First look at Winter Wonderland 2021 as it prepares to open on Friday – after last year was cancelled due to Covid

WINTER Wonderland is returning to London's Hyde Park as the countdown to Christmas gets underway.

The family-friendly festive attraction was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but organisers are bringing it back with a bang and we've got all the details.

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opens its doors on November 19 and will remain open from 10am to 10pm everyday until it closes on January 3, 2022.

For the first time, visitors must pre-book tickets to enter and several weekend slots are already sold out.

There are three time slots available to book: 10am to 1pm, 1pm to 5pm, and 5pm to 10pm.

Tickets during off-peak times - 10am until 1pm, Monday to Thursday - are free, but tickets for all afternoons and evenings, as well as Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, cost between £5 and £7.50.

The entry price is free if more than £20 is spent on pre-paid rides and attractions when booking in advance.

Ticket holders must enter the park within their time slot but are then free to stay for as long as they like.

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Visitors can expect to see all their Winter Wonderland favourites return this year, including the UK's largest outdoor ice rink, which stretches over 1,600 square metres at the park's Victorian bandstand.

Walk-through attraction the Magical Ice Kingdom is back, created from more than 500 tonnes of ice and snow.

And if you're still not cold enough, Bar Ice returns with a new 1970s theme, serving ice cold drinks from ice sculpted glasses in a sequinned room set at -10C.

Families with young children can enjoy Santa Land, where kids can meet Mr Clause himself and take home a present.

And traditional Christmas market stalls will be open everyday, with the Bavarian village serving up bratwurst sausages, mulled wine and sweet treats.

Other entertainment includes rollercoasters, circus shows, ice sculpting workshops and live music.

The nearest London Underground stations to Hyde Park are Bond Street, Green Park, Knightsbridge, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Paddington and Victoria.

There are several bus routes that get you there, and Paddington, Victoria and Marylebone train stations are nearby.

If you plan on getting to the event by car, the best place to park is Q-park which has entrances at Park Lane and Marble Arch.

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