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Original poster

Winter wonderland Hyde Park… Is it any good?

39 replies

Happyhouralways · 20/11/2023 14:26

Considering a day out at winter wonderland, possibly between Christmas and New Year. Would be me, DH & 2 DC (age 11 and 9).

Looked at the booking page and I put things we’d like to do in the basket (a few rides, some coins for games, food and the ice sculptures) and it came to nearly £300, which is obviously fairly pricey for just a day out.
Would love to know what experiences people have had in the past. Is it expensive but worth it or big waste of money?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Combusting · 20/11/2023 14:29

At that age I think the kids would love it. The money - well how much would you like to spend sort of determines it doesn't it!

We did it once with 3 year old DS and 9 months pregnant me. And then with 5 year old DS and 1 year old DD. Both times, DH and I came back at the end of the day and laid down in silence for a very long time and stared at the ceiling in exhaustion.

This year, with 8 yo DS and nearly 4 yo DD - I feel like we Should go. But.....(exhausted sigh).

Mainly - if you have the money and energy, why not?!

hattie43 · 20/11/2023 14:36

We were hugely disappointed when we went but it was early days so may have improved since then .

lunaticfringer · 20/11/2023 14:38

I think it's kind of horrible. Massively expensive and tacky.

JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots · 20/11/2023 14:38

I had high hopes but it was so busy you could barely move to see things for sale and there was no veggie food. We went on the ferris wheel but it was windy and scary! I'd have loved to do the ice skating. I'd maybe give it another go. My dc were 6 and 5.

JamSandle · 20/11/2023 14:47

I've been three times but wouldn't go again. It's very expensive and crowded.

Oblomov23 · 20/11/2023 15:12

There's a mn thread running atm. I thought it was rubbish and was disappointed.

EdgarsTale · 20/11/2023 15:13

It’s quite tacky. Much nicer Christmas markets in London.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 20/11/2023 15:15

God sorry but it is bloody awful. Unchristmassy, ridiculously expensive and rammed full of people. I heartily discourage anyone who suggests going.

baklavagoddess · 20/11/2023 15:15

The Christmas market side is nice but the rest is a giant overpriced fun fair, i wouldn't go again

Sandalholidays12 · 20/11/2023 15:16

I've been twice. I loved it taken DS as a toddler I think it was January and it was absolutely freezing it passed it down too so have plan B. It was free when I went... I didnt spend that much... I mean you don't have to buy ice sculptures. What is adding to £300?

N4ish · 20/11/2023 15:18

I would say £300 is more than 'fairly pricy' for a day out but maybe I'm just stingy! It's very busy and noisy so not my cup of tea at all but I know people who love it and go every year so very much horses for courses.

LimeOrangeLemon · 20/11/2023 15:19

It's good but very expensive for what you get.

Leafsliding · 20/11/2023 15:23

It’s good as a one off experience . We did ice sculptures and circus and a few rides and some eating ! Mine were probably about 13 and 11 . We were there in the afternoon and away before it got rowdy

SquirmOfEels · 20/11/2023 15:27

I live in London and have never been, because I just don't think I'd enjoy it.

Teenagers generally love it - so once old enough, I'd give them some Christmas treat money and let them get on with it

Snoken · 20/11/2023 15:37

It's the least christmassy christmas thing I might have ever experienced. Even the Manchester christmas market was marginally better and that's pretty disappointing.

123sunshine · 20/11/2023 15:46

Ridiculously overpriced. I went once, and went round the ice sculptures and had pre booked the ice skating. The ice skating was miserable as it had massive puddles so we were too scared to go far from the edge for fear of falling and being soaked through all day. The extra rides were eye warteringly expensive. I ended up bribing my kids to leave with a treat from Hamley's it was cheaper to get them a new toy of their choice each than spend any more time and money there. Admitteddly this was several years ago now, but doubt its changed!

GreatGateauxsby · 20/11/2023 15:46

I have been a few times and think it’s crap.

overpriced and overcrowded would be how I would describe it. The ice rink was a death trap - a giant puddle with some ice at the bottom one year…everyone who fell was covered in ice cold water and had to wander around afterwards in freezing sopping wet clothes…

for £300 or there about you could do something like see the Christmas windows in Bond Street… pop to liberty or John Lewis and let the kids pick a Christmas bauble each… then go for a food( child centric afternoon tea / inamo sushi / Wahaca / Bao ) and a west end show (lion king / frozen) or something like the nutcracker at the ROH

PinkRoses1245 · 20/11/2023 15:54

I've never been, and I live in London - have only heard horror stories. So busy and crowded, and overpriced. Will mostly be drunk teens. There's so much nicer and cheaper things you could do in London

Theraffarian · 20/11/2023 16:08

We don’t have a huge journey to get there ,so have popped by a few years . I’m assuming you are going peak times to pay so much . I’ve never paid for entry , the ice sculptures are normally impressive, but only £9 an adult off peak . We normally have a wander around the stalls , normally quite repetitive and then head to our favourite haunts for the rest of the afternoon. I can’t imagine spending £300 there, it’s OK to pop into but I’d say you’d get more memories by combining it with a show for that price .

Original poster
Happyhouralways · 20/11/2023 17:02

Thank you all so much for your replies. Seems like the majority of you would not recommend… On paper it’s the sort of day out we would love but with the over crowding and potential for terrible weather it’s putting me off. Plus the cost…

I agree with@GreatGateauxsby that an alternative day out with a show would be far better value - that was the other option I was considering

For those asking how it adds up to nearly £300…
Magic ice kingdom - £42
5 rides - £112!! (One is VR)
Hot dogs - £48
Game coins (6) - £27
Booking fee - £15!!!
Total = £250+ - then with drinks and maybe a souvenir, ice cream, hot chocolate… I can see it being £300 easily

Obviously wouldn’t have to do all these things or even eat there I was just putting things in the trolley to see… and was rather shocked!

OP posts:
StrawberryWater · 20/11/2023 17:14

It was massively over crowded to the point I had a panic attack when we went. I didn’t enjoy it at all. Ds did but when I asked if he wanted to go back this year he said “no thanks mum, one and done.”

trialanderrordarling · 20/11/2023 17:35

How do the rides come to £112?!
I went once pre-kids. I wouldn't go back now as it's way too busy and by the sounds of it ridiculously expensive!

Pipistrellus · 20/11/2023 17:39

It's a huge waste of money

Pipistrellus · 20/11/2023 17:42

Will mostly be drunk teens.

And drunk 20s and 30s who act like they are still teens.

Original poster
Happyhouralways · 20/11/2023 17:44

@trialanderrordarling they are £5 to £9 each depending on the ride… you can also get fast passes for some rides which add a couple of £s.

Maybe people mostly just pop in and do a couple of things - I suppose I was adding everything for an “ideal” day out. Thought it would be good to see how much it would be if we went and did everything we/DC would like to do in a day.

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