The crowning glory of London’s numerous Christmas fairs and markets is Hyde Park’s annual Winter Wonderland. It is returning this year on November 23rd, and will stay open until January 5th (closing only on Christmas Day).
Now in its sixth year, Winter Wonderland is London’s largest Christmas fair, and offers some major attractions for locals and tourists alongside the usual array of rides, markets and food and drink stalls. The event spans Hyde Park and the adjoining Kensington Gardens .
The centerpiece of the event is the massive ice rink, currently under construction around Hyde Park’s bandstand. The rink will be lit up by 108,000 pea lights. One of the other regular attractions, Zippos Circus, returns with a brand new show for 2012 entitled ‘Cirque Berserk’, a showcase for stunt artists and old-fashioned circus daredevils. A 53-metre high ferris wheel will dominate the skyline.
If you just plan to wander around soaking up the atmosphere, entry to Winter Wonderland is free. However, tokens have to be purchased for the big wheel and other rides. Tokens for the ice rink cost between £10.50-£13.50 for adults, and £8.50-£9 for children. A spin on the giant ferris wheel costs £8 for adults and £6 for children.
Further information is available at LondonTown.com. The website has also announced details of reduced rates on selected hotels in London. All the hotels taking part are within walking distance of Hyde Park.
One of the hotels in London offering a special offer on rooms is the luxury Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London, just ten minutes’ walk from Hyde Park, is offering a 60% discount on double rooms, making the cost of a night’s stay £307.
For those on a tighter budget, the Thistle Marble Arch Hotel is currently offering guests a 91% discount on their usual double room rate, bringing the cost of a night’s stay down to just £90. The Thistle is within easy walking distance of Hyde Park.
Deluxe double and twin rooms are available at the Grosvenor for £224 per night – a 55% reduction on the standard rate. The Grosvenor is a ten minute walk from Hyde Park.
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