LONDON – This year, I went to the annual Winter Wonderland festival in Hyde Park for the first time, and left feeling both exhilarated and slightly traumatized.
My experience started with the XXL ride, one of the first high G-force pendulum-style mega rides in Europe. Swinging side to side, my eyes were tightly shut and tears were forming purely from the wind hitting my face. Blaring in my ears were adrenaline-pumping bangers like “Pump Up the Jam.”
As I soared to breathtaking heights of 47 metres, my sense of arrogance vanished; I found myself holding on for dear life as the ride’s menacing speaker voice shouted, “Are you ready?” Spoiler alert: I wasn’t!
Rides at Winter Wonderland are quite the investment, typically ranging from £6 to £12 each. After a few thrilling spins, you can’t help but feel tempted to try just one more. The atmosphere is electric, and I managed to spot celebrities actor Daniel Kaluuya from the 2017 film Get Out and Whitney Adebayo from the TV series, “Love Island.”
Now, onto the rollercoasters. The Munich Looping had my stomach in knots – upside down and jolting around – the adrenaline rush hit me right when we plummeted.
But the Time Machine proved to be the most underwhelming ride of all. Nestled among the calmer attractions, it felt boring – perhaps due to the lingering shock from the wild rides that I went on previously.
Ice Mountain, on the other hand, was a delightful surprise. This indoor spinning rollercoaster offers a thrilling experience of the Arctic as you ride through mountain caverns, meet the resident penguins, and see dazzling Northern Lights. I found myself sitting in a circular cabin, gliding through a darkness adorned with twinkling lights that reminded me of the joy of childhood visits to Legoland.
Then came the XXL Maus, which felt like a death wish. Every bump on this rollercoaster sent me soaring out of my seat like a rag doll, while beautiful views of neon signs only served to remind me of my impending doom.
What I wasn’t expecting on a rollercoaster was having my legs dangling – Eurocoaster was an unexpected surprise!
After all that chaotic fun, I was, not surprisingly, feeling a bit ravenous. Luckily, I found a main meal and dessert for under £20, which was a pleasant surprise. I devoured some delicious jerk chicken-loaded fries, followed by a warm white chocolate-filled churro coated in cinnamon sugar. It was a claim to sanity after five hours of standing in the cold.
However, I did sorely miss the iconic hot chocolate that Winter Wonderland is famous for.
The hype I’d heard during my childhood didn’t disappoint. Coming here was worth every penny for the sheer joy and excitement of it all. I entered around 4 p.m. and left around 9 p.m., squeezing in six rides! Toilets are conveniently located around every corner, which was oddly reassuring given the sea of thousands of people.
It felt a tad daunting, especially at night, but the presence of police signs added a sense of security amidst the festive chaos.
What I loved most was that there’s something for everyone – families, couples, and even dog walkers. The food scene had me drooling over an array of choices, from Korean dishes to tacos, while the atmosphere buzzed with music, lights and laughter.
So if you’re considering joining the Winter Wonderland madness, just know that it’s an unforgettable experience that will leave you spending more than you bargained for in the name of fun.
Anjola Fashawe is a Senior Correspondent with Youth Journalism International.
