Is Winter Wonderland for Real?

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is an large yearly Christmas occasion held in Hyde Park, London, commonly from mid-November to early January every year. It is one of the greatest, and most all-around went to such occasions on the planet, highlighting a few merry markets, more than 100 rides and attractions from crosswise over Europe, a Giant Wheel, various live shows, including a carnival, ice appear, and unrecorded music, and also various bars and restaurants. Since its dispatch in 2007, Winter Wonderland has pulled in 14 million visitors.

The event is open from 10am to 10pm each day, except for opening day, and Christmas Day. The main entrance is near the Marble Arch, with a secondary entrance on Serpentine Road.

Map:

Main Attractions:

Ice Rink:

The UK’s largest temporary outdoor ice rink, set around the park’s permanent bandstand, often featuring live music.

 

Magical Ice Kingdom:

 An indoor walk-through exhibition of ice sculptures, and interactive exhibits e.g. ice slide.

 

Bavarian Village:

 Large German-themed food and drink village, featuring numerous bars and eateries, and live music.

 

Carousel Bar: 

Rotating bar themed to resemble a traditional Gallopers/Carousel ride.

 

Christmas Markets:

 Numerous markets around the site, selling food, drink, and gifts.

There are also fresh stalls of fizzy beer, candy floss, and popcorns.

Breathtaking markets are run by pixies and elves.

Santa Land:

 Children’s area, featuring smaller rides, and Santa‘s Grotto.

 

Zippo’s MegaDome: 

Circus tent featuring three shows: The Sooty Christmas Show (mornings), Zippo’s Christmas Circus (afternoons), and Cirque Berserk (evenings).

 

The Imperial Ice Stars:

 A festive ice show, based on fairy tales, performed by 18 World, European and National Championship skaters.

 

Main Rides:

The Giant Wheel:

 A 60 meter portable Ferris Wheel.

 

View Tower:

An 80m tall observation tower to enjoy the top view of Hyde Park.

 

Munich Looping:

The world’s largest portable roller coaster, featuring five vertical loops (known as Olympia Looping at other events).

 

Wilde Maus XXL (AKA Xmas Maus):

The World’s largest portable Wild Mouse roller coaster, and the first portable roller coaster to offer a Virtual Reality option.

 

Ice Mountain:

A Wild Mouse style roller coaster with spinning cars, enclosed within a specially designed building.

 

North Pole Star Flyer:

 A 70 meter tall Star Flyer ride.

 

Hangover:

An 85-meter freefall tower ride.

 

XXL:

A 40-meter tall swing ride with a spinning gondola.

History:

2005-6 – A small, unsuccessful funfair operates through the Christmas period at the edge of Hyde Park. The lack of success leads The Royal Parks to look at alternative events.

2007 – The Royal Parks invites bids to run a Christmas Market, temporary Ice Rink, Giant Wheel, and a small selection of amusement rides inside Hyde Park. The successful bid is for a joint production by AEG Live and PWR Events, the latter of which has organized several outdoor ice rinks, as well as the Hampton Court Palace Festival.

2008-10 – The event grows substantially, introducing the Bavarian Village (a German-style food and drink center), Zippo’s Circus, Santa Land (an area with smaller rides for children and families), and the introduction of several larger rides, such as the Power Tower 2 freefall tower.

2011 – AEG Live pulls out of the event.

2012 – Large expansion of the site. Introduction of Wilde Maus XXL roller coaster; Magical Ice Kingdom (a walk-through exhibition of ice sculptures); Bavarian Village expands to include The Great Hall; an Oktoberfest style beer tent with live music.

2016 – Introduction of Munich Looping, the world’s largest portable roller coaster; The Imperial Ice Stars ice show; and The Sooty Christmas Show (a live show featuring Richard Cadell).

 

Now I came to know why it is the merriest of all the time 😀 

Have magical winters!

Adios xx