Is winter wonderland worth it

[clpsmum]

Has anyone been to winter wonderland in Hyde park? I live in Scotland and it's going to cost me approximately £600 in flights and hotels but my youngest really wants to go. Has anyone been and if so is it worth it?

We went last year and I liked it. We went with DD on a weekday but before the state schools broke up and bang on opening time so it was really quiet. It wasn’t cheap but did loads of rides, went skating, wandered the market, the food and drink was decent enough. Then went home mid afternoon as it was starting to get busy. We’re about 30 minutes away though! It’s one thing if you are planning a weekend to London anyway and your DC wants to work it into the itinerary but I wouldn’t travel all that way if it’s the only point of your trip, it’s setting yourself up for disappointment!

Kielder Winter Wonderland is v sweet (and much closer for you)

Lord no, I'd never travel that far for it.

As PPs have said, if you live nearby to be able to go to London for a day trip, then it's OK, but I wouldn't travel especially to go.

We've been twice, the last time in 2019 just before Covid.

We got there for opening time and had pre-booked the big wheel. There were lots of good rides (Munich Looping is excellent), but so, so expensive. ML was £9 per ride, and no other ride was under £5, mostly £7.

There are other things to do like the circus and ice skating, but everything costs ££.

Once it hits around 4pm the crowds are unbearable and you can't move. The queues for overpriced food and drink were so ridiculous we left and walked up Oxford Street and found a restaurant for dinner.

Depending on how much your DS would want to do, you'd easily spend another £200 there.

It was quite magical about 15 years ago but we stopped going in 2017 (it used to be my parents Christmas present to our DCs).

It's just ridiculously overcrowded now, mostly with young, drunk adults and stupidly expensive. Factor in the cold, potentially wet weather and it's just not worth it IMO.

If you're in Scotland why not do Edinburgh?!

Winter Wonderland is less than wonderful. Overcrowded, overpriced and just shit.

Oh, and my poor dad was pickpocketed there a couple of years ago and lost a few hundred quid in cash. Don't bother!

No, we live in Greater London so we can go on the tube and even that’s a bit much of a journey for an overpriced funfair.
Its crowded, there’s always warnings about pickpockets, it’s muddy, the food is expensive, the rides are even more expensive, the market section is effectively just repeats of the same 3/4 stalls.

We probably will go this year (not been since 2019) but only because it’s semi-local, I wouldn’t be making a special journey.

God no.

It's rubbish. I live in London and have only been once and never again. Too packed, massively overpriced, stalls selling crap. We usually go ice skating somewhere at Christmas like outside the National History Museum, there are always similar stalls along the southbank but I'm sure you have stuff like that closer to home

My personal view is no - I went once with a friend and 4 children - & we could drive easily. If you are going to incorporate some more London things - well different matter. My B & DSIL go to Edinburgh and much prefer that.

Not from Scotland. No. Dont bother

It's quite fun but very pricey. The Bavarian village is nice.

The food and drinks are ridiculously priced

After about 2 hours, i want to leave

You def cannot get more than 100% 🤔

Ice skating at Somerset House is also worth considering

No. It's massively overpriced. I think you'd be particularly disappointed if you went out of your way and spent so much money to travel there!

No unless part of a bigger trip to see London in the xmas period. It's rubbish really - sometimes wander through with the kids on a quiet day but would never make a day of it or anything. Lots of amazing things to do in London at xmas if you do want to make the trip though.

We have been twice, the first year was really good, the second it was muddy, the stalls repeated several times and it was so packed it didn’t feel safe. It’s expensive when there but most of these things are.

Lincoln Christmas market, Birmingham, Edinburgh were good. York wasn’t worth going.

We were almost crushed getting in.
We moved as one once we got inside, you moved where the majority wanted to go. If there was an incident, no one was getting out alive. DH was shocked and said never, ever again.
I enjoyed it but I would not travel from Scotland to get to it! Not a chance in hell!

It was like a loud, bright, festive market /fun fair. Not very Christmassy.

How old are they, Lapland UK was really good.

We used to live in walking distance of it but didn’t bother going for the last few years, it’s packed with drunk idiots and the prices are obscene.

No.

It's heaving, it's noisy, it's expensive.

Made me feel about as festive as a trip to the dentist does

It's teh same as any Christmas market but bigger and more expensive with a fair

London is lovely at Christmas so if you're going and spending a few days, then it might be worth popping in to winter wonderland and having a wander.
There are Xmas markets, carol singing, London lights, walks in the parks all of which are free.
Of course, there are the museums too.
I wouldn't go just for winter wonderland though.

No it's horrible it really ruined the spirit of Christmas for me. London however is lovely at Christmas 🥰.

The Edinburgh Evening News calculated that metre for metre, the kiddies Santa train costs more than the Orient Express. But at least it's more local!

God No. For £600 you could fly to a real Christmas market for the weekend in Germany or my favourite ones in Vienna. Winter Wonderland is hideous

You def cannot get more than 100%

Tell that to my energy bills.