'I went to Winter Wonderland and my jaw hit the floor over the £10 treats'

18 December 2023 , 21:49

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A journalist set herself a Winter Wonderland challenge

Every year, thousands Brits head down to Winter Wonderland to get in the Christmas spirit, but just how expensive is the seasonal tourist attraction?

With a sense of wonder in her eye, Cally Brooks decided that she had no choice but to visit the London event to try it out for herself. And while many complain about the overpriced food, the journalist was pleasantly surprised by her experience.

While tickets used to be free, capitalising on the popularity of the event, organisers have set a price of £5-£7.50, but Cally thinks the entrance fee is more than worthwhile. She arrived on Saturday with a 12-2 time slot, with a budget of £10, and had to deal with an outrageous 40-minute queue, which one punter referred to as 'The Hunger Games'. Luckily for Cally, once she got inside, it was less like the arena used in the popular franchise and more like the sort of magical place you'd expect Father Christmas to craft toys for millions of children around the world.

Pigs in blankets are available for a great price

Hot chocolate is always nice at this time of year

Despite the initial wait, lines for food were small, with Cally spending just five minutes at most, waiting for festive treats like LIDL pigs in blankets, which cost just £3, with a lovely touch of an extra pound being donated to charity. The Daily Express reporter particularly enjoyed the array of festive dips, and while she didn't elaborate on what she opted for, we can only assume cranberry sauce got the nod.

At this point, Cally headed over to the famous Winter Wonderland bar, where she was met with the most difficult decision of her journalistic career — hot chocolate or mulled wine. While the stakes would be enough to leave anybody in a state of disarray, the reporter remained calm under pressure and eventually opted for the £3.50 hot choc, with a bit of squirty cream on top for good measure.

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With her hot drink in hand, it was time to hit the dessert stand. And while the crepes and Belgian waffles were a bit on the expensive side, coming in at £6 and £10 respectively, an eagle-eyed Cally spotted 'sugar ring doughnuts' for just £3. Exhibiting a sweet tooth, the Christmas fantastic purchased the delicious treat and enjoyed the nostalgia, of feeling like she'd been transported to her younger years of being at the seaside.

To her credit, Cally stuck to her £10 budget, spending £9.50. The price is likely to sway others to clear some space in their calendar and try out Winder Wonderland for themselves. However, while it's not too expensive for foodies, it's a different story for adrenaline junkies.

The waltzers cost £5, and for those who really want to test their limits, the Munich Looping rollercoaster is a whopping £10. However, while some will struggle to resist the allure of splashing out on a thrill-seeking venture, others will save a bit of money by merely soaking in the Christmas spirit and possibly treating themselves to a few pigs in blankets as well.

Cally Brooks