Crunching through the recession at Winter Wonderland

Sales at Winter Wonderland in London's festive Hyde Park are up by 30% from last year despite the credit crunch.

Over half a million people have already visited the festive event; Winter Wonderland spokesman Jo Murray talks about the possible reasons behind their success during the financial crisis.

“We are a cheap attraction compared to other London events – it’s free entry and you only have to pay to go ice-skating... In a weird kind of way the credit crunch has actually helped us.”

The free admission for Winter Wonderland is certainly an attraction, as are the German Christmas market, the outdoor skating rink and traditional rides such as the helter skelter, teacups and the haunted mansion. A newer attraction is the 60m observation wheel, which has been compared to the London Eye.

The cost of the attractions has been held at 2007 rates with special children’s prices starting at £2 being introduced this season.

Trainee lawyer Rebecca Norris, 22, has been visiting Winter Wonderland for years and discusses the changes that she has noticed this year.

“It seems that there are more people, especially foreign tourists and there are more attractions than there were last year. The festive spirit seems unaffected by the economic conditions and that may be because people want to escape into their own Winter Wonderland.”

This Christmas, as the industries struggle through the credit crunch, the only crunching that Winter Wonderland will be hearing are the sounds of the snow beneath their customers’ shoes.

This festive event in Hyde Park is open from 10am-10pm every day except Christmas day and New Year's Day until 4 January 2009. To book tickets for the ice rink or observation wheel, call 0844 847 1771.