Nottingham Christmas officially kicks off on Thursday 15 November, when Nottingham’s famous Winter Wonderland opens its doors and the city’s festive lights are switched on.

Over the past eight years, Nottingham Winter Wonderland has brought Christmas cheer right into the heart of the city, with hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to enjoy the experience once again and for the first time.

This year, as well as the traditional market, ice bar and rink, organisers, Mellors Group Events plan to bring a few exciting new additions to the attraction.

While kids whizz down King Street in a brand-new 30m toboggan slide, adults can enjoy a brand-new venue for 2018 – Bar Altitude – which quite literally builds on the success of last year’s hugely popular double-deck, ski lodge-style bar, Sur La Piste.

Bar Altitude is an all-glass chalet, perched up high, offering panoramic views of the Christmas crowds below. With cocktails, table service and a private DJ, the space will also be available for party bookings.

Downstairs in Sur La Piste, expect a fantastic range of live performances – from Christmas classics during the daytimes to live music on Friday and Saturday evenings – plus, enjoy a merry Sunday brunch, with lots of alternative entertainment on hand. On top of all this, one of the city’s best restaurants and Nottingham Post’s current ‘Restaurant of the Year’, Bar Iberico will be serving some of its favourites from the Sur La Piste kitchen.

Edward Mellors of Mellors Group Events said: ‘In 2017, Sur La Piste really raised the bar, and I’m sure the people of Nottingham are looking forward to another amazing Christmas in the city. This year, the introduction of the toboggan slide and Bar Altitude will further cement Nottingham Winter Wonderland’s reputation as one of the very best Christmas markets in the country. We’re very proud of the fact we’re a Nottingham company working with Nottingham City Council to deliver this important event to the city, and I’d say to anyone who hasn’t visited yet: they don’t know what they’re missing!’

The market opens from 11am on Thursday 15 November. From 6.30pm, there’ll be live entertainment in and around Old Market Square, leading up to the switch-on moment at 7.45pm; lighting up the city’s 60ft grand fir Christmas tree, decked out with 4,000 red and white lights, as well as a bespoke display on the Council House façade.

This year, the Lord Mayor and Sherriff of Nottingham, Councillors Liaqat Ali and Catharine Arnold will press the plunger with help from Buddy the Elf, the star of Elf: A Christmas Spectacular from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 December at Motorpoint Arena.

Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Localities at Nottingham City Council said: ‘Christmas is always an exciting time of year in Nottingham, but this year’s celebrations are set to really put us on the map. With new additions to Winter Wonderland and an impressive Christmas lights display, the city centre is sure to be a hub of festivity throughout the season, and we’re delighted to be able to bring this to the people of Nottingham and beyond.’

Whether you’re wanting to check out Winter Wonderland or take advantage of the big-name city-centre shops’ late-night opening hours – full details of which can be found at www.itsinnottingham.com/christmas – it’s easier than ever to get into Nottingham over the festive period.

Parking is free at all of the city’s park and ride sites – just pay for your trip on the bus or tram. £5 Group Tickets for the tram are available after 4pm and at weekends in November and December, as well as all day from 24 December to 4 January. Trams will be running throughout the festive period with the exception of Christmas Day.

Alternatively, motorists can park for five hours for £5 at Lace Market Car Park, when they enter between 3pm and 5pm on any day of the week, or for £6 all day on a Sunday. Plus, on the first three Wednesdays in December (5, 12 and 19 December), park in NCP St James Street for just £4 if entering between 4pm and 7pm and leaving before midnight. Similarly, on the last two Sundays before Christmas (8 and 15 December), park in either NCP St James Street or NCP Stoney Street for just £4 if entering between 10am and 3pm and leaving before midnight.

Find out more about Nottingham Winter Wonderland, pre-book your ice bar and skating tickets and reserve your table in Bar Altitude and Sur La Piste at www.nottinghamwinterwonderland.co.uk or via www.whatsonnottingham.com where you’ll also find a full range of other seasonal events happening in and around the city.