Ice Skating in London
It’s time to lace up those skates and practice those pirouettes because the ice is back baby and it’s time to go ice skating in London. Ok yes there are some permanent ice rinks in London that you can skate on all year round, like the ones at Alexandra Palace and Queens Skate Dine Bowl, but a whole host of ice rinks pop-up for the festive season. Ice skating at Somerset House is one of the best festive activities to do in London, thanks to the photogenic rink and eclectic DJ programme but there are plenty of options when it comes to skating in the capital.
You can go for a spin at a Tudor palace with the ice rink at Hampton Court Palace or hit the ice at a UNESCO World Heritage Site as The Queen’s House ice rink, set in the grounds of Royal Museums Greenwich, is back for this year too. Enjoy views of the river and Greenwich Royal Park as you glide (or slip and slide) your way around the ice.
If you like outdoor ice skating in London, the rinks at Westfield in Shepherd’s Bush and at Glide at Battersea Power Station are pitching up for 2023, meaning you can get some Christmas shopping done and enjoy some skating at the same time. If you’re worried about the London weather putting a dampener on your festive fun, then head to one of the city’s covered rinks. The ice rink in Canary Wharf is covered so you can skate whatever the weather, and it’s going to be here well into the new year too, and the brand new rink – the largest one in London – at Ice at Kensington Palace also has a cover on top so no rain need spoil your fun.
CANARY WHARF ICE RINK
Ice ice baby! That’s right, the ice rink is returning to Canada Square Park this festive season and this time it’s going to be open well into the New Year and beyond Valentine’s Day, so you’ve got plenty of time to get your skates on. The rink is covered and adorned with hundreds of fairy lights (with a Christmas tree under a disco ball in situ during the festive season) so you can practise your pirouettes whatever the weather and when you’re done you can grab a well-deserved drink from the alpine-themed rink-side Grandstand bar.
GLIDE AT BATTERSEA POWER STATION
Hit the ice right by the river at Glide at Battersea Power Station. Set against the backdrop of the iconic power station and featuring three interconnecting rinks with a 30ft Jo Malone-decorated Christmas tree in the centre, it’s one of the most spectacular places to skate in the capital. And once you’ve spun your way round, you can continue the fun on the fairground rides and in the riverside igloos.
Somerset House is probably one of our fave places to go skating in London. As well as being able to whizz around the 900 sqm outdoor rink, you can take to the ice once night falls as they play host to an array of DJs, artists, and clubs. It’s a truly diverse programme with the likes of Pxssy Palace, Raf Rundell, Cousins, RAW SILK, Haseeb Iqbal and Deptford Northern Soul Club taking to the decks. Whispering Angel will be running the Skate Lounge and Jimmy Garcia will be popping up with Chalet Suisse, serving up winter warmers and Alpine favourites, including fondue, confit duck buns, waffles with salted caramel sauce & kirsch-soaked cherries, and croissant bread & butter pudding.
SKYLIGHT
You know what’s better than an ice rink? A rooftop ice rink and Skylight’s one is back in action this winter. And it’s not just about the bangin’ views, with wintry tipples, alpine huts and heated igloos up on the roof you can make a real night of it too.
Underbelly is bringing skating to the West End this winter with an elliptical shaped rink, inspired by the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity logo, in Hanover Square. Skate West End will be raising money for GOSH by donating a percentage from each ticket sold to the charity to support its vital research into paediatric brain tumours. Once you’ve whizzed round the ice (or if you only want to spectate, not skate) you can head to the central bar for a hot toddy.
THE QUEEN'S HOUSE
Hit the ice in a UNESCO World Heritage Site as The Queen’s House ice rink, set in the grounds of Royal Museums Greenwich, is back. Enjoy views of the river and Greenwich Royal Park as you glide (or slip and slide) your way around the ice.
HAMPTON COURT PALACE
With 11,194 sq ft of ice, a 26-foot Christmas tree, and a Tudor palace as a backdrop, there’s no better place to go for a spin than Hampton Court Palace. And when it comes to refuelling, you’ve got winter treats like plenty of mulled wine and mince pies on offer at the ice rink cafe. YUM.
WINTER VILLAGE WESTFIELD LONDON
The 1000m² ice rink is back at Westfield London this winter so you can take a spin on the ice after you’ve crossed off your Christmas shopping. It’ll also be home to a 65ft tree, the tallest tree to feature on an ice rink in Europe, and lots of illuminations, so it’ll be extra, extra festive and extra, extra Insta-worthy.
The ice rink at Queens may be there all year round but they’re ramping it up for Christmas with XXXmas packages including rounds of curling on the ice, food from MEATliquor, and cocktails and shakes from the rinkside Sin Bin bar.
Skating is for life, not just for Christmas, which is why the ice rink at Ally Pally is open all year round. But it gets extra special over the holidays, so whizz round the ice and reward yourself with a few mulled wines from the Ice Cafe.