Accessible morning allows more families to enjoy Winter Wonderland

Patients and staff members from Evelina London Children's Hospital were invited to attend 'Winter Wishes', an inclusive event at Winter Wonderland.

On the morning of Wednesday 27 November, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland closed its doors to the public to offer free entry and unrestricted access for families who may otherwise found it difficult to attend.

Among the Evelina London patients was 1-year-old Esmé, who enjoyed the event alongside her sister, dad, and mum, Rae.

Rae said:

It was a lovely day, made even more fantastic by not having to worry about financial restraints. Having unlimited access to rides meant the girls could go on whatever they wanted without having to keep an eye on the pennies, which is especially important just before Christmas.

During this time, Winter Wonderland ran at a much smaller capacity so that guests could enjoy it, as one of the UK's largest Christmas events, without the crowds. The event featured enhanced accessibility measures, including:

• reduced lighting and sound levels
• low-sensory skating on the open-air ice rink
• audio guides in the Magical Ice Kingdom
• an increased number of accessible facilities

Trained access champions were on hand for any guests that needed additional support.

Lizzie Nash, Head of Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy, Hospital Services at Evelina London Children's Hospital, also attended with her family. She said:

This was a very special day for us. My daughter is autistic and finds busy places and crowds challenging. This was a wonderful opportunity for her to experience Winter Wonderland, a place we wouldn't usually be able to visit with her.

Stephen Flint Wood, Managing Director, Arts and Entertainment, IMG said: "Winter Wishes was introduced to allow more people the opportunity to experience the magic of Winter Wonderland, whilst also supporting the invaluable work of charities, hospitals, and local organisations. Building on the success of our inaugural event, we are focused on deepening our commitment to creating a space where every individual, regardless of their circumstances, can enjoy a magical day out over the festive season. We are honoured to welcome even more guests back to Winter Wishes in Hyde Park this year, where every moment is a testament to the power of community and inclusivity."

The Winter Wishes tickets were kindly donated to Evelina London Children's Charity. The charity helps support the compassionate, trailblazing care of Evelina London, and fuel incredible moments, every day.