Tell me about winter wonderland or similar

[RosieLeaLovesTea]

Hi

i have not been to winter wonderland. But could you tell
me what it is like? Now that my kids are getting older- 11 and 9. They are getting a bit old for visits to see Father Christmas. So I am looking for other things that we can do in the lead up to Christmas. Any other suggestions of good activities or places also welcome!

We went to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland this year for the first time as a couple. It was nice. We enjoyed the rides and the general Christmas market bits and the hot cider and Bratwurst. We went for it opening in the morning and it didn't get busy until around 1 ish. I have seen videos of it at night and it looks like hell, far too busy. BUT it's not anything more than a glorified fair and you can quite easily spend a fortune.

Things I have done with my 'too old for Santa' kids in the run up to Christmas include:

Watching an ice hockey match
Llama treking
Battlekarts
Skiing at an indoor snow dome
Snow tubing at an outdoor dry ski slope
A trip to Iceland (not as expensive to fly to and stay as you would imagine)
A trip to Lapland (expensive but worth it)

We have found it doesn't have to be overtly Christmassy. Just doing something together as a family potentially while wearing Christmas jumpers is enough.

Tulleys light show in the evenings in Sussex, it’s beautiful.

I think winter wonderland is shit - so expensive and not fun.

What about a light trail? Nice ones at Kew, Blenheim Palace etc. we did this when DC were that age and everyone enjoyed them.

WW is as an overpriced shit show

We go to WW every year, but as a group of adults. There’s 6 of us and we probably easily spend £600 between us all on a couple of rides/food/booze but obvs would be cheaper without the booze. In my opinion it’s a glorified fun fair but it’s only once a year and once you’re drunk enough it’s quite fun however I wouldnt bother taking the kids.

I live in London and none of us with teens like WW.

We do ice skating, light walks (mainly in Kent or Kew as we all live in the SE). We as a family also do a carol concert and often a decorated stately home, Hever Castle, Leeds Castle or some NT properties with a walk around the estate.

DD went to an indoor ski range, north of London somewhere, with her Explorer group one year and they had a great time.