Violence erupted at one of London's most popular Christmas attractions, as shocking new footage shows rival groups brawling just outside the Winter Wonderland event in Hyde Park.
Chaos in the Bavarian Village
The incident occurred on the evening of December 23 within the event's Bavarian Village area. Video clips circulating online depict a scene of pure chaos, with punches being thrown, bins overturned, and terrified women screaming for the fighting to stop. Despite the presence of several security personnel in high-visibility jackets attempting to intervene, the clashes escalated rapidly.
Several men were seen breaking into fights, and the footage appears to show security guards pushing revellers to the floor in an effort to regain control. Many guests were captured running out of the way to flee the violence, with onlookers heard pleading, "Please, no more drama." The man recording the video, who was wearing a cowboy hat, commented sarcastically: "Welcome to Winter Wonderland. This is what happens every single year, people are drunk, can't handle their drink and this is what happens, look."
A Pattern of Festive Violence
This was not an isolated incident on the night. Police were called and officers pulled out Tasers during a separate altercation that same evening. Further video evidence from the week shows aggressive youths tearing down barriers, punching, and grabbing each other. In one particularly vicious sequence, a group chased a boy, flinging themselves over metal entrance barriers to reach him. The boy fell backwards onto other people before being punched to the ground and cornered by three individuals who continuously hit him as he tried to flee.
Members of the public, including teenage girls, were seen cowering and grabbing each other in fear. Within minutes, police sirens could be heard, causing some of the assailants to run away. Officers arrived with Tasers and were heard telling the public to "go home." An onlooker described the scene: "It was a night of pure chaos. People go there for a family peaceful night of Christmas entertainment. But some people go feral and ruin it. Drink plays a big part and it kicked off again. I'll never go again. It's not worth it."
Event's Troubled Reputation
This latest brawl adds to a series of violent incidents that have plagued the attraction this festive season. The week prior saw another fight where a woman was punched unconscious, and earlier in the week another vicious group brawl was reported. Winter Wonderland has frequently been criticised as being overcrowded and overpriced, and has been labelled Europe's most complained-about festive attraction.
On social media platform X, users reacted with grim humour. One commented, "Would it be Christmas without a punch up at Winter Wonderland," while another added, "UFC 2025: Winter Wonderland edition." The video was posted by the account @CrimeLdn, sarcastically praising the 'festive spirit' on display.
A spokesman for Hyde Park Winter Wonderland stated that the incident had been "managed promptly by on-site security, with police present." They added, "There was no impact on the wider event and no serious injuries reported." Despite these assurances, the footage has raised serious questions about safety and crowd management at the annual attraction, which has drawn celebrities including Cole Palmer, Louise Redknapp, and Kyle Walker this year.
