London's festive season officially begins tomorrow as the gates of Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland swing open, revealing a freshly designed 2025 map and a host of exciting new attractions. The UK's largest Christmas event will transform the park from 14 November 2025 to 1 January 2026, offering visitors more than 150 rides, shows, and festive experiences.
Exploring the New 2025 Layout and Attractions
The newly revamped map for 2025 has been strategically redesigned to enhance visitor navigation, featuring clearly defined themed zones tailored for families, thrill-seekers, and food lovers. Santa Land has expanded across a larger area, while a brand-new, glittering entranceway, Luminarie Lane, now guides guests towards the market stalls and entertainment hubs.
One of the most significant additions this year is the Mystical, Mythical Fantasy World housed within the Magical Ice Kingdom. This breathtaking icy walk-through attraction, kept at a chilling -10°C, is crafted from 500 tonnes of sculpted ice and snow. It invites explorers to journey through the Four Realms of Earth, Fire, Air, and Water, encountering giant trolls and a magnificent five-metre-high griffin along the way.
Family Fun and Festive Feasts
Families have plenty to look forward to with the enlarged Santa Land, which now boasts London's largest free Santa's Grotto. A new Elves Workshop allows children to engage in hands-on festive crafts. Close by, the Jingle Bell Bistro makes its debut as the world's first street food market designed specifically for kids, serving miniaturised versions of popular family meals.
For food enthusiasts, Le Chalet returns for its third year, partnering with Morty & Bob's to present a reimagined "FUNdue" menu. This novel offering includes tater tots, pigs in blankets, and flat iron steak skewers, all perfect for dipping. New for 2025, a buzzing Après-Ski Village joins the festivities, complete with bratwurst stands, DJs, and themed bars to create a vibrant alpine atmosphere. Visitors can also chill out at Bar Ice, a unique venue where everything from the walls to the drinking glasses is fashioned entirely from ice.
Practical Information for Your Visit
Favourites like the Giant Wheel, the Real Ice Slide, and the UK's largest open-air Ice Rink, now presented by O2 Priority, all return. The popular circus shows are also back, with Zippos Christmas Circus unveiling a brand-new family show and Cirque Berserk bringing back its exclusive, high-energy performance, "Ignite.".
To help visitors plan their trip, Winter Wonderland has introduced four new Packages for 2025, allowing for a tailored experience with added extras such as ride credits, fast-track upgrades, and food discounts.
Ticket entry is free during off-peak times and costs up to £7.50 during peak periods. The entry fee is waived for anyone who spends £25 or more in advance online.
Opening hours will vary slightly across the event's six-week run. While Winter Wonderland will stay open until 10pm every evening, some mornings will have a later start. On most days, the gates open at 10am, but the following dates have different opening times:
- Friday 14th November: Open from 12pm
- Monday 17th November: Open from 12pm
- Wednesday 19 November: Open from 2pm
- Thursday 20th and Friday 21st November: Open from 11am
- Wednesday 26th November: Open from 12pm
- Thursday 27th and Friday 28th November: Open from 11am
- Monday 1st December – Wednesday 3rd December: Open from 12pm
- Thursday 4th and Friday 5th December: Open from 11am
- Monday 8th – Friday 12th December: Open from 11am
- Monday 15th – Thursday 18th December: Open from 11am
- Friday 26th December: Open from 11am
- Monday 29th December – Thursday 1st January 2026: Open from 11am
It is important to note that the event will be closed entirely on the following days: Tuesday 18th November, Monday 24th November, Tuesday 25th November, and Thursday 25th December (Christmas Day).
