THE LEAD up to Christmas hasn’t fully begun until Winter Wonderland opens, and today that is happening.
Every year one of the UK’s biggest Christmas markets returns to Hyde Park in London.
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Winter Wonderland official opens todayCredit: Alice Penwill
So, we went to check it out to see what this year’s event is likeCredit: Cyann Fielding
And this year, there are a number of changes.
I was one of the first to check it out – so here is my full rundown of everything that is worth it, from food and drinks to rides, as well as what you can skip.
The atmosphere
Winter Wonderland 2025 certainly has had a glow up.
The entrances all have exciting new themes and twinkling lights are everywhere.
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It feels a lot like Christmas has thrown up in Hyde Park, in the best way possible.
Throughout, the attention to detail is impressive.
For example, in the alpine-themed bar after you exit Bar Ice, there are disused ski lift pods changed into seating areas and heaters in every corner to ensure it is nice and toasty, despite still being outside.
The rides all glow and the music booms, but not too loud that you can’t hear yourself think.
Rides and existing attractions
For 2025, fan favourites have returned including rollercoasters, drop towers, a giant Ferris Wheel and Bar Ice.
The towering wheel, which is the largest travelling wheel in the world, has been upgraded with pods that close to keep you dry and warm.
For £10 per adult and £8 per child, I was skeptical, but you do get around four full rotations for that and the views are unmatched.
The Bavarian Hall is as big as ever, and offers the ideal spot to have as a base if you’re attending as a group of friends.
Bar Ice has also returned, and though this was the thing I was most skeptical about costing between £15.50 and £18 depending when you visit, for a 20 minute experience, it ended up being my favourite attraction.
Bar Ice has returned – an entire bar made from blocks of iceCredit: Cyann Fielding
With your entry ticket you get a Mixtons cocktailCredit: CYANN FIELDING
The impressive bar made entirely of ice, features fantastical carved creations and has all been made in collaboration with Mixtons cocktails (which you get one included in the entry fee).
The cocktails are then served in a glass made entirely of ice.
In London, cocktails can often set you back upwards of £12, so when you think about it you’re paying around £5 for the experience – which in my opinion was more than worth it.
At the other end of the spectrum is the ice skating rink, which claims to be the UK’s largest open-air ice rink, which I find hard to believe having also visited Somerset House’s ice rink which I feel is bigger.
The ice skating was a little bit of a let downCredit: CYANN FIELDING
It costs between £11.50 and £17.50 per adult and £8.50 and £12.50 per child, and rather sneakily you are not allowed to take your bag onto the ice with you and are consequently forced to pay an additional £2 for the cloakroom.
The ice rink also sits at the edge of the attraction, and felt like it had been squeezed in and forgotten about – plus the entrance is super confusing to find.
Of all the attractions I visited, I would say this is the one to definitely miss.
Instead, head to Somerset House which costs from £15 per adult and from £10 per child and is in a stunning setting.
There are a number of food areas, including the Street Food Market and new for this year, Jingle Bell BistroCredit: Cyann Fielding
The new features
There are a number of new features at the event this year, including a good number of new attractions for kids.
Conveniently located next to the Red Gate (the recommended entrance if you want to head to more child-friendly activities), you will find the new Jingle Bell Bistro – a food market designed with kids in mind.
There are a number of street food vendors selling different child-friendly options, such as chicken nuggets and burgers.
Adults can also get food from here, but I think the idea is that it isn’t fussy food with all the bells and whistles, it is more core staples and comfort food that pleases everyone – a very good idea in my opinion.
Prices varied, including £8 per child-sized pasta dish, or £12 for an adult portion.
Just steps away from the new food area is Santa’s Grotto and Workshop, which is free to visit once inside Winter Wonderland.
The outside is impressive, looking as if it has just been plucked from the movie Elf – in fact, it made me want to be a kid again.
Visitors can explore the Elves Workshop where they help elves solve puzzles before heading into Santa’s Grotto, which is beautifully decked out with Christmas trees and Santa himself.
This year the Dr. Archibald VR Experience has a horror element each day from 5pmCredit: Cyann Fielding
There is also the Dr. Archibald VR Experience (Horror Edition) from 5pm each day.
It features special effects and a lot of robotics, and is rather costly per turn at £7 per adult and £5 per child.
Though, maybe this is still designed for kids as throughout the entire ride I didn’t jump until the very end when the ride host came to lift up my safety bar… How ironic.
The Magical Ice Kingdom also has a new theme for this year based around the four elements.
Inside, you will find an abundance of carved ice creations all set in a -10C world, that truly are breathtaking to see.
It costs from £9 per adult and £7 per child to see, which I do think is on the steep side as the experience lasts about 15 minutes.
I would say it is more for families who don’t like the rides.
Inside the Magical Ice Kingdom, this year’s theme is based around the four elementsCredit: Cyann Fielding
Another new spot for this year, this time for the adults, is the Après-Ski Themed Village with live DJs.
Sadly, upon our visit it was raining so there was no DJ playing and no one around, but I can imagine this area coming alive when it isn’t wet and windy.
There is also a new Zippos Christmas Circus (between £11.50 and £17 per adult and between £8.50 and £14 per child) show to check out, and a new Cirque Berserk (between £12.50 and £18 per adult and between £9.50 and £15.00 per child) show too.
Food and drink
Now let’s not lie… Every year TikTok and Instagram becomes full of people slating Winter Wonderland for its prices, and this includes food.
Winter Wonderland has loads of different places to grab food, but we headed to the Street Food Village, which is where you will find most of the meals you see go viral on social media.
And of course, we tried those options.
I opted for Stakehaus’ Xmas Sub, which was crowned the best Christmas sandwich in London by Time Out last year.
Stakehaus is one of the street food vendors available, serving up their 2024 award-winning Christmas sandwichCredit: Cyann Fielding
At £16.50 it certainly was the most expensive Christmas sandwich I have ever had (though I am not sure I can compare M&S Christmas edition sandwiches to this).
Encased in a soft bread bun, was dry-aged roast beef rump with gravy, sage and shallot crumble, parsnip crisps, cavolo Nero, cauliflower cheese with horseradish mayo.
And my word, it was as good as it sounds.
The gravy really helped to not make the whole thing dry, and the different textures made it truly feel like Christmas in a sandwich.
Admittedly, I would have perhaps liked to taste the horseradish a little more or have some cranberry.
The key thing to remember is that a lot of the vendors are in markets across the city, and when I compared prices between Stakehaus’ Winter Wonderland stall and their Camden Market one – I was please to see only 50p difference between their classic steak and fries option.
Fellow travel reporter Alice Penwill said: “The Mac Factory serves gourmet mac and cheese so of course I had to give their new Holy Quackaroni a try.
“It was £12.50 for a very generous portion, inside my pot was hot and creamy macaroni pasta topped with duck, cranberry sauce, crispy onions and two slices of brie – which if you leave long enough will melt on top.
Travel writer Jenna Stevens opted for the Mango Box from fried chicken shack, Only Jerkin’Credit: CYANN FIELDING
“The cranberry sauce was a bit much for me and very sweet – but all in all it was delicious, and so filling I couldn’t even finish it.
“You’ll struggle with this one if you still you want room for dessert.”
Travel writer Jenna Stevens said: “I went for the Mango Box from fried chicken shack, Only Jerkin’.
“For £14.50 I was served a generous portion of mango and coconut chicken strips, jerk fries, coleslaw, BBQ sauce and a chilli mango aioli.
“I’m so used to paying hefty prices and being disappointed by small portions from street food vendors.
“But I have nothing to complain about here – the flavours were the perfect mixture of sweet and spicy, and the big portion kept me full all night.”
For dessert I opted for the viral London Cheesecake Company – a frozen vanilla cheese cake, dipped in melted chocolate and the covered in a topping of your choice.
Of course I added a trend to the trend by getting Dubai chocolate as my topping.
The pick n’ mix is a bit of a rip off at the marketCredit: Cyann Fielding
The dessert came in at £9 – admittedly expensive – and it was extremely decadent.
One can definitely be shared between two or three people.
I reckon for a family of four, for a main meal, dessert and drink each, you would be looking at the £100 mark.
Though, you could definitely skip dessert as the mains are super filling and if there is one thing to not miss, it is Stakehaus’ Xmas Sub.
Elsewhere we also found a pick n’ mix and of course had to grab some for nibbles between rides.
However, when selecting our chosen sweets it was hard to know how much it would cost.
At the specific stall we were at, there were no signs to tell you how much 100g would cost.
So, you can imagine the gut wrenching feeling I got when 425g of sweets (for reference that’s around the same weight as three bags of fruit pastilles) cost me a staggering £16.11.
For that, I got around 35 sweets – so I would say to avoid the sweet stalls like the plague.
However, bar prices are reasonable and in line with elsewhere in LondonCredit: Cyann Fielding
When it came to drinks though, I was pleasantly surprised.
Mulled wine was £6.40, and whilst this is 30p more than last year, I don’t think it was ridiculous.
The same went for beer with a pint costing between £6.50 to £7.75, a double shot spirit and mixer came in at £11.50 and cocktails around £12.
Non-alcoholic drinks like Pepsi, 7UP or Tango would set you back £2.90 a can.
And that viral deluxe hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows? Well, it was still cheaper than heading to Starbucks (£4.85), at £4.70.
Prices to enter Winder Wonderland vary from free to over £7.50 during peak hours.
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If you are looking for more Christmas activities, these are the best affordable Christmas days out and festive fun events across the UK – either free or under £10.
Plus, the UK Christmas market that attracts nearly two million visitors is getting three new attractions.
Prices range to get into Winter Wonderland, for example, it will cost £7.50 or more to enter during peak hoursCredit: Jenna Stevens
