Airline passenger news and views

Taking on some of our readers' comments to my recent  article Christmas in Lapland‘, I decided to research what is available here in London for parents and their offspring.

Winter Wonderland is back in London’s Hyde Park this year, with ice skating, circus acts, rollercoaster thrills and that all important ‘man in the red’ residing there too.

Yes, do not worry, Father Christmas is already hard at work in his grotto - and busy mums and dads will be thrilled to learn there is no charge to visit the man of the moment.

Kids of all ages will find plenty to do. Take a stroll down the renamed Mistletoe Avenue if you fancy thrills and spills on the rollercoasters. Or, if you hark back to a gentler age, you’ll find a more sedate carousel doing the rounds - and a helter-skelter as well.

London’s largest outdoor ice skating rink is open for business too, so you can cut a dash on the ice - warming up afterwards with hot chocolate and a mince pie or three.

Do not forget to buy tickets for the big top. Zippo’s Circus offers a traditional family show, with acrobats and slapstick routines from Pinocchio, Gepetto and the Ringmaster. There are evening shows from Cirque D’Hiver, offering a more surreal experience with aerialists and contortionists.There is also a children’s favourite ‘Room on the Broom’ - by Gruffalo creator Julia Donaldson.

As for food choices, there are plenty. Mulled wine, stollen, a roast-pork sandwich and authentic German bratwurst while you're at it. There are food stalls dotted around the market, starting with tasty gingerbread shapes which you see as soon as you walk in through Hyde Park Corner and hit the Angels Market.

The market has more than 100 stalls selling everything from traditional wooden toys to Austrian cheeses and handmade nougat. That means you can stock up on Christmas presents without having to endure the high street chains on Oxford Street.

The best thing of all is that Scrooges can rejoice, as it is absolutely free to get in! The rides are available for £2.00 and the circus shows cost from £8 for adults and £4.50 for children.

You can buy combination tickets for ice skating, the ferris wheel or the shows, and it might save you money. And wandering around, soaking up the festive atmosphere, will not cost you a penny. You might not be able to resist a bit of Christmas shopping though - or a glass of that Gluhwein.

Winter Wonderland is open every day from 10am to 10pm, until January 4th.