Dates and opening hours
The Tickets Guide gives the 2026/27 season as Thursday 19 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, open every day "apart from Christmas Day". The park normally opens at 10:00 and closes at 22:00, but opens later on some weekdays:
- 12:00: 19–20 November, 23–26 November, 30 November and 2 December
- 14:00: 1 December
- 11:00: 27 November, 3–4 December, 7–11 December, 14–18 December, and 28 December to 1 January
The late start on 1 December is because of Winter Wishes: the Winter Wishes page says the event closes to the public from 10:00 to 14:00 on Tuesday 1 December 2026 for invited groups who would otherwise find it hard to attend.
Entry tickets: free, standard or peak
You book a one-hour arrival slot between 10:00 and 20:00; last entry is 21:30, and once in you can stay as long as you like. The booking site colour-codes three types:
| Ticket type | When | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Off-Peak (green) | Monday to Thursday in November | Free, but must be booked |
| Standard (gold) | Some full days and many mornings and afternoons | Paid; shown at booking |
| Peak (orange) | Busiest slots, mostly later in the day and at weekends | Paid; shown at booking |
The organiser's pages do not print a clear price for each type. The home page says a package "unlocks free entry to the event – worth up to £9.50 per person"; the exact price for your slot appears at checkout. Advance prices apply until 23:59 the day before; on the day you pay more and popular slots can sell out. Tickets are sold through SeeTickets.
When to switch. If you are flexible, a free November weekday slot is the cheapest way in. If you will spend on rides or the rink anyway, book them in the same online order: £25 or more of rides, attractions, packages or food and drink meal deals brings free entry.
What things cost inside
The organiser's price help page says rides cost £5–£12 each and attractions such as the ice rink, the Magical Ice Kingdom and the circus £5–£17. It suggests rough budgets of £10–£20 to walk around with a snack, £40–£70 for a few rides with food and drinks, and £80 or more for several attractions. Seeing Santa in his grotto and the live music are free.
The ice rink page lists advance prices for a 45-minute session, skates included:
| Ice rink session | Off-Peak | Standard | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | £12.65 | £17.05 | £19.25 |
| Child | £9.35 | £11.55 | £13.75 |
Arrive 20 minutes before your session. Skaters must be 3 or over, children aged 3–12 must be with an adult, and penguin skating aids are for children under 1m tall. The rink page does not spell out whether the entry ticket is included, and packages advertise free event entry as an extra, so book both together.
Getting there and which gate to use
The site has four gates. The getting-here page warns that Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge and Marble Arch, the closest stations, get busy and can sometimes be closed, and suggests Victoria, Bond Street or Paddington for a quieter trip.
| Gate | Stations named | Walk quoted |
|---|---|---|
| Red (East) | Bond Street, Marble Arch | Bond Street about 14 min |
| Blue (South) | Hyde Park Corner, Green Park, Victoria | Green Park about 17 min, Victoria about 19 min |
| Green (West) | Knightsbridge, High Street Kensington | Not given |
| Gold (North) | Marble Arch, Paddington | Paddington about 12 min |
Bond Street and Paddington are on the Elizabeth line, but the organiser notes there will be no Elizabeth line service on 26 December. Our Christmas and Boxing Day transport guide covers what else changes that week.
Driving is discouraged; the organiser names Q-Park Park Lane as its recommended car park and says the nearest black cab rank, on Park Lane opposite Brook House, gets busy. If you need a car at closing time, consider pre-booking one; see our cab and minicab guide.
Rules at the gate
- Bags: the terms allow only small handbags or small rucksacks, no larger than A4 or a standard handbag. Everyone is searched.
- No alcohol brought in, and no open or glass drinks, knives, fireworks or drones.
- Your slot is your entry window. Arrive within it; ticket sales are final.
- Weather: the event can close or limit access in bad weather, and the rink gives no refunds for weather alone.
Staying in London for New Year? Our New Year's Eve fireworks tickets guide explains the ticketed riverside areas.
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