Ice Skating In London

Why not get involved in enjoying a little bit of exercise in the lead up to Christmas! Take the family, go with a date, or simply make new friends….here’s a few top places to get you started!

The Natural History Museum Ice Rink
Natural History Museum, Brompton
Until Jan 6 2019

The Natural History Museum is home to London’s most enchanting ice rink, thanks to the beautiful backdrop of Alfred Waterhouse’s buildings, a row of trees dripping in fairy lights and a majestic Christmas tree in the middle of the ice. It’s become a London Christmas classic. This year, the rink will provide the usual festive fun on its perimeter, if watching from the sidelines is more your vibe.

Skate at Somerset House
Somerset House, Temple
Until Jan 13 2019

Get your skates on. Somerset House’s grand 18th-century courtyard is the stunning setting for an ice rink again this winter. No matter how unimpressive your skating skills a trip to this 900-square-metre outdoor rink will be the very definition of festive fun. And if it’s anything like last year, there’ll be loads of tempting extras too: from champagne, mulled wine and winter dining, to live music, dj’s and club night collaborations.

Tower of London Ice Rink
Tower of London, Tower Hill
Until Jan 6 2019

Fancy whizzing around one of London’s most famous landmarks? Located in the dry moat, the Tower of London ice rink offers a grand historical setting for seasonal skating sessions, along with views of London’s ancient fortress and the river Thames. There will be food and drink on the sidelines for tired skaters as well as those who just prefer to watch the fun.

Canary Wharf Ice Rink 2018
Until Feb 16 2019

The ice rink at Canary Wharf is back once again, filling the business district with frosty fun. The 1,200sqm rink is open for three magical months of ice skaring beneath the twinkling lights. Open seven days a week, it’s the perfect place to enjoy one of London’s most loved winter traditions. The Grandstand Bar returns for this year, but is joined by some new features, including a huge LED screen where skaters can upload photos to a rolling Instagram feed. Finally, a chance to shine and get your 15 seconds of fame.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park, Kensington
Until Jan 6 2019

Winter Wonderland’s ice rink, the biggest outdoor rink in the UK, surrounds the Victorian bandstand and is illuminated with more than 100,000 lights. There’s no minimum age for skaters, but under-12s must be accompanied by someone 16 or over and the smallest skates for hire are children’s size 9 (adult skates go up to size 13).

Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
Hampton Court Palace, London
Until Jan 6 2019

Skate around Henry VIII’s sixteenth-century pad this festive season. Hampton Court Palace makes a mighty picturesque backdrop for this outdoor rink, especially when lit up after dark. The rink, which is right in front of the Tudor pile and by the side of the Thames, is an impressive 1,040 square metres. With sessions for beginners and experts, as well as food and drink pop-ups, this wintery attraction is ideal for skaters of all ages and skills. Wrap up warm and take a turn on the ice in this regal back yard.

Winterville
Clapham Common, Clapham
Until Dec 23 2018

Festive playground Winterville is back in Clapham Common and features more dancing, eating, laughing, drinking and skating than you can shake a snow globe at. It features Street Feast, Backyard Cinema, Plonk Golf, the Solo Craft Fair Christmas Market, Spiegeltent, Roller Disco and – drum roll please – an Ice Rink.

Alexandra Palace Ice Rink
Muswell Hill

Ally Pally’s lofty and indoor skating arena is open year-round for general skating sessions, figure skating classes, ice hockey training, children’s sessions, parties and even weekend ice discos. Come Christmas time, though, things get seriously festive and ‘The Palace’ becomes a major destination for Christmas fun, frolics and languid loops around the ice.

Skyline Skating
John Lewis, Oxford Street
Until Jan 6 2019

Escape the heaving hordes of Christmas cash-splashers on Oxford Street and clamber up to the roof of John Lewis. The space is festooned with lights as well as a (fairly small) rooftop ice rink. Thanks to a collab with Sipsmith, there’s also a hot gin hideaway, weekly cocktail masterclasses and nooks for cosying up with warming food from Kerb alumnus MyPie. Make ours a potato pot pie and a hot G&T.

Lee Valley Ice Centre
Lea Bridge

The kids parties are a big hit at this modern, well-maintained and comparatively warm ice rink. Other plus points are the fact that it’s never too busy, and the ice rink is a good size. Skating lessons are also offered.

Tobacco Dock. The Dock. Winter Skylight

Winter at Skylight Rooftop
Skylight London , Wapping
Until Jan 27 2019

Take your pirouettes to new heights on Skylight’s rooftop ice rink. Find the frozen stretch sat alongside a cluster of cosy igloos and huts where you can knock back mugs of mulled wine feast on roasted chestnuts or lashings of melted cheese.

Queens Skate Dine Bowl
Bayswater

Queens Skate Dine Bowl has been around since the 1930s, and now boasts a fancy new look with a slick ice-skating rink, state-of-the-art bowling lanes and west London’s only outpost of the cult-status burger joint MEATliquor. There are also two cafés, and a fun retro games arcade. Plus, it’s one of the only places in London where you can also do curling and go-karting on ice.

Venue says The biggest and best just got bigger and better! We’re proud to present the Liquor Lanes and the SinBin!

Streatham Ice Arena
Streatham