Cannot work out for the life of me why Winter Wonderland is so popular

[Ineedtocleanmywoodenblinds]

I’ve never been before and my DS and his friends asked me to to take them this weekend, didn’t really know what to expect but I didn’t expect it just to be a huge version of a funfair you’d get in any local town anywhere and that’s it really.

We went on a couple of rides, queued for ages, bought some overpriced food, queued again for ages and DS wanted to win a teddy, tried but obvs didn’t (although at least no queue so there’s that).

I mean more fool me for paying for any of this crap but it was so overcrowded and didn’t even look that Christmassy. Maybe I’m missing something or maybe it’s just a huge pile overpriced, overhyped shite and I’ll go to crappy funfair up the road from me next time . 😉

Christmas markets in the UK have all got pretty rubbish over last few years. Just this year I have been to a few as I travel for work and it gets me out of the hotel plus I live in London

Most are just overpriced food now. There used to be some nice craft stalls but hardly saw any

European ones are so much better. As a pp said they get it right in a way we just can’t seem to manage

We were in London last week and the Christmas stalls on the South bank, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square were all identical to those in our own city. Identical stalls, business names and over priced goods. Totally soulless. I thought our local market would have had stalls from local businesses/crafts etc.

Agree with PP that Christmas markets in the UK are absolutely depressing. They are just so cheap and tatty looking, and at the same time they manage to be really expensive. The Manchester one is dire too. I have yet to see one that can compare to the ones on the continent or Scandinavia.

Anyone been to the Leamington Spa Christmas market,is that just tat too?

It's because you can take nice-looking clips and photos where you look Christmassy and you're having fun, with colourful/snowy and good colours and post them to Instagram/Tiktok. That's literally the only reason why.

I did get a good photo of the ferris wheel it must be said

I took my DD last year and yes I was not impressed, very underwhelming. The only thing that was any good was the circus.

It's just the same old food/crap all over the place with lots of rides. Would never recommend it to anyone.

I’ve been a few times
yes it’s over priced and crowded but weirdly my hard to please kids love it
The magical ice kingdom particularly wowed them

We go mainly for the rides. We have two family birthdays between christmas and new year so we go then to justify the cost. But it is ridiculously overpriced and not magical in any way - but we do find it fun.

We've been a few times and if you go when it first opens up in the day it's OK. As you say though, it's an overpriced funfair with expensive food and a few christmas huts selling (likely also overpriced) gifts, etc.

Once the hoards start descending as the day goes on it gets worse and worse to the point that as a group of 4 adults we all had to hold hands to walk through the crowd and not lose each other. It was horrendous and we couldn't get out quick enough.

We thought the cost of entry this year was brought in to keep the crowd levels under control and stop people just wandering in for a look without spending anything, but it seems to not be the case.

We've booked to go between Christmas and New Year in the hope that there will be slightly less people around, but I'm not particularly hopeful.

We've pre-booked a couple of rides too, so I won't be impressed if there are massive queues for them, though Munich Looping is an amazing ride.

Not to turn this into a Brexit debate, I don’t think it’s a coincidence the Christmas markets have deteriorated in recent years www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/christmas-markets-brexit-uk-trade-b2246624.html

Not sure if your on about a specific event or just the general fun fayres called 'winter wonderland'.

We went to one on the 11th, we go each year as they host the cheapest pantomime in the adjoining building (which is still pretty decent actually) but as for the other attractions I spent £15 on 2 rides... if it was cheaper we probably would have stayed longer and done more but I can't afford that repetetively just on 2 minute rides.

I've been twice a number of years ago with a couple of friends who wanted to go. The first time was OK as it wasn't too busy. Second time was awful, really tacky and overpriced. Never again.

It's shite. I always strongly discourage people who suggest going. Even worse - having a weekend in London and specifically wanting to go there.

We went once when the kids were quite little. At least we live in London and didn't have to travel far.

It's crowded; messy; expensive; very in-festive.

Can you tell I don't like it?

Unfestive

Horribly expensive and just boring
When dcs were little I took them and three of their friends to WW. I spent over £200.
Also the rides were very short,
Never again

@MassiveSalad22 Ah enjoy lovely Copenhagen- !! We moved back to uk in May and I really miss gorgeous Tivoli, lovely Xmas markets, the snowy beach at Amager strand and the joy that is Magasin department store this time of year.

The overcrowding and queuing kills any positive Xmas spirit. Most Xmas events in London aren't hugely enjoyable when crowded.

Am sure Copenhagen's markets are lovely but it probably helps that Denmark's entire population is less than Londons alone.

It’s probably just for the Instagram pictures tbh…

To be fair - that's just what ice skating costs on a Christmas Rink. Even going to a permanent indoor rink is about £13.50 per adult plus skate hire etc. Admittedly you could be on the ice for 3 hours or so for that, but as most people don't skate regularly they don't really want much more than half an hour.

Looking at skating prices in London - I think Ally Pally would be a good day out. It's a pretty looking rink (certainly compared the corrugated shed where I skate), and at least the skates should be maintained a bit.

Some of the central London financial institutions used to run private events there that were pretty good. VIP tents and access, free food, etc. Basically if someone else is paying and it's not too busy it's great 😂

It used to be quite good. We went the first year, or second, but prob 10 years ago now. It was much smaller and cheaper, over the years it's expanded and it's lost it's appeal.

I went a couple of years ago. I was disappointed. It was like a cross between a bog standard christmas market and a funfair. In fact my local annual funfair (Hull) is better.

It used to be nice but has got more and more crowded and more and more expensive every year that goes by. Having said that, my kids love it abd always insist we go ! Mornings are much quieter.