Winter Wonderland

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

Norman Vincent Peale

I will confess to being a little snooty and sniffy when it comes to certain things in London, things like Madam Tussauds where you can queue for literally hours to go see a life style replica of Barack Obama or Elton John or Ed Sheeran – I mean, what’s the point? The London Eye is another one or the Aquarium which incidentally is £40 to get in! some things are better left to tourists with more money than sense! Another thing that falls into that category is the Winter Wonderland event in Hyde park. Acres and acres of tat and over priced food and drink – well, that’s what I thought……

Over the weekend, a friend rang and asked if I wanted to go to the afore mentioned Winter Wonderland and I’m like, seriously? I suppose I’d better try and describe it; well it’s billed as London’s biggest festive festival and there’s no escaping the fact it is HUGE.

In the hugeness you will find, winter markets, festive fairground rides, ice-skating, toasty winter street food, cosy grottos and, of course, gallons of glühwein to keep the seasonal celebrations going strong! Apparently, this year’s Winter Wonderland promises to be the best one yet, with a whole host of new attractions joining the firmly established favourites – including a brand new, 70m observation wheel. And for those who enjoyed whizzing around the UK’s largest outdoor ice rink.

So, as I was at a loose end and entry is free, I put away my snootiness and jumped on the tube to Hyde park corner to meet up with my friend. There is no doubt that it’s a little bit tacky and the glühwein is over-priced, but hey, we’re in London where everything is over-priced!! But you know what, I had a brilliant time!

When we arrived, there was a massive queue but luckily, we picked the right stream and we were in in next to no time. We were immediately faced with pretty little wooden Austrian style chalets selling all kinds of knickknacks, then we passed into the “Bavarian Village” so, we had to stop for some hot wine and whilst it may have been expensive for what it was, on a cold, sharp Saturday afternoon, it hit the spot! So much so, we had another!

To glasses of glühwein and I was feeling a little tipsy but more than that I’d totally got the munchies so, as we were in the Bavarian Village we headed over to the Beer Keller – which was brash and noisy but full of festive atmosphere, and we chowed down on some Currywurst, Bratwurst which has been boiled then friend then chopped up into chunks and served with a curry sauce – OMG, it was gorgeous, the equivalent of a doner kebab after a night on the town, perfect food for the situation!

Now some may say it may not have been the best judgement o then hit some of the fairground rides however, in my defence, I love roller coasters and stuff that throws you about so off we trotted. Two rollercoasters and a thing that spun you around upside down at like 100 feet in the air and I was feeling thrilled if not a little sick!

We had one more glühwein for the road then headed off to Bond street to get the tube home. The verdict, I LOVED it, it was tacky done brilliantly, great atmosphere, kids running around driving their parents demented, bands playing, people singing Christmas Carols – it really was a lovely way to get into the festive spirit! So, the next time I’m being sniffy about something like this, I’ll have a word or two with myself and those words will be… Get over yourself!

What’s on this week?