'I took my children to Winter Wonderland London and the total price left me in shock'

A father has documented his very expensive family day out to Winter Wonderland. In total the family spent hundreds of pounds on rides, food and activities at one of London’s most popular Christmas destinations.

Daniel O’Reilly, also known as Dapper Laughs, visited Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park with his partner and three daughters. The family say they spent a whopping £775 on the day including travel costs.

Dapper Laughs, who is a highly controversial social media personality, said: “That’s nearly £800 which is more than enough to get an all-inclusive holiday for your family in Benidorm.

WARNING: Video contains profanity

“Was it a good day out? Of course it was. The kids got some cool memories and we all had a good time as a family. Was it worth the money? Was it b*******!”

Some of the most shocking prices featured in the video include £15 to go through a fun house and £25 for a go on a roller coaster. The family also spent a staggering £60 to have six turns at playing darts.

Food and drink proved to be no cheaper. Dapper Laughs says that the family spent a shocking £32 for four crepes and £28 for the same amount of hot chocolates.

A set of three noodles also cost £36, while a hot dog was £10. The family did take part in 11 different games and activities, including a trip to the circus, as part of the grand total.

Perhaps most surprising was the £25 which the family spent on parking for the day. Dapper Laughs did also include the £125 the family spent on train tickets in his total.

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Each year Hyde Park is taken over by Winter Wonderland. The festive fair is always filled with rides, games and delicious food.

However, the event is notorious for costing a little more than the average Christmas market. With so much on offer, people often take on challenges to have a fun day out at Winter Wonderland on a budget.

This year the fair opened on November 21 and is set to close on January 5. Tickets need to be booked in advance - the prices vary for timings and ages.

Winter Wonderland includes highlights this year such as the world’s largest transportable rollercoaster - Munich Looping. There’s other other activities to choose from as well such as Ice Mountain and a traditional wave swinger.

Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com

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Elianne Andam murder accused blames autism for stabbing Croydon schoolgirl, 15, in teddy bear row

A teenager accused of stabbing 15-year-old Elianne Andam to death in a row over a teddy bear has blamed autism in his defence to murder. Hassan Sentamu, 18, lashed out at Elianne with a kitchen knife during a post-breakup meeting in Croydon town centre with his ex-girlfriend and her group on September 27 last year, the Old Bailey was told on Monday morning (December 9).

The defendant, who was studying sports science at Croydon College, has admitted manslaughter but denied Elianne’s murder on the basis of 'loss of control' because he has autism. At the outset of the trial, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said the key issue for jurors will be to decide if Sentamu is guilty of murder of manslaughter, and whether he lawfully carried a knife.

LIVE: Elianne Andam murder trial updates

"The admission means he must be guilty of murder or manslaughter," said the judge, adding: "He also admits carrying a kitchen knife, but claims he had a lawful reason. The issue for you to decide whether he is guilty of murder or manslaughter.

"His case will be that the killing was caused entirely by a loss of self-control because of his Autism Spectrum Disorder had substantially impaired his ability to exercise self-control."

The stunning mural to Elianne Andam on Wellesley Road in Croydon

You can receive updates sent directly to your phone on the murder trial here. For more information on signing up for updates, click here.

But prosecutor Alex Chalk KC told jurors they may feel the 'dreadful attack' was a result of Sentamu's 'white-hot anger' after he felt 'disrespected' in public by girls on the day of the killing and previously. The barrister said the 2020 autism diagnosis, and Sentamu's 'disrupted childhood' was not disputed, rather it was their relevance to the case.

"We will be noting very many entirely non-violent and law-abiding people in society have autism, and disrupted childhoods are sadly not uncommon," he told jurors, adding: "We will suggest to you that they do not and cannot sensibly amount to an excuse, justification or defence to the murder of Elianne Andam."

'Short fuse'

The defendant, then aged 17, was already armed with the kitchen knife when he took the bus from his home in New Addington, South London, to the Whitgift Centre on the morning of last September 27, jurors heard. He was on his way to a meeting with his ex-girlfriend, who he had split up with about 10 days before, and her group of friends, which included Elianne.

Mr Chalk told jurors: “The purpose of the meeting was to exchange belongings. (The ex-girlfriend) in particular was anxious to recover her teddy bear.”

During the meeting in a car park at the Whitgift shopping centre, Sentamu’s ex-girlfriend, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, stuck with her side of the bargain. She handed over a plastic bag containing his belongings but the defendant arrived empty-handed, without her teddy bear, jurors were told.

Mr Chalk said Elianne was 'aggrieved' so took the plastic bag back from Sentamu while he was walking outside the Whitgift Shopping Centre. “It was a gesture of solidarity with (her friend) that cost Elianne her life," said the prosecutor, adding: “The defendant chased after her, cornered her and used the kitchen knife to stab her repeatedly."

Prosecutor Alex Chalk KC (Image: Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Elianne suffered a 12cm wound to her neck, severing the carotid artery, and died an hour later. CCTV footage captured the attack, including Sentamu running from the scene and disposing of the knife. He was arrested 90 minutes later.

Sentamu had a “short fuse” and on the day of the killing, he came to the end of it, jurors heard. The prosecutor said: “His calculated decision to bring a knife to the scene meant that the consequences of that outburst for Elianne and her family were utterly devastating.”

Mr Chalk said the victim was a popular schoolgirl and according to one of her friends: “Everybody loved Elianne.” Members of Elianne’s family sat in the well of the court as Mr Chalk outlined the case against Sentamu.

The Old Bailey trial before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb continues.

Got a tip, a court date, or some gossip? Please email callum.cuddeford@reachplc.com or WhatsApp 07580255582.

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M11 live updates as multiple cars involved in crash

A multi-car collision on the M11 has saw the road closed with massive tailback.

National Highways reported that the road is closed between J4 A4606 and J5 Loughton northbound as traffic officers and emergency services attended the accident.

People are reporting that they have been stuck in traffic on the road since the accident happened around 12.15pm.

All the lanes have just opened up but massive delays remain. We have contacted the emergency services for more information.

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Teen boy, 15, found stabbed in residential Mitcham street

A 15-year-old boy was stabbed in South London yesterday (December 6). Members of the London Ambulance Service found the teen before alerting the police.

Police were alerted to the boy, who was found in Fleming Mead in Mitcham, at 7.22pm on Friday, December 6. Paramedics attended to the 15-year-old's wounds before he was taken to the hospital.

His injuries were assessed at the hospital, and were said to be non-life changing. The police are still investigating the incident, and no one has been arrested yet.

No arrests have been made so far (Image: Getty Images)

A police spokesperson said: "At 19:22hrs on Friday, 6 December, we were alerted by the London Ambulance Service to a stabbing in Fleming Mead, Mitcham. Officers attended with paramedics and found a 15-year-old boy with stab wounds.

"He was taken to hospital where his injuries were assessed as non-life changing. At this early stage of the investigation there have been no arrests. An investigation is ongoing.

"Anyone with information should call police on 101, providing the reference 6573/06DEC. Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."

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London's best state secondary school with top 2024 GCSE results named by education experts

London's best state secondary school with top GCSE grades has been named. The Sunday Times' Parent Power Guide 2025 has been published, which sees thousands of schools across England, Wales and Northern Ireland ranked.

The guide ranks schools by performance at A-level and GCSE, this year analysing the results from the summer of 2024. The Parent Power Guide is one of the top resources for parents looking at schools for their children, and includes a fully searchable national database of over 2,000 schools.

As well as being an assessment of all academic results on a school-by-school basis, the guide gives parents the ability to compare the performance of schools in the same town, local authority or even nationally.

The top school has been named

And the best state secondary school in London for 2025 has been named in the guide as Newstead Wood School in Orpington. This girls-only school offers places for Years 7 to 11, and also offers a co-educational sixth form.

On their website, the school has said: "We are delighted to have been named as London State Secondary School of the Year 2025 in this year's Sunday Times Parent Power schools guide! Congratulations to all members of the Newstead Wood School community!"

A second category, for the best state secondary for academic excellence in London has also been awarded, and this year goes to Henrietta Barnett School. Henrietta Barnett is located in Hampstead and is open to girls aged between 11 and 18.

The school has also been named the state secondary school of the year for GCSEs, and joint state secondary school of the year for A-levels.

They've said: "The Henrietta Barnett School is delighted that the energies and commitment of our students, and the dedication of our staff have been nationally recognised and celebrated through the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025 with awards for State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2025 and three other awards. We are incredibly proud of our students’ achievements, which is just one part of what makes our school such a special place."

Girls' school Newstead Wood School in Orpington has been named the best state secondary school in London (file photo)

Also named in the 2025 guide for London is West London Free School, which has been awarded best comprehensive school of the year in London, Lady Eleanor Holles School for independent secondary school of the year in London, St Paul’s Girls’ School as best independent secondary school of the year for academic excellence in London and St Stephen's Primary School, East Ham for primary school of the year in London.

Helen Davies, Editor of Parent Power, said: "The educational landscape is challenging – teacher shortages, rising student mental health issues and special educational needs and the Vat rise – but there is also so much to celebrate from the hard work of passionate and committed teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to boost their students and give them the very best start in life.

“As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is fantastic to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century.”

To see the full Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025, click here.

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Speed bumps added to Greenwich 'rat run' road that's an 'accident waiting to happen'

Speed bumps and 20mph signs have been added to a Greenwich road 'blighted' by rat runners after every resident on the street called on the council to resolve the issue. Greenwich Council has said that it will investigate further improvements to Cedarhurst Drive, west of Eltham, following claims that the street is an 'accident waiting to happen'.

The change comes after a petition called on the council to address dangerous traffic on the road given its location between Eltham Road and the South Circular Road. It also called for resident-only parking from 9.30-11am every day to deter anti-social parking from commuters using nearby train stations and visitors of Sutcliffe Park.

Miriam Crozier, who started the petition, previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "We've been saying for a long time that because we get this channel of cars parked on either side of that stretch of the road and you've got people charging through here, it’s waiting for an enormous accident to happen."

Labour Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, who represents the Middle Park and Horn Park ward, said at a meeting in July that all 47 households on the street had signed the petition. The ward councillor claimed that the road was ‘blighted’ by excessive speed and parking, with drivers passing through the street at speeds of over 40 miles per hour.

The authority’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Labour Councillor Averil Lekau, said in a written response to the petition that road humps and signs to enforce the 20mph speed limit were added to Cedarhurst Drive in September. She added that the council was in the process of rolling out its Sustainable Streets Programme, which would include improved road safety measures such as crossing points and revised designs of junctions.

Cedarhurst Drive sits in the Middle Park and Horn Park ward of Greenwich borough (Image: Joe Coughlan)

Cllr Lekau said that the Horn Park area would not be included in the first phase of the scheme but would be considered for inclusion during next year’s works. She said residents in the area would be consulted for feedback to develop measures appropriate for the area.

Andrew Crozier, speaking on behalf of the lead petitioner, said at a Greenwich Council meeting on December 4 that residents were thankful for the speed bumps and signs being installed on the road. He added that locals would like to see an extra bump on the street to deter rat runners. He said parking congestion was still prevalent and asked for double yellow lines to be added and for parking to be prohibited in front of the driveways of homes.

The cabinet member said in response: "I am not a traffic engineer. You have come with a shopping list of things that you would want to see put in place. I am not in a position to respond to those as we sit here tonight."

She added: "We would need to re-evaluate what the situation is there in light of the comments you are making."

Have a story you want to share? Email joseph.coughlan@reachplc.com.

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New map shows London boroughs with worst childhood obesity rates as 1 in 4 obese

The government has announced plans to tackle childhood obesity with a pre-watershed ban on junk food advertising, as figures reveal that over one in four 10-and-11 year olds in London are obese. The ban will see ads for food items such as crisps, fizzy drinks, sugary cereals and surprisingly, porridge, banned from screens until after 9pm.

The government believes the ban will prevent an estimated 20,000 cases of childhood obesity across the UK. In England, more than a fifth (22.1 per cent) of Year 6 children - those aged 10 and 11 years old - were obese in the 2023/24 academic year. This is an increase from 18.7 per cent in 2009/10.

London has higher rates of childhood obesity than the country as a whole. Almost a quarter (24.0 per cent) of 10 and 11 year olds attending school in the capital were obese in the 2023/24 academic year. Reception aged children in London - four and five year olds - had an obesity rate of 9.8 per cent, compared to a national average of 9.6 per cent.

The prevalence of childhood obesity varies depending on the areas where children attend school. Year 6 pupils in Barking and Dagenham had one of the highest obesity rates in the country - three out of every 10 (29.5 per cent) children there were obese. Only three other council areas in the country had higher rates of obesity.

Newham wasn’t far behind with an obesity prevalence of 28.3 per cent. That’s followed by Enfield with 27.6 per cent, Greenwich with 27.3 per cent and Southwark with 27.3 per cent.

Childhood obesity (10 and 11-year-olds) by borough

1. Barking and Dagenham: 29.5%
2. Newham: 28.3%
3. Enfield: 27.6%
4. Greenwich: 27.3%
5. Southwark: 27.3%
6. Lambeth: 27.1%
7. Tower Hamlets: 27%
8. Hackney: 26.4%
9. Brent: 25.4%
10. Croydon: 25.3%
11. Hounslow: 25.1%
12. Waltham Forest: 25%
13. Lewisham: 24.6%
14. Haringey: 24.6%
15. Redbridge: 24.6%
16. Hillingdon: 24.4%
17. Havering: 24.3%
18. London: 24.0%
19. Westminster: 23.9%
20. Ealing: 23.7%
21. Harrow: 23.5%
22. Islington: 22.9%
23. Camden: 22.9%
24. Bexley: 22.8%
25. Hammersmith and Fulham: 22.8%
26. Kensington and Chelsea: 21.3%
27. Barnet: 20.9%
28. Wandsworth: 20.4%
29. Merton: 19.1%
30. Sutton: 18.7%
31. Bromley: 17.4%
32. Kingston upon Thames: 15.3%
33. Richmond upon Thames: 13.8%

Announcing the ban, Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: "Obesity robs our kids of the best possible start in life, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems, and costs the NHS billions. This government is taking action now to end the targeting of junk food ads at kids, across both TV and online. Obesity robs our kids of the best possible start in life, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems, and costs the NHS billions."

He continued: "This is the first step to deliver a major shift in the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention, and towards meeting our government’s ambition to give every child a healthy, happy start to life."

Sandwell in the West Midlands (the home of the football club West Bromwich Albion) had the highest rates of obesity amongst 10-and-11 year olds in the country. Some 31.0 per cent of Year 6 pupils attending school in Sandwell were obese.

In Knowsley, Merseyside, 30.7 per cent of 10-and-11 year olds were obese. Wolverhampton has the next highest levels of obesity (30.2 per cent), followed by Barking and Dagenham (29.5 per cent) and Nottingham (28.4 per cent). Hartlepool and Middlesbrough have the joint highest levels of obesity amongst Reception-aged children.

Some 14.1 per cent of four-and-five year olds in the two towns were obese in 2023/24. That rises to 24.7 per cent for Middlesbrough when including overweight children and 22.1 per cent for Hartlepool. In Sandwell 13.5 per cent of Reception children were obese, in Blackpool it was 13.4 per cent, and in Knowsley it was also 13.4 per cent.

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