Tourists have flocked to visit London’s infamous Winter Wonderland – but Brits working around its fringes said it was too expensive to consider visiting.
Inside the enclosure in plush Kensington, in the centre of the capital, hot dogs cost as much as £16, while pints are flogged for £12 each.
Warming hot chocolates will set you back £9.50, and even funky hats made to look like animals have sky-high price tags of £25.
One woman, who was working for TfL outside the barriers, joked she ‘couldn’t afford’ to get into the festive festival.
She said: ‘I’ve got no interest in it and it’s too expensive. It’s ridiculous, it’s too much.
‘It’s all right for a tourist or one person, but for families!
‘It’s going to be expensive because it’s in London, but you’ve got to be interested in rides if you want to go.
Inside the enclosure in plush Kensington, in the centre of the capital, Christmas was turned up to the max
Pints are flogged for as much as £12 each, while customers were also offered the option of mead or mulled wine
Lisa (right) Allie (left) and Lynne (centre) travelled more than 4,200 miles to see the Winter Wonderland – flying into London from Georgia to enjoy the show
‘I’m too old for that.’
Lara, who was walking her black Labrador Bear around the perimeter of the attraction in Hyde Park, said the event had gone down hill since she first visited it as a teenager.
The 22-year-old said: ‘If you’d asked me five years ago I would have been looking forward to it. Now not so much.
‘I’m sure it has changed. It used to be a classy affair now it’s just… I don’t know. But I wouldn’t go.’
To buy a package to go on five rides it costs £45, while individually passes are priced at £7.50.
Events held in the park cost as much as £100 each – which will get you a private box to the Cirque Beserk: Thunderbolt show with a bottle of bubbly.
The private pods on the Giant Wheel are also flogged for as much as £76 a go, while couples ice sculpting workshops are a costly £71.50.
Visitors have to book their time and entrance to the park costs £7.50 after 3pm at weekends – until December 19, when it is that price every day of the week.
Hot dogs cost as much as £16, as they were served by venders with fancy toppings
The enclosure includes festive-themed pubs, including one that appears to be made out of Christmas trees
Inside one bar, fake ferns and baubles dangle from the ceiling to complete the stunning scene
In one German-themed restaurant, bratwurst with fries were flogged for £18.50 alongside fries
Warming hot chocolates will set you back £9.50, and even funky hats made to look like animals have sky-high price tags of £25
But some Christmas-lovers remained delighted as they visited the attraction, with tourists travelling from as far as Israel and the southern states of America to dine out on good will.
Huge queues reached up Hyde Park’s paths outside the event as festive fanatics scrambled to make the most of the first event’s first day.
Hagit travelled from Israel with her 12-year-old daughter, who had wanted to see Winter Wonderland and the Harry Potter studio for her birthday.
The braced the cold from 9.30am as they waited to get inside when the event opened at 12.00pm
She said: ‘My friend told me about this and we read on the internet that this is one of the things you have to do in London.
‘We’re really excited. We really want to have some fun.
‘This is her birthday present and this is what she wanted – to be here.’
Lisa, Allie and Lynne travelled more than 4,200 miles to see the Winter Wonderland – flying into London from Georgia, America, to enjoy the show.
Lisa said: ‘I came for the Christmas, and I came for the biggest Christmas market.
‘We planned this trip six months ago. I’m a big Christmas fan – got my Christmas sweater, my Christmas hat in my rucksack!
‘We can’t wait to get inside – it looks amazing. This was 50 per cent of the reason to come here!’
Fernando, 54, who lives in nearby Paddington, crosses past Winter Wonderland every day as he walks to work.
He has lived in London for five years since moving across from his native Portugal.
Festive fanatics formed stretching lines as they scrambled to make the most of the first event’s first day
Huge queues reached up Hyde Park’s paths outside the event as hundreds of punters waited for it to open
Hagit travelled from Israel with her 12-year-old daughter, who had wanted to see Winter Wonderland and the Harry Potter studio for her birthday
Fernando, 54, who lives in nearby Paddington, crosses past Winter Wonderland every day as he walks to work
He said: ‘I’m excited to have it back – it’s a nice thing to see every year. This fair is fantastic.
‘I have only been inside once, in 2019, but I reckon there are lots of people coming in – locals and foreigners. I have a positive feeling about this.’
A fellow local, who was on his morning constitutional past the venue, also said that he enjoyed seeing the show come to Hyde Park every year.
He said: ‘It’s terrific, actually. What I do is bring my grandchildren down here.
‘They love it, and I do too! It’s nice seeing them on the ice and everything.’
Jamie Lopez, had travelled from holiday-hotspot Majorca with partner Tiffany to enjoy the festive crowds.
He said: ‘Her cousin told us that they were doing it. We want to see the Alice and Wonderland attraction. We’ll check everything else out too.’
Osman Bado and his partner Linda, from Lebanon were disappointed to miss the opening day of Winter Wonderland.
She said she would have gone had she been around – after enjoying the event on a visit two years ago.
Jamie Lopez, had travelled from holiday-hotspot Majorca with partner Tiffany to enjoy the festive crowds
Osman Bado and his partner Linda, from Lebanon were disappointed to miss the opening day of Winter Wonderland
Jan and Rosmari Atle had come across from Norway to share in the festive spirit
‘I enjoyed it – I’d come back here. If I was here today I would have come. I have to leave in ten minutes! We missed it.
‘It’s everywhere in Lebanon – anyone who’s familiar with London knows about Winter Wonderland.’
Jan and Rosmari Atle had come across from Norway to share in the festive spirit.
He said: ‘We just wanted to get in the Christmas mood in another country.
‘We needed to visit this before we go away. It’s known to be around here – it’s our first time in London.
‘We’ve seen Big Ben, the Eye, Buckingham Palace – this is next. We don’t know how it will compare – we will have to say when we come out!’
A spokesperson for Hyde Park Winter Wonderland told MailOnline: ‘We strive to create a magical experience for visitors, with the best attractions and a wide selection of food and drinks at a range of price points.
‘Our pricing is benchmarked in line with other temporary events and winter attractions in London and we offer discounts on food and beverage, as well as retail, and off-peak attractions and games bundles on selected days.
‘Despite rising event costs, our entry ticket prices have not increased since 2021, prices for the majority of rides, attractions and games have remained in line with last year, and we continue to offer thousands of free off-peak entry tickets and various free activities and entertainment.’
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