Giant wheel set to come to Kent park this Christmas
A stunning illuminated giant wheel could be coming to a Tunbridge Wells[1] park for five weeks this Christmas[2]. The attraction, set to be a massive draw for festive activities, will be in Calverley Grounds if permission is granted by council planners.
The big wheel, sometimes called an observation wheel, will be an exciting addition to the already popular annual Tunbridge Wells Ice Rink, which pulls in tens of thousands of visitors each year. Along with the rink, there are wooden chalets selling festive treats, a marquee for food, drink and entertainment, a Father Christmas grotto and plenty of illuminations around the beautiful park in the town centre.
The Happy Wheel is described as the only one of its type in the world, which “gives a fantastic light show after dark”. It also “packs the wow factor with a fantastic bird’s eye view at 22m tall”, said owner The Giant Wheel Company.
The ice rink, which has a run of up to 12 weeks, is put on by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council[4]. The council has just applied to bring the big wheel to the event and, if approved, the wheel will be in place from the beginning of December to the beginning of January.
The council wants permission to have the wheel in the park for this period for the next five years. The wheel will be 22m high and will have 14 enclosed gondolas, which can take a total of 56 people. It would operate from 10am to 9pm every day, except Christmas Day.
It will be lit with colour-changing flashing lights but there will be no music played from the wheel. Planning documents show the wheel will be in front of the ice rink on the grass, to the right of the footpath, as people walk in through the main entrance in Mount Pleasant Road.
Find out more about the stunning Happy Wheel poised to come to Tunbridge Wells here[5].
Find out more about things to do and activities in Kent at Christmas with our free What’s On email HERE.[6]
References
- ^ Tunbridge Wells (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Christmas (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ The Polar Express train ride in Tunbridge Wells to return this Christmas (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (www.kentlive.news)
- ^ here (www.giantwheel.co.uk)
- ^ HERE. (data.reachplc.com)