romantic giant observation wheel! It really is a place for everyone!
For us it was all about the little ones enjoying themselves.
But I did get the chance for a little skate!
Speaking of the wheel and I literally could have cried because we didn’t make it on! Florence went on a little ride with a loud noise which scared her and she didn’t want to go on anything for a while so we were saving the wheel for a bit later on and then when we got there it had had to be stopped due to high winds… Ok, proves their dedication to safety which is a good thing but boy were we disappointed as last year this was the most memorable things for us and now we won’t get to do it – blub! If you go, this is a must! An absolute must for literally everyone!
Two highlights we did manage to see (and there are lots we didn’t so vast is the area) were the Magical Ice Kingdom, a room full of ice sculptures to be seen, touched, sat on and even slid down! We loved it in this icy heaven which is -8 degrees inside so don’t forget your hat! It was like entering Narnia. Lucky old Jimmy was trussed up in his snow suit, hat and foot muff but my gloveless hands were freezing – worth it though! The other one was Zippos Circus which is a jaw dropping spectacular! It has to be seen to be believed and I don’t want to ruin it for you but imagine multiple motorbikes, riding round each other inside a fairly small caged ball… Then imagine a woman standing in the middle of them! We couldn’t believe it – very clever indeed!
Enjoying the ‘Ice Kingdom’! Look at Jonny’s face coming down the ice slide!
The circus was amazing!
All in all we had a marvellous time, mooching the stalls, drinking a beer, bumping into you know who while he wandered with his elves, seeing the sights and having a bit of an ice skate too! Florence particularly liked the little penguin boats in ‘Santa Land’ where all she had to do was steer and she also enjoyed visiting ‘Santa’s Grotto’ where we took pictures sitting in his seat – hope he didn’t feel like the three bears when he got home!
‘Santa Land’ and the grotto were fab! We loved the little penguin boats!
Winter Wonderland is FREE to enter but to pre-book tickets for the attractions, please see the website tickets section. For more information on the attraction, how to get there and opening times please see www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com.
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