it really is amazing.very busy but all the lights and so much going on is amazing.it can get a bit pricey but its all worth it.very child friendly too and lovely little and big things in the german market.

So much to see and do in Edinburgh Princes St Gardens this past festive season. I had a ball.

Fun factor no.1 REINDEER

The real live Reindeer (would make my reindeer-obsessed auntie bawl her eyes oot!). I have never been in the presence of a real Reindeer before and I was extremely excited to see these lovely little furry antlered beautiful beasts. I've always had an idea in my head they weren't or shouldn't be real (being attached to such a mystical figure an 'all) - and yet every time I am reminded they are Im filled the ole forgotten feeling of being young and believing it ALL......a lovely wee bit of magic. They looked quite unphased and relaxed to be plonked in the centre of Edinburgh too which made them all the more pleasing to see.

Fun Factor no.2 ICE SKATING

As it has been years I thought I would spend most of the time on my rear but no it was all kosha. The stewards were very satefy conscious yet un-obstructive and the background dated techno tunes made for a bit of a cheesetastic time. The outdoor rink looked lovely lit-up at night from the road above too.

Fun Factor No.3 SANTA EXPRESS
Although this trip of a lifetime is clearly meant for kids, myself and the boyf hopped into the front seat no less. It was awesome and a lovely a wee trip around the gardens, picking up and dropping, off, tooting and waving. The christmas tunes were pumping and those kids were loving it - Santa was too, I've never seen such a happy Santa! Oh bless...

Fun Factor no.4 MARKET

I don't need to say much about this other than the clobber on offer was lovely and a tad on the pricey side. The food was tasty and the hot drinks (alco and non) filled a need to get a wee bit cosy on the cold windy days!

Fun Factor No. 5 AMUSEMENTS

Although a bit disappointed to have not experienced the big wheel - which Im sure would have been awesome, we did go on the huge fairground swings. What a mixed bag of delight and sheer terror. You feel like yer wee flippers are gonna get ripped from the ankles right in front of your eyes when you see how close they get to stationary objects on the ground and in the sky. AMAZING!!!!

All in all a brilliant time (and I haven't even covered everything!), I wasn't feeling to christmassy before I went but it sorted me right out!! Go in 2008, you won't regret it!

2007 marks the tenth anniversary of this hugely popular winter festival. Hosted in the east-side of Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens, it offers a beautiful outdoor ice-skating rink, a host of stalls offering everything from hand-crafted Christmas decorations to hot mince pies and German mulled wine, and various rides guaranteed to thrill children and parents alike.

This year will mark the debut of an under-7’s skating arena, where double-edged skates can be hired, making skating much easier.

One of the main attractions, of course, is the big wheel. This revolves fairly quickly so the queues are never arduous. It is well worth the wait, as the canopies lift you towards the summit of the adjacent Scott Monument. There can be a few breathtaking moments near the top as stationary canopies shoogle in the breeze while further passengers are loaded hundreds of feet below. But once the wheel begins rotating you are in for unparalleled views of the wonderland below, and the city’s festive lights in general. Ahead of you the galleries at the foot of the Mound and the Castle beyond are floodlit and resplendent. Take your kids to the mini rollercoaster on the lower slopes of the gardens. Older kids and adults will appreciate the ‘whirligig’ roundabout which sends you on dizzying revolutions, with the optical allusion that you are about to crash into the traffic and Scott Monument columns

The wonderland is having a spectacular opening gala on Thursday 22 November 2007, starting at 5pm. This will include amazing ice dancing from some of the country’s finest talents.