'I went to the circus for the first time at Birmingham NEC’s Winter Funland - I had no idea what I was missing' - REVIEW

That changed this week when I visited Winter Funland at the NEC, Birmingham on its opening day with my children - and it has genuinely transformed my view of what a circus can be.

Winter Funland, billed as the UK’s largest indoor fairground with a circus and giant ice rink, has returned to the NEC for the festive season, running from December 6 to January 3. 

But while the rides, ice rink and food stalls fill an enormous hall, it was the circus that caught me completely off guard.

A circus that redefined my expectations

The show delivers roughly half an hour of high-energy performance, and it was far more thrilling than I expected. Extreme stunts, a first-rate magician who levitated a young volunteer, and moments of genuine jeopardy kept both adults and children captivated.

What surprised me most wasn't how much I enjoyed it, but the way my seven-year-old son sat utterly jaw-dropped for almost the entire performance. 

There was a real sense of danger as a performer skipped rope atop the spinning Space Wheel - no wonder it’s also known as the Wheel of Death. 

And I’ll admit I was mildly anxious, though unable to look away, during the finale: one, then two, then three motorbikes racing inside the Globe of Death.

There’s plenty more I won’t spoil, but it was a genuinely impressive. I would happily watch this troupe again. Even the mime was very funny.

The UK’s largest indoor funfair

Yet the circus is only the tip of the iceberg. Winter Funland fills Hall 5 of the NEC with more than 25 funfair rides, all included in the ticket price. These range from waltzers and dodgems to runaway trains, bumper cars, giant bouncy castles and massive slides. There’s even a crazy golf course. 

The sheer scale is astonishing. My children darted from inflatables to racing cars, then demanded another turn on the slides. You’d struggle not to keep them entertained.

There are also stalls selling balloons, sweets and games, plus face painters who, genuinely, were better than most I’ve encountered. My daughter, naturally, emerged transformed into a unicorn. 

Along one side of the venue is a row of street-food traders serving fried chicken, pizza, noodles, Indian dishes, fish and chips and more, with vegetarian and dietary options available.

A different kind of Christmas outing

One thing worth noting for families: this is a funfair-style festive experience, not a Santa’s grotto or a farm visit with reindeer. That means it doesn’t overlap with many of the region’s other Christmas activities. 

However, it’s also big enough to stand alone as the major seasonal treat for your children.

Each session lasts four hours, and entry numbers are capped, meaning families should be able to enjoy as many rides and attractions as they like without excessive queuing. 

Under-threes and carers go free (though they still need a ticket), and the entire event is fully indoors - carpeted, weather-proof and warm.

You will, however, need to factor in travel time from the NEC car parks. We walked during a storm and got soaked, but there are cloakrooms inside. 

Verdict

Winter Funland is an enormous, high-energy, very sensory, Christmas experience that delivers far more than I expected. 

The circus alone is worth the visit, thrilling, polished and genuinely impressive, but the combination of rides, activities, food and spectacle makes it a full day out that children will remember.

For families looking for a Christmas experience with plenty of excitement (and shelter from the awful Midlands winter), Winter Funland is well worth the trip, especially if, like me, you’ve never been to a circus and have no idea what you’ve been missing.