For six weeks every winter, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland fills central London with over 150 rides, attractions and shows, from the UK’s largest open-air ice rink to the Giant Wheel and a traditional Christmas market. It is one of the most popular festive days out in the country, and groups travel from all over the UK to enjoy it together.
The London Coach Company provides private coach and minibus hire to Winter Wonderland. We collect your group from your school, office, clubhouse or home, drop you near the park and bring everyone back together at the end of the day. No coordinating several cars, no hunting for parking and no packed Tube trains in the busiest weeks of the year. Request a quote to book your festive trip.
Winter Wonderland 2026 – 19 November to 3 January
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is open from Thursday 19 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, every day except Christmas Day. It closes at 10pm each night, with last entry at 9.30pm. Opening times vary, with some dates opening at 10am and others at 11am, 12pm or later.
Everyone needs an entry ticket booked in advance for a specific arrival time, even during free off-peak slots. Once inside, you can stay as long as you like.
Opening times and tickets: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (opens in a new tab) and its Tickets guide (opens in a new tab).
Who we take to Winter Wonderland
- Coach tour operators running festive day trips from across the UK
- Schools planning an end-of-term Christmas trip
- Corporate social clubs and work Christmas outings looking for a festive evening out together
- Large family groups who want everyone to travel together rather than in several cars
- Community, youth and church groups planning their Christmas outing
Why hire a coach or minibus
- One vehicle, one group. Everyone travels together, so there is no one lost on the Underground and no cars to coordinate.
- No parking to find. There is no dedicated parking at Winter Wonderland and spaces around Hyde Park are very limited. We handle the drop-off and pick-up.
- Warm, comfortable journeys. After an evening outdoors, your group gets a warm seat home instead of a crowded train.
- Space for shopping. Room in the luggage hold for bags and anything you buy at the Christmas market.
Coach drop-off and pick-up at Hyde Park
Coach access around Hyde Park is closely controlled during the Winter Wonderland season. We use the designated coach drop-off and pick-up arrangements on the roads around the park and agree the exact meeting point with your organiser before the day. Any parking charges are always included in your quote.
Every vehicle in our fleet is LEZ and ULEZ compliant, and vehicles with 9 or more seats receive a 100% Congestion Charge (opens in a new tab) discount, so there are no emissions or congestion charges to add to your trip.
Visitor travel advice: Getting to Winter Wonderland (opens in a new tab) on the event website.
School and youth group trips
Every vehicle in our fleet has seat belts. For your trip risk assessment, we can provide our operator licence details, insurance certificate and driver DBS checks on request – just ask when you book. All journeys for school and youth groups are alcohol-free.
Work Christmas outings and adult groups
Winter Wonderland’s Bavarian bars, live music and festive food make it a popular choice for work Christmas outings. Adult groups may bring drinks on board in moderation. We ask that everyone respects the driver and the vehicle, and our drivers may refuse travel to anyone who is drunk.
Planning your festive trip
Choosing your date
Weekday daytimes in November are usually the quietest and cheapest times to visit. Weekends and evenings in December are the busiest, and roads around central London are very congested in the weeks before Christmas, so allow extra journey time.
Getting there
We plan your pick-up time around your entry slot, so your group arrives in good time without waiting around in the cold.
Getting home
We agree a pick-up point and time in advance, so everyone knows where to meet at the end of the visit. For long days or journeys from further afield, we plan drivers’ hours in line with UK regulations, which can affect timings or mean a second driver is needed – we explain this clearly when we quote.
Organiser checklist
- Book entry tickets for everyone in your group for a specific arrival slot
- Confirm your group size and, for schools, the number of adult supervisors
- Share your pick-up point and a named contact with a mobile number
- Agree a meeting point and pick-up time at the end of the visit
- Remind everyone to dress warmly – most of the event is outdoors
- Tell us about any accessibility needs when you book
Vehicles for every size of group
From 9-seat minibuses for a family group or small team to midi coaches and full-size coaches for a whole year group or large tour, we match the vehicle to your numbers. For bigger groups we can run several vehicles together. Browse our full fleet and see our pricing for more detail.
- 9-seat minibuses
- Midi coaches
- Full-size coaches
More festive days out
We also run group trips to the Ideal Home Show Christmas at Olympia, and Hyde Park is close to the Natural History Museum, the V&A Museum and the Royal Albert Hall, which all make a great festive day out.
Frequently asked questions
When is Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2026?
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is open from Thursday 19 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, every day except Christmas Day. It closes at 10pm each night, with last entry at 9.30pm, and opening times vary by date.
Do we need tickets before we travel?
Yes. Everyone in your group needs an entry ticket booked in advance for a specific arrival time, even during free off-peak slots. Once inside, you can stay as long as you like. We plan your pick-up so your group arrives in time for your entry slot.
Where do coaches drop off for Winter Wonderland?
There is no dedicated parking at Winter Wonderland, and coach access around Hyde Park is closely controlled. We use the designated coach drop-off and pick-up arrangements on the roads around the park for the season, and any parking charges are included in your quote.
Can you provide paperwork for our school trip?
Yes. Our operator licence details, insurance certificate and driver DBS checks are all available on request, and every vehicle in our fleet has seat belts.
When is the quietest time to visit with a group?
Weekday daytimes in November are usually the quietest and cheapest times to visit, and weekends and evenings in December are the busiest. Tell us your preferred date and we will plan the timings around it.
Do we pay the Congestion Charge or ULEZ?
No. Every vehicle in our fleet is LEZ and ULEZ compliant, and vehicles with 9 or more seats receive a 100% Congestion Charge discount, so there are no emissions or congestion charges to add to your trip.
Book your Winter Wonderland coach
December dates book up quickly. Call us on +44 20 3457 2071 or email [email protected] with your group size, pick-up point and preferred date, and we will come back with a quote. You can also see our pricing or request a quote online.
The London Coach Company is an independent coach operator and is not affiliated with Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.