Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Hits Record Breaking Visitor Figures

7th Jan 2011 PRESS RELEASE HYDE PARK WINTER WONDERLAND HITS A RECORD-BREAKING NUMBER OF VISITORS Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland ended on a high this week after attracting in excess of 2 million visitors across its seven week run. The Royal Parks, along with event organisers AEG Live and PWR are delighted with the record breaking attendance records, especially given the particularly snowy conditions across December. With over mile of rides, attractions, cafes & bars to choose from Hyde Park Winter Wonderland proved a hit across all generations attracting local, national and international tourists. Celebrity fans including Prince Harry, Kate Moss, Louise & Jamie Redknapp, David Ginola, Liam Gallagher, Alexandra Burke, Fearne Cotton, Liz Hurley, Olly Murs and Sarah Harding were amongst those spotted enjoying Winter Wonderland’s festive fun. Over ½ million people have now skated on London’s biggest and best outdoor ice-rink, The Lidl Magical Rink - London’s largest Ice Rink which covered 15,000 square feet. And the iconic Giant Observation Wheel, once again proved a huge hit rotating over 100,000 times during the course of Winter Wonderland. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland also played host to exhilarating and popular thrill rides including The Power Tower, the Christmas Coaster, Santa’s Flying Sleigh and The Black Hole. Santa Land also proved a big hit with kids and over 50,000 free presents were handed out to well behaved children in Santa’s Grotto. Zippo’s Christmas Circus and Winter Cirque shows also proved a repeat success with sell-out shows across the seven-week season. New for 2010, Angel’s Christmas Market, located at the Hyde Park entrance to Winter Wonderland was also a roaring success. The market featured over 100 food & gift stalls. Other new attractions which proved to be hits included the E-Cube Champagne Bar, the Spiegel Saloon – an amazingly ornate travelling ballroom and Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts which included a gingerbread man workshop. Adam Farrar, Head of Events, Filming and Cultural Activities, The Royal Parks said: “Hyde Park Winter Wonderland has been an outstanding success. We’ve welcomed unprecedented numbers of visitors and successfully launched The Royal Parks’ mobile retail store. Thanks to the hard work of all involved, 2010 has been a truly great year for the event.” 2010 was an amazing year for Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. In December the event was awarded the ‘Best Consumer Event’ Award by Visit London and was commended for delivering a world-class tourism offering. The event received praise for being the best festive day out in the UK, with beautifully decorated attractions set out across acres of historic parkland.