Hyde Park Winter Wonderland runs from 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, open every day except Christmas Day from 10am until 10pm, and for six weeks the east end of the park becomes a fairground, a market, an ice rink and a big wheel. It is a long day out, and the question of where to eat near Winter Wonderland comes up twice: before, when a proper lunch is the sensible way to start, and after, when the rides are done and the cold has got in. ALBA London is the answer to both, an Amalfi-inspired Italian restaurant in Knightsbridge at 70 Brompton Road, directly opposite Harrods, about fifteen minutes on foot from the park's Hyde Park Corner end or one stop on the Piccadilly line.
What to Do at Winter Wonderland 2026
The fair fills the east end of Hyde Park with more than a hundred rides and attractions, from the big rollercoasters to the carousels, with the UK's largest outdoor ice rink at its centre, a Giant Wheel above it, the Magical Ice Kingdom carved fresh each year (Peter Pan is this year's theme), circus shows under the big top, and Christmas markets and food stalls running between them. Entry is by ticket booked in advance: off-peak slots are free, standard and peak slots are paid, and the rink, the Ice Kingdom, the wheel and the shows are booked on top. The organisers' site has the full list and the times. Two or three hours covers the main attractions; a whole day, with the lights after dark, is the better plan, and that is where lunch and dinner come in.
How to Find Winter Wonderland, and Is It Far from ALBA?
Winter Wonderland sits in the eastern part of Hyde Park, between Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch, and the organisers list Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch and Knightsbridge as the stations to use. Knightsbridge is the one that matters here. Come out of the station and ALBA is a minute away, opposite Harrods; from the restaurant, Hyde Park's southern edge is four minutes' walk, and the Hyde Park Corner entrance to the fair is about fifteen minutes along Knightsbridge, or a single stop on the tube. It means a day at the fair can start or end at a table rather than a food stall, without a long journey in between.
ALBA is tucked away above YDF Interiors, so the restaurant isn't visible through the ground-floor windows. Walk in at 70 Brompton Road, and a staircase at the back leads up to the restaurant on the first floor, with a lift beside it for buggies and anyone who would rather not climb. The windows upstairs look straight across at Harrods, which in December is lit along its whole frontage. Our piece on finding ALBA above the showroom has the detail.
Lunch Before the Fairground
Winter Wonderland opens at 10am (noon on its first two days), and the lights are at their best from about four. The way to do it is lunch first. Monday to Friday, ALBA's set lunch runs from noon until 4pm, two courses for £32 or three for £39 from a short seasonal menu, with the full à la carte alongside it every day: handmade pasta, the lobster linguine, plates from the raw bar and pizza from the Neapolitan oven. On Sundays the menu turns to the Italian Sunday roast, slow-roasted veal or grilled mixed fish, served from 12pm to 5pm. Eat at noon, walk up to the park for the afternoon, and arrive at the rink as the lights come on.
Dinner After the Rides
Winter Wonderland closes at 10pm, which is late for most restaurants and fine for ALBA. Dinner runs until 11:30pm from Monday to Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday, so a table booked for nine or half past leaves room for the last ride and the walk back down to Knightsbridge. On Sundays the doors close at 10:30pm, so a Sunday visit is better done the other way round, with the roast before the park. Through the festive season, which at ALBA runs from 9 November to 7 January, the dining room is dressed for it and festive set menus run alongside a festive à la carte; Christmas at ALBA has the menus. The ten-seat omakase counter runs its own seatings from Tuesday to Sunday, for a party of two that would rather end the evening at the window with a chef-led Japanese menu.
For something between the two, Aperitivo Hour runs every day from 3pm to 7pm, two cocktails for £18, and it is the natural warm-up after an afternoon on the ice: a window table facing the Harrods lights, the pass and the pizza oven in view behind you, and nowhere to be for an hour.
Families and Larger Parties
Winter Wonderland is a family day, and ALBA takes families: there is a lift for the buggy, pram space at certain tables, and a menu with enough pasta and pizza on it to settle any argument. For a group that has been to the fair together, ALBA has spaces by size: the Cabina del Capitano, a private dining room for up to ten with a door that closes; the Harrods-view table for up to fourteen; semi-private sections for fifteen to fifty-five; and full hire for a hundred and ten seated or a hundred and fifty standing. The private dining in Knightsbridge page sets them out, and for a December party our guide to Christmas party venues in Knightsbridge covers dates and menus.
The Rest of Knightsbridge at Christmas
The fair is one part of a neighbourhood that does Christmas at full scale. Harrods lights its whole Brompton Road frontage, the trees along Sloane Street are lit the length of the street, and the Royal Albert Hall sings carols for a week before Christmas. Our festive guide to Knightsbridge covers all of it, with the dates, so the walk between the park and the table can take in the lights on the way.
Booking a Table Near Winter Wonderland
Book a table online, or ring +44 (0)20 3985 4992, and say whether it is before the park or after, so the table is timed for it. December weekends go first, and the evenings after the fair closes are the busiest of the week, so book the late table a few days ahead. ALBA is at 70 Brompton Road, London SW3 1ER, opposite Harrods, a minute from Knightsbridge station.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which restaurants are near Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park?
ALBA London is about fifteen minutes' walk from the Hyde Park Corner end of the fair, or one stop on the Piccadilly line to Knightsbridge, directly opposite Harrods at 70 Brompton Road.
When is Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2026 open?
From 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, every day except Christmas Day, from 10am until 10pm. Entry is by timed ticket, booked in advance.
Is ALBA open after Winter Wonderland closes?
Yes. The fair closes at 10pm; ALBA serves dinner until 11:30pm Monday to Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. On Sundays the doors close at 10:30pm.
Is ALBA suitable for families coming from Winter Wonderland?
Yes. There is a lift, pram space at certain tables, a Sunday roast from 12pm to 5pm and plenty of pasta and pizza on the menu.
How do I get from Winter Wonderland to ALBA?
Walk south along Knightsbridge from Hyde Park Corner to Brompton Road, about fifteen minutes, or take the Piccadilly line one stop from Hyde Park Corner to Knightsbridge. ALBA is a minute from the station, opposite Harrods.
