Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
After checking in and throwing on our rain jackets at the Grand Royale London, we walked twenty minutes to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. It was fifteen minutes too long to walk in a London downpour. Derek and I tried to make the best of the fair even though we were soaking when we got there.
It was a magical place, filled with crowds of people happily enjoying a beer or a cup of mulled wine. The makeshift pubs were overflowing with visitors cowering from the rain. We couldn't wait to join them. Gluhwein is so much better on a cold day. After the rain let up, we continued our walk through the fairground, grabbing a sausage with sauerkraut and a bun for dinner. Winter Wonderland is definitely a fun place for people who like rides, food, and Christmas trinkets!
Comparatively much grander to Edinburgh’s Christmas Market, I found myself missing the charm and village-like atmosphere in Edinburgh. London’s Winter Wonderland was far more commercialized, with a party atmosphere. It’s definitely worth checking out if you enjoy American style fairs, but I wouldn’t use it as a base to judge European Christmas Markets. Derek and I thought about going back and checking it out during the day, but we ran out of time on our trip.
