Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

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If you've been, was it worth it? We'd be travelling from Cornwall, and there's 8 of us. My husband has suggested it as he gets home from working abroad just before Christmas so we can pick him up and we've never been before.
I have 1 child that really enjoys rides, the others aren't really on to them.

If not Wonderland then what activities have you done that you would highly recommend?

I imagine there are far better and cheaper Christmassy things to do in Cornwall. Nobody's ever got a good word to say about the Hyde Park thing. It's in the papers every year for its extreme shittiness. Doesn't the Eden Project do something? Or how about the Montol festival. That way your kids will learn about the traditions of the county they live in rather than trawling around tatty food stalls.

If your dh is flying in to Heathrow it might be nice to go to Kew Gardens. If he is in central London then perhaps ice skating at Somerset House or the Natural History Museum. Or go to the west end: see the lights and a show, maybe have dinner in China Town. All much cheaper options than taking 8 of you to Winter Wonderland!

😂

I haven’t read the comments but you would be crazy to go anywhere near it never mind travelling such a long way.

Its a load of rubbish whilst ploughing through mud and people. Went once, never again. 💩 of the biggest order. I live in London and don’t work too far from it and have not been tempted to go near. Just told my DH, he grimaced and shook head slowly!

We’re doing Christmas at Kew and Luminescence. You could do afternoon tea on a bus and see Christmas lights. Just read the other comments; glad to see it wasn’t just me who thought it was a 💩!

Ok, so no to WW then! Thanks for all the replies and alternative suggestions. I had looked at Kew and also Warwick Castle, any thoughts on those? A few of the children would have really loved Hogwarts in the Snow had he mentioned this far enough in advance for mw to book it. We can't do a show as we have a 1yr old.

What about Longleat? That's about halfway so we could meet him close to there instead of going in to London.

I live in London and also won’t go. If it was still free to go in I might take my DD but there’s not a chance I’d pay to go in! Try ice skating at Somerset house instead.

It’s a nice thing to do in the middle of the day on weekday. But definitely not in the evening and absolutely not on weekends. It’s extremely crowded and it’s just a funfair really.

I’ve been a few times and never enjoyed it. Very loud, think complete sensory overload; flashing lights, competing Christmas music on repeat, loads of those “win a massive teddy” type stalls, spinny rides. And, it’s very, very expensive.

That said, my teen daughter & DH quite enjoy it.

I’ve just decided I’m not going again, so I’m not too grinchy and a fun sponge for them 😊

I have been to Kew for the lights. It was ok but (for me) not worth the money tbh. Very busy and you need to book parking in advance really. You do get a lot of lights for your money and it does take a long time to get round it all which is obviously good if you are enjoying it. For me, I was sort of done after an hour.

We have also been to Harry Potter World at Christmas and we did love it. But we had to book in August and even then ended up being one of the latest slots.

I don't know about Longleat as have never been.

There is a light trail at Windsor Great Park. I actually preferred it to Kew but it is a lot smaller. I preferred that but husband felt the opposite

It's mainly just loads of flashing lights and gangs of 14yos marauding around and drinking buzzballs.

I'd avoid it like the plague. If you want ice skating go to Somerset house or Battersea power station.

My daughter is 24.shes been going every year lol for the last 4 years she absolutely loves it !
But she does other stuff whilst she stays central in the city

Longleat Festival of Lights is great, or at least it was when we went a few times about 5-10 years ago.

We live in London so usually go as it only takes about 25 mins to get there. However, we always go early afternoon and leave when it starts getting dark and we often go in the dead period between xmas and NYE when there is not much on. It gets more and more overpriced every year, but it is OK to spend a couple of hours there and food stalls are usually good. I wouldn't travel hours to get there though!

No its horrible!

I went once or twice when I worked/lived in London - it was pre kids and after work so it should have been easy convenient and fun. It was like walking through treacle getting through the crowds. I think a thimble of sweet mulled wine was £10

We usually go very early on for a few hours then hit Oxford St. The later it gets, the busier. We just wander around as opposed to the rides. I would say it gets bigger and bigger each year and pretty impressive to see at least once.

I love Warwick Castle and Stratford Upon Avon in general at Christmas.
We’re going to Kew this year, staying overnight locally and then Hampton Court Palace the next day.