I visited the new Wishmas immersive Christmas attraction in London – these were the best and worst bits
I DON’T usually lead my four-year-old son down alleyways round the back of London’s Waterloo station.
But last weekend, we eagerly made our way into a nondescript sidestreet in the shadow of the hulking great rail depot, to visit the UK’s biggest new Christmas attraction - Wishmas.
Created by the team behind Secret Cinema, Wishmas is an immersive family experience that lasts between 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
After checking in for our allocated time slot, we made our way into a brightly coloured train station waiting room, along with a number of other families.
There, an elf told us all about the magic of Christmas wishes - and how they help make them come true.
We then boarded a ‘train’ that flew through the sky, only for disaster to hit when a number of children’s wishes got lost.
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The kids on board were then tasked with finding the missing wishes and saving Christmas, through a series of fun tasks in different themed rooms.
The elves were brilliant and the storyline was clever and fun, while the activities managed to keep a wide range of children between the ages of 3 and 10 interested, which is no easy task.
But the set design was what impressed the most, with such attention to detail that you felt like you could be in a movie.
No pictures were allowed during the experience, which is slightly odd for a festive experience that’s all about making everlasting memories with your kids.
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But I’ll admit that it did help to keep all of the parents ‘in the moment’, instead of constantly snapping away on our iPhones - which I know I’d have been guilty of.
There are two different options for those currently looking to visit.
The cheapest is the ’ priced from £39 upwards (and up to £99 on peak days), featuring the experience, plus a bauble-making workshop and a visit to their Christmas market.
The pricier option is £49 upwards for the above, plus a Santa meet and greet.
Given that most families probably only do one big festive day out, it’s not surprising that many of the slots to meet Father Christmas are already sold out for popular days this December.
This grotto was a particularly good one, with a fun waiting room hosted by a very friendly elf.
After a surprisingly short wait, we were called in to see the big man, who was chilling next the fireplace in a very cosy and realistic log cabin.
He gave my son plenty of chat time, which was appreciated as these things can often feel pressured for young kids, and a very sweet present to take away.
The bauble-making workshop, which allows you to stuff a bauble with a load of festive decorations, was also a lovely addition and made for a unique souvenir.
The only let down of the whole experience was the ‘Christmas market’ at the end.
Featuring about six stalls in what felt like a large corridor, with zero tables or chairs, families were left to stand awkwardly and juggle bags while drinking their hot chocolate.
But that was a blip in an otherwise welcome addition to the prime Christmas experiences on offer in the UK this year.
For families looking for a unique offering of serotonin-boosting festive magic in London, there’s nothing else out there like it.
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If you're looking for more Christmas inspiration, we also visited the newly opened Winter Wonderland and have some tips on what to visit and the rip-offs to avoid.
And this is what it's like inside the famous Lapland UK.
