It’s a bit surreal to find Ice Bar London near Piccadilly Circus in central London, but when you get over the unusual location give it a try as it’s a fun place to visit with friends.
Read on for my ‘Tip’ on what not to do to make your time inside Ice Bar London more enjoyable.
About Ice Bar London
- First permanent ice bar in the UK.
- Kept at minus 5 degrees all year round with everything inside made of crystalline ice from the Torne River in Sweden.
- The walls, the bar, the tables, and even your own personal glass with a vodka cocktail are made from the purest ice.
- They give you a designer thermal cloak with a hood to keep you warm during your visit.
- Every six months the complete bar is rebuilt to a completely new design.
Address: 31-33 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BN
Nearest Tube Stations: Piccadilly Circus / Oxford Circus
Use Journey Planner or the Citymapper app to plan your route on public transportation.
Phone: 020 7478 8910
Opening hours: seven days a week until late at night sometime.
(Check the official website for the latest opening hours).
Official website: www.icebarlondon.com
Reservation
Reservation is always recommended. You can book a 40-minute visit to Ice Bar London on your own or you can combine it with a reservation for a meal in their warm restaurant.
Tickets
Less than £ 20 per person – check the official website for the latest ticket prices.
- It includes:
- Design thermal layer to keep warm, always at the entrance
- Personal ice glass
- Choice of vodka cocktail in your ice glass (or non-alcoholic drink). Refill of vodka cocktail and refill without alcohol with charge.
Ice Bar London Review
The Ice Bar London is located just off Regent Street, near Piccadilly Circus. For some reason I thought it would be a basement so I was surprised to find the Ice Bar on the ground floor and (more or less) visible from the street.
Try to book in advance, but if you haven’t, visit in case they have the space, as you can always wait in the charming, warm bar next to the entrance.
You don’t need to dress warm as a super warm hooded thermal cape is draped over your head. (And if you wear your winter wool, you’ll be too hot in the warm bar afterward.) You can still carry your bag under the cape as there is a lot of space. The gloves are attached and I recommend that you wear them.
Your reservation is for 40 minutes, but if you make the mistake of holding your glass, it may not last that long. Don’t confuse this with a regular barbell. Your glass is made of ice and your fingertips can get too cold. So, one piece of advice: put down your glass of ice when you’re not drinking! You will thank us for that.
The Ice Bar London is just a small room, but it is a great novelty. Everyone takes photos so it’s a good idea to go with friends so they can take turns sitting on the ice chairs and get those photo opportunities.
The drinks are not huge, but you can buy refills. (Hold on to your personal ice glass as it can be reused.) The bar can be crowded so try to pick your cocktails before you walk in and then you can stop in and order without delay.
The attached restaurant (not inside the ice bar) is great too, so it’s worth booking for dinner too so you can chat about how much you had together.
You’ll be cold at Absolut Ice Bar London, but isn’t that what you expected? And isn’t that what makes it fun?
