London's Winter Wonderland

As my regular Blogistas know I am a fan of German Christmas Markets as an entertaining distillation not just of the Xmas spirit but also the earlier instances of mid-winter feasts. These celebrations, be they Diwali, Hanukah, Samhain, Winter Solstice or Sancta Lucia mark the turn of the year of the year when at the moment of greatest darkness and infertility the tedium is relived with light, feasting and music and always the hope of regeneration to sustain life in the year ahead. Indeed the 25th December was originally the Roman Feast of Saturnalia and was celebrated by the Cult of Mithras as the birthday of the Persian hero and sun-god, Mithras.

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2009/12/bona-saturnalia.html

As such the mid-winter feast is a shared cultural experience amongst many peoples. Much of the iconography of our Xmas comes from the German peoples and particular the cult of the woodsman seen in Bavaria and the Tyrol which also provides a rich seam of folk tales as seen in modern fairy tales such as Red Riding Hood and the Tales of the Brother Grimm.






The ECube Bar



So it is fitting in the centre of one of London’s largest parks that a Winter Wonderland Village appears at the end of November with all the trimmings. Winter fairs and outdoor ice skating are all the rage during the winter, and the London Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park is one of the biggest and best open from 10am to 10pm every day, seven days a week across 3200²m of historic parkland. The fair is organised by AEG who are the experienced operators of the O2 Dome venue in London so it is a very professional operation. There are plenty of toilets, cash pints and good access with all weather surfaces and good signage, access it either from the Hyde Park Corner of Marble Arch end of Hyde Park. Best of all there is no entrance charge which allows you to freely wander and browse through the attractions.


Ice Rink


The Talking Tree





It is full of all kinds of festive fun from ice skating to Santa's Grotto and includes London's largest open-air ice rink. Covering 1400m² and accommodating 400 skaters at any one time, the rink is created with 130,000 litres of frozen water, weighing 130 tonnes, and kept frozen by 13km of piping. Winter Wonderland features an outdoor ice rink, a traditional German Christmas Market, Zippo's Christmas Circus, and a 50m giant observation wheel offering views of Hyde Park.





So if you are not keen on slogging down Oxford Street battling the tourists to buy your Christmas presents or battling through our snowbound airports then head down to the German Christmas Market at the Winter Wonderland 2010 for some great ideas. Stuffed with all kinds of traditional Christmas fare, you can treat yourself to a few goodies before loading up for friends and relatives who will be delighted to receive some unusual gifts. Looking around the stalls they compete well with the crafts and Xmas gifts you find at the real thing in Germany and are a good place to find gifts which are special and often inexpensive.





Alongside the German Market, Winter Wonderland tickets also give you access to plenty of cafes where you can get hot drinks to warm you up after your session on the ice rink. A perfect sport for the romantic, there's nothing quite like a spot of ice skating before you sip a hot chocolate and watch the other skaters. We tried Bratwurst and Currywurst from a stall which had an authentic round brazier and very tasty they were too! Priced at £4.00 each, which is also the price of Gluhwein and a pint of beer at the many stalls and bars. I thought the pricing was reasonable given the quality of Winter Wonderland and the facilities provided without an admission charge. Certainly the crowds at the event seemed to agree and my friends thought it better than a similar event they went to in Dortmund the previous year.






AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!!

There are many Christmassy attractions to grab your attention at the Winter Wonderland, but one of the highlights is the giant observation wheel that will give you some great views across the city. Look down on the ice rink, the market and across Hyde Park, and enjoy the spectacular views in the winter sunshine. Plenty of fun rides and many other attractions are also on the go meaning you can spend all day in the delightful surroundings of this Christmas themed park.



A new addition to this year's Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is Zippo’s Circus, who have put together a bespoke festive event inside a huge heated big top. However looking at other reviews many felt the daytime 45 minute show was poor value.




Zippos Circus



The fair is free to enter with tokens for all rides and attractions available for purchase on the day, however advance booking is available and is strongly recommended for the ice rink and giant wheel. The rides generally charge a different number of tokens dependent on how complex they are with most rides requiring two tokens and rides like the wheel and the Big Differ requiring six tokens. Many of the lesser rides such as the Hall of Mirrors and Ghost Train are nicely different from what we are used to in England and well worth visiting. I’m often very cynical about so called English fun fairs which seem to be run by a tribe of tattooed Gorillas from Southend called the “Showmen” so it was wonderful to see representatives from two of the better ambassadors of the English Fun Fair Tradition. Irvin’s had some of their wonderful traditional rides including their Carousel with some wonderful gilded horses which would not have looked out of place in “Mary Poppins.” Carter’s Steam Fair also has some of its wonderful steam powered Edwardian Rides so all in all, something here for kid young and old!



The name of the event is derived from the famous Christmas song Winter Wonderland which was first published in 1934. The composer was Felix Bernard (1897-1944) and the lyricist was Richard B. Smith (1901-1935). Probably the most popular versions of this classic Christmas song, Winter Wonderland, were recorded to high acclaim by the Andrews Sisters and Perry Como. The lyrics of Winter Wonderland have undoubtedly contributed to the magical vision of snow at Christmas together with the tradition of building snowmen and therefore turning fantasy into reality by creating a real Winter Wonderland.





The Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park owes its success to its size with over a hundred stalls, 10 bars and over 30 funfair attractions as well as the Ice Rink and Circus. With its variety it has wide appeal from couples on a night out, families enjoying all the fun of the fair, groups going out for a beer and a snack and indeed anybody who, in the long established tradition, wants to banish the winter blues and look forward to the New Year ahead! Winter Wonderland runs from 19th November to 4th January 2011.



See also;

Xmas in London

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2009/12/xmas-in-london.html

Lübeck and its Xmas Market

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2009/10/lubeck-and-its-xmas-market.html

Lübeck, Queen of the Hansa

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2007/08/lbeck-queen-of-hansa.html

And, here is the Winter Wonderland website;

http://www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/

Xmas in London

London Eye at Xmas

London is always a hectic bustling city and no more so than over Christmas and New Year. The world and its live in companion seems to descend on the shops and the West End, especially this year as the weakness of sterling has made shopping in London good value. If you enjoy hustle and bustle, and keeping busy during your Christmas holiday then London has a special seasonal buzz, the shopping centres have grottos where you can take the children to meet Santa Claus, go on family trips to the outdoor ice skating rinks, and even spend some hard earned money at the fantastic international London Christmas fairs that take place throughout the city centre.


Hamleys Toy Shop, Regent's Street




Harrods 2009 Xmas Bear


Harrods

Christmas in London is a magical time and made more so by some of the best Christmas lights in the world. Most of them switch on in the middle of November and I recommend checking out Bond Street, Marylebone High Street, Oxford Street, Carnaby Street and Covent Garden - and at the same time of course you can do your London Christmas shopping. Possibly the most famous lights on a single store are at Harrods in Knightsbridge, an old favourite of Belle de Pays Noir who was particularly attracted to the ski jackets although some of them are so thin that they could only be worn by Posh Spice types. The window and store displays at Harrods are well worth seeing but my own favourite are the themed displays at Selfridges windows on Oxford Street which combine originality with a sense of humour which is something the harassed hordes of shoppers appreciate.






Selfridges windows




Fortnum and Mason's, Piccadilly

Each year since 1947, a Christmas tree has been given to the people of London from the people of Norway in gratitude for Britain's support for Norway during World War II. The tree is usually over 20 meters high and 50-60 years old and is erected in London's popular ceremonial public space, Trafalgar Square. The Christmas tree lights are switched on in the evening on the first Thursday in December. The tree usually stays till the Twelfth Night of Christmas, 6 January, when it is taken down to be chipped and mulched. The switch on this year was as always a happy occasion with the square full and the carol singers in good voice.






Trafalgar Square

A growing trend are the ice skating rinks in high profile locations normally with an Xmas Market attached and a convenient mulled wine stall as you need to do something to keep warm. Indeed the Sage has graced the ice at the rink at the Natural History Museum even if it has involved the somewhat unorthodox “bum skating” technique. It is not easy staying upright and why should it be different on the ice?


Somerset House Ice Rink

The daddy of all the rinks is set in London’s great renaissance Palazzo on the Thames, Somerset House. This ice rink celebrates its 10th birthday this year. Meet in the Skate Cafe & Bar to enjoy a celebratory drink or visit the Tiffany Tuck shop where jewellery, cupcakes and other treats are on offer. A calendar of special events includes Breakfast with Tiffany, DJ nights and family mornings. Open all day and into the night, Somerset House ice rink is London's favourite winter tradition and it has a superb setting in the courtyard of William Chambers great building which was for many years the Admiralty Headquarters in the days when Britannia really ruled the waves.


Natural History Museum Ice Rink

Another great located rink is my favourite on the east lawn of the Natural History Museum in South Kensington which is now in its fifth year. The Natural History Museum Ice Rink has a new 1050-square-meter rink, plus a Cafe Bar and fairground carousel. There's also a smaller 100-square-meter rink for younger skaters, linked to the main rink via an ice bridge.


Winter Wonderland Hyde Park

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2010/12/londons-winter-wonderland.html

The Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is London's largest open-air ice rink. Covering 1400m² and accommodating 400 skaters at any one time, the rink is created with 130,000 litres of frozen water, weighing 130 tonnes, and kept frozen by 13km of piping. Winter Wonderland features an outdoor ice rink, a traditional German Christmas Market, Zippo's Christmas Circus, and a 50m giant observation wheel offering magnificent views of Hyde Park.


Tower of London

Situated in the dry-moat beneath the fortress of the Tower of London, the real-ice rink offers the chance to skate in a truly unique setting on the banks of the River Thames. So grab a hat, gloves and scarf and take time out of the hustle and bustle of London to experience skating under the battlements by the Thames.




Oxford Street Lights "A Christmas Carol"

Leicester Square echoes to the shrieks of customers on the Fairground rides and attractions in the heart of the West End, at the Leicester Square funfair. Interspersed with the rides are the stalls offering the traditional and traditionally unrewarding attractions of coconut shies, Aunt Sally’s and Hoopla? Two things to remember, you rarely win a prize and when you do it is rarely worth having. Buy the overpriced candy floss or popcorn instead; at least you’ll come away with something! Attracting thousands throughout the Christmas season, Bob Wilson’s Funfair is only in town for a month, so there’s only limited time to enjoy the funfair before the New Year. However am I the only one to wonder why funfairs are traditionally run by tattooed monsters from the East End who describe themselves as “Showmen”?




Leicester Square Funfair

The wonderfully restored vegetable and flower markets by Charles Fowler at Covent Garden and the street theatre in the Piazza in front of Inigo Jones St. Paul’s Church are always a visitor magnet. This attraction is reinforced at Xmas by the Christmas Food and Drink Markets and the futuristic lighting displays in the market arcades. The futuristic sculptural light display in the covered market centres on three large scale 'chandeliers' that visitors can interact with. The installation incorporates a modular lighting array created from hundreds of energy efficient, full colour LED tubes, delicately suspended in the spaces of the North and South Halls and the Central Avenue of the Market Building.


Covent Garden Market

Individually controllable pixels encased within the tubes display an ever-changing display of swirling snow, gently falling in organic real-world patterns, and providing possibly the only white Christmas London will see this year. Full visitor interactivity comes through a handy touch screen panel situated in the South Hall of the market building, so at certain times of the day, visitors can create their very own snow storms.




Regent Street lights

The modern story of Covent Garden began in the 1630s when land formerly belonging to Westminster Abbey, 'the Convent Garden' was redeveloped by the 4th Earl of Bedford. Today overlooked by the Royal Opera House the former vegetable & produce market has been restored to a thriving urban hub with numerous shops and street theatre, particularly on the Piazza in front of Inigo Jone’s St. Paul’s Church at the western end. At the other end of the piazza you come to London’s Transport Museum. If the day gets too hectic take a breather in this fascinating child friendly museum which also boasts an excellent restful restaurant and a somewhat wonderful shop full of transport memorabilia and fascinating gifts which you won’t find elsewhere.

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2007/11/londons-transport-museum.html

After all that excitement take a rest before London, as always, sees in the New Year with a BIG PARTY!! Since 2003, London has celebrated New Year’s Eve along the banks of the Thames. Following the chimes of Big Ben at midnight, a spectacular ten-minute fireworks display is fired from the London Eye. London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display has been acclaimed around the world and attracts large crowds.

The annual New Year's Eve Fireworks display, launched from the foot of the London Eye and from rafts on the Thames, is visible from most of central London: the basic rule is that if you can see the London Eye, you'll be able to see the show. They cram enough firepower for an hour-long display into ten explosive minutes, lighting up the sky for miles around. The best views are from Victoria Embankment, the South Bank, and Westminster Bridge and Waterloo Bridge. Hungerford Bridge is closed after 8pm and there's also no entry to Westminster Bridge after this time. Go to www.london.gov.uk/newyearseve for full details.


Carnaby Street

Beginning with Mayor of London Boris Johnson who will beam a personal message on to the Shell Building, situated on the Thames, a star-studded list of international personalities sharing their message of goodwill in the countdown to 2009.

The celebrity projections have been devised in partnership with The Prince’s Trust, which helps unemployed young people gain skills to find work. The Trust’s young ambassadors, who have turned their lives around with the charity’s support, will also attend the display as VIP guests.



The projections will form part of the build up to the midnight fireworks display at The London Eye, which is being organized by the Greater London Authority and is being created by internationally renowned pyrotechnician Christophe Berthonneau.

The good thing is that transport on the night is free so there is no need to pay a fortune for a taxi or risk a dodgy mini-cab to get home after the New Year’s Party. Transport for London is laying on free travel plus services through the night, to make sure that Londoners and visitors celebrating New Year's Eve can get home safely. All TfL services will be free from 2345 on New Year's Eve until 0430 on New Year's Day, thanks to sponsorship by ING Banking. The all-night Tube service will run continuously from the start of services on Thursday 31 December 2009 until they end the following day, Friday 1 January 2010.



From approximately 0200 on New Year's Day, the Tube will operate at a 15-minute frequency in central London and every 30 minutes on branch lines in outer London. Night bus services will be subject to diversions, but will operate throughout the night. DLR and Croydon Tram link services will also run all night.

So, if you are in or visiting London, Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year’s Eve Party!

See also; Xmas in London

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2009/12/xmas-in-london.html



Happy New Year!