Hyde Park · London W2 · Late November to early January
Winter Wonderland: free to enter, and that's the trap
Getting into Winter Wonderland costs nothing, which is why families arrive without much of a plan. Everything inside it is paid for separately, from the rides to the rink to the food, and a group that has not thought about that in advance tends to find the evening runs away from them.
And then priced individually for every ride, every show, the ice rink and the food. It is not a criticism of the event, it is how it works, and knowing it before you arrive with three children is worth a good deal.
The rare all-ages December outing
Most Christmas outings suit one part of a family. This one genuinely spans them.
Rides and the circus
Plenty at the gentler end, and the lights alone do a lot of work.
The bigger rides
Which is unusual. Most family Christmas outings lose them entirely.
Bars and food
Substantial, and the reason a lot of groups stay longer than planned.
Ice shows and markets
Seated things exist, which matters on a cold evening.
Kent to Hyde Park
Central London in December, which is the busiest driving month of the year.
| Pick-up area | Distance | December journey |
|---|---|---|
| Bromley & Orpington | 15 miles | 50–85 min |
| Bexleyheath & Welling | 16 miles | 55–90 min |
| Dartford & Bluewater | 22 miles | 60–100 min |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 28 miles | 60–100 min |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 28 miles | 70–110 min |
| Rochester & Chatham | 37 miles | 80–120 min |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 38 miles | 80–125 min |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 61 miles | 105–150 min |
What actually costs money
Not a price list, since these change every year, but the categories to expect.
| Item | Note |
|---|---|
| Rides | Individually priced or by wristband. Check before you go |
| The ice rink | Timed sessions, usually booked in advance |
| Shows and circus | Separate tickets, and the good ones sell out |
| Food and drink | Market pricing, and a family gets through it quickly |
| Nothing at all | Also a valid plan. The lights and the atmosphere are free |
A Winter Wonderland evening
Decide what you are doing before you arrive
Free entry makes it tempting to turn up and see, and with children that becomes an expensive negotiation at every stall. Groups who look at what is ticketed, book the rink or the show they actually want and set a rough budget have a better evening than groups who improvise. It is entirely possible to go and spend nothing beyond the food, and that is a legitimate plan too.
It is the one December outing that suits everybody
A pantomime loses the teenagers, a carol service loses the small children and a Christmas market loses both. Winter Wonderland genuinely has something at every age, which is why we carry a lot of three-generation groups to it. If you are trying to find one December evening that works for a whole family, this is usually the answer.
December is our hardest month, so book early
Winter Wonderland competes for the same vehicles as office parties, theatre trips and the Christmas market runs, on the same evenings. Thursday and Friday nights in December fill by late autumn. If it is in your plans, the vehicle is worth arranging well before the schools break up.
The guide covers the mechanics
Timed entry, which entrance to use, where vehicles can stop and going with children are all set out in more detail in our Winter Wonderland guide. This page is about deciding to go and what it will cost you; the guide is about the practical arrival.
Winter Wonderland questions
Free entry, paid everything else.
Is Winter Wonderland free?
Entry is free, and everything inside is paid for separately, from rides and the ice rink to shows and food. That catches families out.
Do we need to book anything in advance?
The ice rink and the better shows are usually booked ahead and do sell out. Rides are generally paid for on the day.
Is it suitable for all ages?
Genuinely, which is unusual. Small children, teenagers, adults and grandparents all have something, which is why so many three-generation groups go.
Can we go and spend nothing?
Yes, and it is a legitimate plan. The lights and the atmosphere cost nothing, and plenty of people go simply to walk around.
How far is it from Kent?
Around fifteen to sixty miles, roughly fifty minutes from Bromley to two and a half hours from east Kent, and slower in December than the rest of the year.
When should we book transport?
Well before the schools break up. December is our busiest month and Thursday and Friday evenings fill by late autumn.
Where can vehicles stop?
Our Winter Wonderland guide covers the entrances and where vehicles can and cannot wait, which is worth reading before the day.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed at booking, including any waiting while you are inside.
December in London
The seasonal outings.