Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2026: dates, preview night and tickets
The first Christmas date in the Knightsbridge diary is now fixed. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland returns from Thursday 19 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, open every day apart from Christmas Day, and today brings the first ticket release of the season: the charity Preview Night.
Preview Night, Wednesday 18 November
The evening before the public opening is the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Preview Night, and tickets go on sale from today, Thursday 1 October. All proceeds go to The Royal Parks charity, which looks after the parks. It is the calmest way to see the fair before the crowds arrive, and it tends to be in demand, so if you want to go, book early.
How general tickets work
Winter Wonderland uses timed entry, and the organisers' tickets guide sets out the system:
- You pre-book a date and a one-hour arrival slot. Slots run from 10am to 8pm, with last entry at 9.30pm.
- Once inside you can stay as long as you like, although some queues may close early.
- Slots are colour-coded as Off-Peak, Standard and Peak. Peak slots fall mostly later in the day and at weekends.
- Advance prices end at 23.59 the day before your visit, and booking ahead can save up to 25 per cent.
- Spending over £25 in one online transaction on rides, attractions, passes or meal deals unlocks free entry.
Standard opening hours are 10am to 10pm, but several dates open later, including midday starts on the opening days of 19 and 20 November and a 2pm start on 1 December. Check your date before planning the rest of the day.
What is new for 2026
- Booking fees are now included in the displayed prices.
- There are extra Off-Peak slots, with half a million additional Off-Peak tickets, and Off-Peak pricing applies Monday to Thursday throughout November.
- A new VIP Tour Experience package promises to skip the queues and the planning.
- Klarna is available on orders over £50.
- The final day, 3 January, becomes a Family Fun Day.
The fair promises more than 150 things to see and do, with familiar names such as the Magical Ice Kingdom, the Giant Wheel and the Ice Bar.
A local's strategy
For anyone living or staying in Knightsbridge, the smart move is a weekday Off-Peak slot in November, when the fair is at its quietest and the walk home is short. Pair it with an early dinner nearby and you avoid the evening rush entirely. If you are visiting with children, the late November weekdays are far gentler than the Saturdays before Christmas.
Our Hyde Park guide has more on the park itself, from the Serpentine to the quieter northern meadows.
Getting there
The fair sits at the Hyde Park Corner end of the park, a short walk from both Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner stations. On busy evenings, walking from Knightsbridge is often quicker than waiting at the nearest station.
