We were lucky enough to get a couple of the limited number of tickets available for the charity preview night for Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park tonight. Running from 5pm until 9pm, the event was fully sold out and was put on to aid the work of the Royal Parks Foundation who help maintain and run the Royal Parks around London.
Wristbands were available at £50 each and gave the opportunity to wander around a slightly less busy Winter Wonderland with free access to rides, the ice rink and the circus.
We tweeted a few times from the event and took some lovely snaps to give you an idea of what to expect if you’re heading down there this Winter.
Charity preview night at @WinterWonderLON. pic.twitter.com/4vrPZppmlt
— Ticketlab UK (@ticketlabUK) November 20, 2014
After a couple more rides, we’ve stopped for a mulled wine in a wooden house! Tasty. @WinterWonderLON @RPFoundation pic.twitter.com/F9E98zp5BF
— Ticketlab UK (@ticketlabUK) November 20, 2014
One thing to bear in mind is that the layout has changed this year. The main entrance is now on the Marble Arch side, 5 minutes walk into the park. You’ll still be able to gain access via Hyde Park Corner, but the site isn’t laid out to favour that side.
We went on Ice Mountain (a fun “Crazy Mouse” style ride inside with lasers and penguins), Haunted Mansion (a standard ghost house with the addition of people in masks that are actually a bit scary when they jump out), Alpine Thriller (Himalayan inspired roller coaster which is fun, but probably designed for those under 5′ 6″, as the restraining collar presses down on your shoulders and can be painful going round corners).
We also saw some river rapids (although I’m not sure how recommended that would be in the cold), a hall of mirrors, and a pirate-themed ghost house along with fun fair staples such as dodgems, waltzers, drops and articulated spinning arms.
We didn’t spot the ice rink and the ferris wheel hadn’t been fired up, but our highlight was the Ice Kingdom, which is a tent cooled to freezing full of ice sculptures, an ice slide and a bar selling freezing Jaeger and other spirits.
We’ll certainly be back a few times over the festive season, so we hope to see you there!