London is a huge draw for tourists throughout the year, but it holds a certain special appeal during Christmas time.
This is, in part, down to spectacular annual events like the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, which now draws tens of thousands of visitors from the UK and beyond.
If you’re thinking of heading to the capital to mark the festive season in style, then there are a few tips you’ll want to bear in mind, and a few things you’ll want to make a point of doing.
Your choice of accommodation will make a big difference to your overall experience.
Pick somewhere that’s within convenient distance of the major festive hubs, but which doesn’t cost the earth. You might find that you’re entitled to a special discount. NHS workers, for example, are entitled to discounts at Travelodge and other hotels.
Things to Do
So, what makes a trip to Winter Wonderland worthwhile? There are a few things to make time for.
Ice rink
There are few activities more festive than strapping on a pair of skates and gliding across a sheet of ice alongside hundreds of other people. The rink that gets set up for Winter Wonderland is the largest outdoor example in the UK.
Circus
Zippo’s Circus is a reliable treat.
It’s heavy on the acrobatics and the trickery, with juggling, diablo, contortionism, and a great clown show, too.
This is the largest circus tent in the country, and the spectacle on offer is suitably massive. The entire thing lasts for just forty-five minutes, which will leave you satisfied, but still ready to cram a few more activities into the evening.
If you’re looking for something a little bit more adrenaline-fuelled and fast-paced, then you might look into the Cirque Beserk, too.
Carousel and fairground
Like every good family-friendly outdoor Christmas event, the Winter Wonderland boasts its share of rides and fairground distractions.
There’s also a street food village, where you’ll be able to sample a whole range of super-indulgent snacks.
Ice kingdom
Ice sculpture is, much like sandcastle-building, a very temporary kind of art form.
It’s the basis for the ice kingdom, where you’ll find more than five-hundred tonnes of sculpted snow and ice.
If you’d like to learn about sculpting yourself, you might even participate in a workshop, and get hands-on with your own icy creations.
Edelweiss Funhouse
This is an entirely new attraction for 2022, which means that even seasoned visitors to the Winter Wonderland might not have encountered it. It’s a multi-level funhouse with a Bavarian theme.
Visitors will be able to scramble their way through a three-hundred-metre obstacle course, and a few illusion rooms, too. Perfect for those looking for a challenge.
