One of the places that my sister and I love to attend every year is the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. I reviewed this wonderland two years ago as well here, and I will review it again this year as well. In this article, I will be sharing how Winter Wonderland went for me this year when I attended on 22nd December 2021. 

Disclaimer: This was just my personal experience in Winter Wonderland. Please try everything at your own risk and take precaution.

What is Hyde Park Winter Wonderland?

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a large annual Christmas event held in Hyde Park and it has many rides, games and food available for family and friends to enjoy. 

My Experience:

My sister and I pre-booked the tickets this year as they have now started a new scheme whereby you have to buy entrance tickets and you also have to pre-book the rides. My sister ended up getting one entrance ticket for free, as we spent over £50 on rides. For the other ticket, we had to go and buy it there for £5.50. It was totally worth it. 

When my sister and I entered the wonderland, we took photos in front of the iconic landmark inside with the lights and then, we queued up for our first ride which was ‘Ice Mountain’. We also tried out a game. The second ride we tried was the ‘Euro Coaster’ and after buying churros and hot chocolate, we had a ride on the ‘Giant Wheel’. Lastly, I took a souvenir of a Winter Wonderland lanyard home with me.

Rides:

Ice Mountain (£7 each)

The first ride we tried was the Ice Mountain. The Ice Mountain was a very popular ride – and the queue took about 30-40 minutes long! My sister and I just stared at the people’s faces as they came down in the ride. This ride was one of the best rides I went to. It started off nice and slow in the dark, came out into the light which was nice and then suddenly, in the middle it spun multiple times in the dark and I was honestly wondering when it would stop. Nearly everyone came out screaming in the dark, and even thinking about it now makes me remember the experience! Overall, I think this had the adrenaline rush you need from a ride but also had a good amount of twirls. I rate this a ⅘. If you like the dark and spinning, this is for you. The seats were a bit cramped, so be aware of that.

Euro Coaster (£6 each)

The second ride was a rollercoaster which felt like I was flying in the air as your legs just hung out. It was the Euro Coaster and again, it started off nice and slow, and as the suspense built up, it was knocked out of the park when it went down. At the top, the view of the wonderland was beautiful and when it was rapidly going down, it made me feel like I was flying down! My sister and I screamed a lot, and overall, this was also a fabulous experience! I rated this a ⅘, as it was a great experience which made me feel thrilled! If you like going down rapidly on a ride, this is for you! Again, this ride was also a bit cramped to sit in.

Giant Wheel (£10 each)

The last one was the perfect ride to chill, have some food and enjoy the views of the pretty lights in Winter Wonderland. I liked that you could enjoy being up high and it reminded me of going to cable cars. This was quite nice to admire the views, yet the bubble was slightly cramped, and they were a bit unclear, so it was hard to take good photos. I also did not really enjoy the shaking of the pod. Yet, the experience of being in an iconic ferris wheel felt special so therefore, I would recommend it for a family. I would rate this a ⅗.

Food/Drinks:

Churros (£7.00)

The churros were a classic to have and I enjoyed them as it was draped with chocolate and they did give many portions for the price. I would recommend this as the texture was good, the chocolate melted in your mouth, and it is a great snack to have in the wonderland. I would rate this a 5/5.

Hot Chocolate (£4.25)

The hot chocolate was iconic due to the Winter Wonderland cup. I loved the whipped cream on the top, it felt so soft and tasty in my mouth. When it came to the drink, I could taste the chocolate in the drink but it didn’t have the rich creamy taste of milk in it which made it quite an average drink. My sister found it to be quite unpleasant as it felt watery. Overall, it wasn’t the best hot chocolate.

The Place:

The place and environment of Winter Wonderland is what makes it so special and unique – the lights are picturesque, the landmarks are spectacular, and the activity is busy, making it feel like you are in London. The diversity is also really great, so everyone can get involved. Even if you don’t try anything in the wonderland, it is still a marvellous experience. But please don’t get lost and don’t be separated from your group as it can be difficult to find them again.

The Service:

The staff and service was good and the waiting time was pretty long for everything (especially for the rides). 

Would I Recommend It?

Absolutely! My highlights of the wonderland this year were the Ice Mountain, the Euro Coaster and taking photos with the food and drinks. But be careful during COVID.

My Rating: 4/5

My Rating System:

⅕ – was below average and would not recommend even trying once

⅖ – the food was average and would not recommend trying

⅗ – the food was delicious but would recommend trying maximum once

⅘ – the food was really good and would recommend trying here

5/5 – the food was outstanding and is one of my favourites!

Order from here (not sponsored): https://hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/ 

That was my review on Winter Wonderland.

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

Disclaimer: Some of the items may have been discovered in previous years, but perhaps this year, it has been brought to my special attention. There are a few items I have not mentioned due to privacy. Also, there are links on each item so you can click on the link for the product. 

1: Lofi Music 

The first thing that has to come in the list is lofi music. I have been on a journey with my spirituality and I have been reducing the amount of time that I listen to music. But if there is one type of music that is pretty relaxing to listen to, it would have to be lo fi music. This one is live since February 2020, so you will never be bored with fresh beats coming out every time.

2: Podcasts

Podcasts are so underrated. As a podcaster myself, I think podcasts are so valuable yet hidden from so many people. I have started listening to podcasts more often now and there are so many to choose from, and there is a wide variety of topics available.  

3: Omar Hisham Al Arabi’s Quran Recitations

 Next up is something that is so relaxing, soul-soothing and peaceful which are Quran recitations. I am so grateful to be Muslim and to be able to access the Quran and especially when a reciter like Omar Hisham Al Arabi recites the Surahs, it can uplift your mood.

4: Think Like A Monk

Next is a book that my sister bought this year and that is Jay Shetty’s book ‘Think Like A Monk’. This changed my life as it taught me to build a closer relationship with myself and I have reviewed this book on my website so check it out here.

5. ‘Don’t Be Sad’ Book

This is yet another book that made me have a closer relationship with my beloved Allah and my amazing religion of Islam. The writer wrote this book with so much passion and beauty – it is definitely worth a read.

6: ‘The Courage To Be Disliked’ Book 

Another book which was really thought-provoking in my list has to be ‘The Courage To Be Disliked’. This book is a conversation between a philosopher and a youth and coming from someone who is not a big fan of philosophy, I absolutely enjoyed reading this intellectual yet realistic conversation about society and living. 

7: My Go-To Bottle

After breaking two Wilko bottles, my brother gifted me a high-quality bottle from Amazon. This bottle is large, holds 1 liter of water and comes with a brush for cleaning. I take this to school daily and it is so durable and even motivates me to drink more water.

8: Shopping List Pad

This is so cheap and affordable and perfect to make quick to do lists in. I use this quite regularly now.

9: Lenovo Laptop

I got this new laptop from my sixth form and it is actually pretty good! It is made by Microsoft so it brought back nostalgic memories to see the old ‘Paint’ app by Microsoft which reminded me of my childhood. I also like that since my sixth form uses Teams, it is really easy to use this laptop.

10: Candles

I always love the cozy feeling of snuggling up in the winter, with heaters turned on and candles turned on by myself in my room. Candles give that really nice vibe to the room, it can diffuse nice scents and fragrances, and add a bit of decor to your room. So give yourself a candle!

11: Earrings

Next up are earrings! Now of course, I knew what earrings are but this year I built up my own collection of earrings. Earrings can make you feel like a little girl again, so you can invest in some. I buy mine from Lovisa usually, and I can even wear them in sixth form!

12: Loreal XFiber False Lash Mascara

This mascara is now what I use quite regularly! This was quite new to me as it is double ended so it really gives that depth in my lashes. 

13: Revue

This is the website I use to make my weekly newsletters! Unfortunately, the website doesn’t send out my weekly newsletters due to a spamming issue, but hopefully, it will be up and running again so I can get back to writing my weekly newsletters again!

14: Hairstyles

I have loved and still love having my hair done into new hairstyles! Even right now in sixth form, I try to do a different hairstyle every day to add a bit more variety. I have started learning more new hairstyles this year and the bandana linked above is one of the items I use for one of my hairstyles! 

15: Gratitude Journal

For those of you who don’t like to write 5 things you are grateful for every morning, I got you! I would recommend buying a gratitude journal as it contains exercises every day to really get you focusing on the good and filling up your heart with love, warmth and thankfulness!

16: Snapchat

Now of course, I knew what Snapchat was! But this year, I decided to go ahead and install Snapchat to add friends I was making in sixth form and it has allowed me to very easily interact with my friends outside.

17: My GCSE Results

Another thing that I have achieved this year is finishing my GCSEs. Of course, seeing my GCSE grades and Alhamdulillah getting decent grades was an amazing discovery.

18: New People

I discovered and made new friends and teachers this year both outside of school and also because I moved into a new sixth form! This helped me to put myself out there.

19: Wireless Earphones

Wireless earphones have changed the game for me! They are so easy to use, I can use them while commuting or exercising and they don’t get tangled up!

20: Wilko Index Cards

I have been using these for many years, but these are so portable and easy to carry around. They are also recommended by many others!

21: Hitting Over 10,000 Users On This Blog

WIth no paid promotion but only with sheer passion for the topics I love to talk about, I have managed to somehow have over 10,000 people reading my blog from over 20 countries! Thank you for being here and this has been one of my biggest blessings of this year!

This was a very long and enjoyable article but I hope it was useful. Maybe you can take some of these for next year! 

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

This is the first article I will be making in this series. And that is all about…FRIENDSHIPS! Making friends, especially in a new big school in Year 7, can be quite tough. It is also really important to make a good group of friends who will support and look out for you because one of the biggest influences of you growing up is the company you stay with. So here are my 10 tips that helped me to make good friends:

1. Don’t be afraid to speak up.

When starting school, you may meet many new faces and everyone may be shy. Don’t be afraid to be the first person to initiate a conversation with anyone. That person will thank you for it because otherwise they would have had to make the first move which can be difficult.

2. Know your boundaries.

This is so important! When I went through my first toxic friendship in Year 7, I realised the importance of speaking up. If you ever feel uncomfortable, whether it’s because your friends are cracking an offensive joke, or even if they are forcing you to go out, learn to speak up and tell them. You have control over your life!

3. Be kind and be yourself.

We all change throughout secondary school. But don’t let these changes be dictated by your friends. Be your authentic self because if you accept yourself the way you are, the right people will accept you too and you will end up having a great time. Also, kindness melts anyone’s heart, so be kind and if people don’t like that, they are not meant for you.

4. Don’t share everything with your friends.

This may be the most important tip! One of the biggest regrets of many teenagers (especially girls), is that they shared their deepest darkest secrets to their best friends and the next second, it is the latest gossip for the whole school. Even if it is your best friend in school, I still recommend keeping some things private because you can never predict what will happen. You may save yourself from a lot of embarrassment and unnecessary drama. 

5. It is okay to change friends.

When I was in Year 7, I had this misconception that the friends I would make in Year 7 would stay with me throughout the whole 5 years. Little did I know that I would end up going through a toxic friendship, move schools and make a whole new set of friends in another borough! It is okay to think like this but also if you feel that your friends are not making you feel good, it is okay to change them!

6. Learn to be independent.

Many people are also afraid of staying by themselves in the playground, as they are deemed to be lonely. Let me tell you loud and clear: staying by yourself does NOT make you lonely. It teaches you independence sometimes. You don’t need to force yourself to be glued to your friends and it is okay to sometimes study/stay by yourself.

7. Meet friends outside of school safely.

As you grow older, you may be allowed by your parents to go out with your friends. I have a group chat with my friends and we sometimes arrange trips together and then we have a girls’ day out! Obviously, remember to tell your parents before going out with your friends, and stay safe!

8. Never text secrets or beef by text.

This is yet another important one. People screenshotting texts and sending them to others is totally a thing. So if you do have something private to tell someone or you have to resolve an argument, do it in person.

9. Have common interests.

Common interests are a great way to connect with people. If you are struggling to make friends, common interests are the way to start a conversation. And if you and your friend have no common interests, your school and subjects you study are of common interest! Talk about them.

10. Make friends from different places.

You don’t need to restrict yourself to only making friends in school…you can also make friends in your local community, your parents’ friends’ children, in clubs and extracurriculars or even your neighbours!

That was my article about friendships! I hope you have enjoyed this article! Remember that you will be fine and it is both okay to have friends and to also not have any friends at all!

Please share this article with anyone you know who goes to secondary school. And look out for the next article on this series. You can stay updated by subscribing to my weekly newsletter for free. 

Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

It has all come to an end. The 5 years that are known to be dramatic, developing or even dangerous – they have all come to an end. From waking up early in the morning for school to spending long hours in school to hanging out with friends to doing homework to revising to texting friends to bantering with teachers, secondary school can be chaotic. However, if you top that off with a pandemic, several lockdowns and numerous tests, it can get even harder. But we came out and realised that we can survive in the hardest of times, which gives hope for the future.

Today, which is Friday 7th May 2021, was my last day of formal education in secondary school which essentially means my last day having lessons with my whole year group in school. From next week, In Sha Allah, I will be starting my exams while on study leave.

In this article, I will write a somewhat unfiltered memoir of the last day of secondary school, some motivation for the exam season and some parting words.

My Last Day of Formal Education:

When I reached school, I hung out with my friends in form time. All of a sudden, I saw some individuals start to take out a seperate school shirt from the one they were wearing and pass it around to their friends for them to sign. As you can see from the photo above, I did the same and I started signing shirts. 

My first lesson Geography consisted of doing some work and hearing the roaring excitement from girls around me (I do go to an all-girls school after all). The second lesson Spanish had the same effect – everyone ran around signing shirts until the assistant headteacher had to tell everyone to calm down.

After chatting on break with my friends, I tripsed to science where no one did any revision whatsoever and instead indulged in taking photos and signing shirts. It was an overwhelming experience to ask for signatures and to also write inside jokes on others’ shirts and yearbooks.

My last porper lesson of secondary school was actually PE. We played a game and then rushed out for lunch to do – you guessed it – more signing shirts.

At 1:30pm, we rushed to maths, grabbed some worksheets (we do have exams after all) and walked to the hall for our end of year assembly, with some parting words from the staff. 

In the last 40 minutes, everyone spent time together with their shirts and I took some photos with my friends.

It was emotional, reflective and a learning experience.

Exams Next Week:

Next week is, In Sha Allah, exams. I have exams for about three weeks, all from multiple subjects.

This year has been detrimental to everyone’s grades, but I am proud that we have still reached here. All you could give was your best during a global pandemic so work hard but don’t beat yourself up about it. I want to prioritise my mental health, pray to God, revise and wish for the best.

Remember to talk to people if you require help.

Try to revise every day because little and often is better than nothing.

Journal – it helps to bring clarity to your thoughts.

Smile more often – be grateful you are still alive in this chaotic world.

Pray to God – He is the One who can make or break you.

And remember, work hard but these grades don’t define you

Thank you so much for reading today’s article. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I liked writing it. 

• My 2023 Reflections As A Medical Student 
• My First Term of Medical School | Exams, Essays and Events 
• My First Month of Medical School | Moving Out, Freshers And Workload
• The Ultimate Guide To Ace Year 12 | Revision, Friendships And Supercurriculars
• How I Got All A*s At GCSEs | 10 Tips Every Year 11 Student Should Know

Thank you again for reading, and have a lovely day!

So without any further ado, let’s get started:

Why can’t some people achieve their goals?

• Not specific enough
• No deadline
• No way of incorporating it in their routine
• Not a priority
• Not attainable
• Not measurable 
• No motivation

These may be some of the reasons why you are not able to achieve your goals. You need to figure out what is keeping you from achieving these goals.

How can you really achieve your goals?

Step 1: Identify what type of person you are right now

Before you dive into the meat of how to achieve goals, you have to figure out your starting point which is who you are right now. Try to identify what type of person you are in 5 different aspects in your life e.g. family, friends, career/education, hobbies/spirituality and health. Be quite detailed on this and this will assist you on reflecting who you are right now and give you direction to your goals. For example, you may realise in terms of health, that you may be exercising very little.

Step 2: Identify who you want to become

After realising who you are as a person, you now want to start thinking about your dream life and the exact person you want to be. Again, make a table or create a vision board and write what your ‘dream identity’ would be doing on each of those 5 aspects you focused on earlier. You may start to really discover those things that you want to do. For example, your ‘dream identity’ might be exercising at least once a week in the ‘health’ aspect.  

Step 3: Write specific steps on each aspect

By doing the previous step, you now know how you want to be in each aspect of your life. It is now time to break down each step. For example, in your ‘health’ aspect of your table or vision board, you may have said that you want to exercise once a week. Now you really want to ask yourself the following questions: What type of exercise will you do? What time of the day will you do this? Do you need to buy a gym membership? How long will you exercise? Answer these questions.

Step 4: Break it down

Now that you know all the details of every small statement on each aspect of your ‘dream identity’, you can start to really take those steps to ensure that you fulfill these goals. For example, if you want to treadmill at the gym once a week, get yourself a gym membership as soon as possible.

Step 5: Incorporate it into your to do lists and/or habit tracker

You have paid for your gym membership. You know all the steps to go and exercise so go ahead and write down your first day of ‘exercise’ in your planning system or to-do list where you plan every day. If you want to gym every Sunday for one hour, add it to every Sunday of your academic yearly planner or bullet journal. You could also add it to your habit tracker.

Step 6: Don’t focus on the outcome. It is a system and a lifestyle change, not a temporary goal.

When writing it on your to-do list for the month, remember that this is not something that you will stop after a certain period. It is a lifestyle change. If you plan to exercise once a week, it is something you may want to do for the rest of your life. So enjoy the journey when you exercise every time and don’t necessarily focus on the outcome.

Step 7: Consistency.

The last step is extremely important. You need to pick yourself up in the days where you feel like to break out of that ‘dream identity’. Embody that ‘dream identity’ every day and whenever you don’t feel like going and doing something, ask yourself what your ‘dream identity’ would be doing. Don’t make it a dream anymore, make it a reality, Be consistent.

Those were some of the ways that you can fulfill your goals. Follow this step-by-step guide and this may help you to really achieve your goals and make it a reality in 2021.

What is your number 1 goal for 2021? Comment down below.

New here? Please check out my other articles relating to Islamic content, My Experiences, Teenage Advice, Book Reviews and Poetry.

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Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!