Put on your skates and take a ride on the ice this festive season at one of London’s best ice rinks. Temporary outdoor ice rinks appear at iconic locations across London between October and January, including the Natural History Museum and the Tower of London. Fire a storm against a beautiful backdrop and fill up on festive goodies like mulled wine and mince pies at a runway café. Here is our selection of the best ice rinks in the city.
Somerset House
Just off the Strand, on the north bank of the River Thames, Somerset House is home to one of London’s most atmospheric ice rinks. It occupies the cobblestone courtyard of the large neoclassical building that was first built as a Tudor palace in 1547 and then completely rebuilt in 1775. Its sheltered setting avoids the winter cold and the adjoining Fortnum’s Lodge serves warm winter dishes like mulled wine, pastries minced meat and cheese fondues. After strutting your stuff on the ice, shop for gifts in the west wing, where you’ll find a Fortnum & Mason pop-up store filled with tea, cookies, and decorations from London’s historic department stores.
Dates: November 15, 2017 to January 14, 2018
Price: from £ 7.50 for off-peak slots
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland is Hyde Park’s annual pop-up that gets bigger and better every year. The sprawling site is home to fairground rides, traditional German breweries, a circus, food stalls, grottos, and more than 200 Bavarian-style wooden chalets selling gifts and trinkets. Situated around the Victorian bandstand in Hyde Park, the ice rink is officially the UK’s largest outdoor skating rink and is open from 10am to 10pm throughout the season. Enjoy live music from the bandstand as you hop on the ice or head to the spectator platform with hot chocolate in hand if you prefer to join in the festive fun from a distance.
Dates: November 17, 2017 to January 1, 2018
Price: from £ 9.50 for off-peak slots
Museum of Natural History
Combine a one-time festive and cultural fix with a trip to the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, where you can skate laps in front of one of London’s most iconic buildings. After exploring natural wonders and dazzling dinosaur exhibits at the free museum, head outside and get in the holiday spirit on the outdoor ice rink. The impressive Romanesque building provides a striking backdrop, especially at night, when thousands of colored LED lights decorate the trees that line the track. Refuel with a hot chocolate and sweet treat at the café bar that features a large observation deck.
Dates: October 28, 2017 to January 7, 2018
Price: From £ 12.65
Tower of London
Where better to soak up London’s ancient history this winter than skating on an ice rink inside a moat next to the Tower of London? This medieval masterpiece by the River Thames has served as a fortress, palace and prison and has a long history dating back to 1078. It is one of the best known historical attractions in the city and looks even more dramatic at night when the lights light up the castle. walls After a session on the ice, head to the café bar for hearty snacks like sausage rolls and homemade cakes from the Pie Man of Chelsea Green, washed down with mulled wine, rum punch or hot chocolate.
Dates: November 17, 2017 to January 2, 2018
Price: from £ 14.50
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Hampton court palace
Once the historic home of Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace provides a majestic backdrop for seasonal skateboarding. The large ice rink is located opposite the 16th century Tudor Palace, right next to the River Thames in southwest London. Covering over 1,000 square meters, it is one of the UK’s largest open-air slopes and features a ski hut-style café for festive food and drink, including homemade cakes and mulled wine. Enjoy a day visiting the site itself to explore over 500 years of royal history, and don’t miss the immense Tudor kitchens, state apartments, and the Royal Maze.
Dates: from November 24, 2017 to January 7, 2018
Price: from £ 14
Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
As part of the Greenwich Winter Festival, you can skate in the courtyard of the Old Royal Naval College, an impressive World Heritage site designed by Sir Christopher Wren. The festival is billed as ‘London’s contemporary winter festival’ and features an artisan food market, live music and theater, street performers and modern handicraft stalls. The site is decorated with over 500 Christmas trees and there is an alternative Santa’s grotto for the kids. A ticket to the festival includes access to all the entertainment and a special ice skating performance by a group of world-class freestylers. You will have to pay extra for an individual ice skating session.
Dates: from December 1 to December 31
Price: Entry to the festival costs from £ 15. Ice skating costs an additional £ 10.
Skylight at Tobacco Pier, Wapping
Take your ice skating to new levels at London’s first rooftop ice rink at Tobacco Pier in Wapping. This converted tobacco warehouse is home to Skylight, a rooftop bar with stunning skyline views and live DJs. Its winter program features a variety of festive street food stalls selling Christmas fondue and burgers, as well as seasonal cocktails and mulled wine. The rink may be small, but you can’t beat the spectacular views of the city as you ride on the ice. Numbers are strictly limited to 50 people at a time and tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dates: from November 2, 2017
Price: Entry to Skylight is free. Ice skating costs £ 10 for 45 minutes.
