Swansea's festive park Waterfront Winterland is opening to the public this evening (Wednesday, November 15) - and we've been to have a sneak peek inside. The site, located at Museum Park in the city centre, is full of rides and activities guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit - and this year there's some new attractions too.
As well as the usual Winterland attractions, including the ice rink and Big Wheel, this year there's a brilliant grotto where families and children will be able to meet Santa (who can communicate with children in English and Welsh, or through British Sign Language at select times), as well as a new outdoor 'bandstand' hosting live entertainment on Friday evenings and weekends, and the addition of a new large ride, Ice Jet, which staff say is the "UK's top fairground ride" at the moment.
Waterfront Winterland has been designed to appeal to people of all ages. Entry is completely free, with rides and attractions at a similar price point to other festive parks elsewhere in Wales. This year, rides cost between £3 and £5 and a 45-minute ice skating session costs £10 for a child, £11 for a student and £12.50 for an adult (aged 17+) (the same prices as last year), with a Blue Light Discount available for select sessions. Scroll down for further information on pricing, and for the latest Swansea news, sign up to our newsletter here
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Where is Waterfront Winterland and what are the opening times?
Waterfront Winterland is located at its usual spot at Museum Park (in front of the National Waterfront Museum), Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA1 3RD. There's no specific Winterland car park but there are several council car parks in the area, or visitors can park at Swansea Arena nearby. If you're travelling by bus, Winterland is just a short walk from the Swansea Quadrant bus station.
Waterfront Winterland opens for the 2023-2024 season on Wednesday, November 15 at 5pm (closing at 10pm). From Thursday, November 16 to Sunday, December 3, Waterfront Winterland will be open weekdays from 1pm to 10pm and on weekends from 11am to 10pm, whilst from Monday, December 4 to Tuesday, January 2, Waterfront Winterland will be open from 11am to 10pm each day.
Exceptions to the standard opening hours are as follows: Christmas Eve (open 11am to 8pm), Christmas Day (closed), Boxing Day (open 1pm to 8pm), New Years Eve (open 11am to 8pm) and New Years Day (open 11am to 8pm).
What's there to see and do at Waterfront Winterland?
Waterfront Winterland has been designed to appeal to people of all ages. For families with children there are some family-friendly games like hook a duck, several children's funfair rides and family attractions like dodgems and, new this year, there's a grotto where you can meet Santa. Santa's grotto will open on Sunday, November 19 and Santa will be available to visit before and after the Swansea Christmas Parade that day - this year Santa is the star of the parade and will be turning on the Christmas lights, more on that here.
Then, from Monday November 20, Santa will be available from 4pm to 9pm in the week and from around 10am to 8/9pm on a weekend. Santa's schedule will be shared on Waterfront Winterland's social media so parents and carers can plan ahead. Santa speaks both English and Welsh and at certain times, he'll be able to communicate in British Sign Language too. People who want to see Santa can just turn up and join the queue at the grotto (no booking in advance), located next to the ice rink in Waterfront Winterland.
For families with slightly older children (or adults that are big kids!), the Fun House and Grinch Ghost Train are back this year, and the Snow Slide is making a return after a few years away. Also for older children, teenagers and adults, there's a range of thrill rides at Waterfront Winterland including Ice Jet, which is new this year, popular fairground rides Moondancer and Sizzler, and high-speed thrill ride Santa's Swing.
As well as the various rides, there's also a good-sized undercover ice rink at Waterfront Winterland open to children (aged 3+) and adults. Ice skating sessions can be pre-booked - or you can just show up on the day and join the next available session, and music will be playing throughout the sessions. For little ones who need a helping hand, 'penguins' can be hired for an additional cost (subject to availability).
Rides cost between £3 and £5 each. Please note, ride operators do not accept card or cash, people need to exchange their money for tokens at one of the three token booths at Waterfront Winterland.
Tokens are £1 each and valid for the full season, so if you don't spend all your tokens on your first visit to Waterfront Winterland you can always return on a different date this season and spend them then.
WalesOnline understands the majority of rides that are returning this year cost the same price as last year, with new rides set at a similar rate. The full price list is as follows:
Giant Wheel - 5 tokens per person
Ice Jet - 4 tokens per person
Santa's Swing - 4 tokens per person
Moon Dancer - 4 tokens per person
Dodgems - 4 tokens per car
Fun House - 3 tokens per person
Grinch Ghost Train - 3 tokens per person
Sizzler - 4 tokens per person
Snow Slide - 3 tokens per person
Children's Rides - 3 tokens per person
Family Game Stalls - 4+ tokens per go
What's there to eat and drink at Waterfront Winterland?
The 'Alpine Village' area, located at the front of Waterfront Winterland, is home to a handful of food and drink stalls and a cosy chalet-style bar. Among the stalls, you'll find The Coffee Hut serving hot drinks, doughnuts and crepes, a hot vhocolate stall serving decadent hot chocolates, a sweet stall, a burger and fries stall, marshmallow stall (serving marshmallows you can toast on the two fire pits at Waterfront Winterland) and a Bratwurst stall in the shape of a windmill.
Over at the bar, which was still being set up during our visit before opening time, you'll find a cosy and inviting heated indoor area, the perfect place to catch up with friends, with various huts and benches to sit outside too (with heaters and quilts and blankets available to help keep you warm). The bar serves a wide range of alcoholic drinks including beer, wine, mulled wine, AU Vodka, gin and other spirits, and soft drinks too.
This year, the outdoor seating areas have been positioned to face a new 'bandstand' where entertainment will be offered on Friday evenings and over the weekends. The full schedule for performances will be shared on Waterfront Winterland's social media but is expected to include various local singers and bands. Entry to Waterfront Winterland and the opportunity to watch the live music is free, though people are obviously encouraged to purchase a drink whilst sitting in the bar area.
Food and drink prices at each stall vary, but during our visit the prices were advertised as follows:
- The Coffee Hut: Hot drinks (espresso, latte, flat white, cappuccino, Americano): £3.50; Belgian waffles £6-£7 depending on toppings; crepes £6 to £7 depending on toppings; doughnuts four for £5 or eight for £8, add Nutella or Biscoff to your doughnuts for £1.50
- Hot chocolate stall: classic hot chocolate £4, luxury hot chocolate £5, Nutella hot chocolate £6, After Eight hot chocolate £6, Terry's Chocolate Orange hot chocolate £6, salted caramel hot chocolate £6, Bailey's hot chocolate £7.50
- Sweet stall: various packs of sweets and candyfloss, from £3
- Burger and fries stall: menu includes classic burger £6.50, classic cheese burger £7.50, stacked burger £9.50, clucking burger (chicken fillet) £7.50, classic hot dog £6.50, veggie burger £6.50
- Marshmallows (to toast on fire pit) - price to be confirmed
- Bratwurst stall: krakauer £7; bratwurst XXL £7; cheese frankfurter £7, giant beef chilli £7
