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There’s nothing which says Christmas is coming greater than watching the Christmas ice rinks in London begin to seem – however should you’re on the lookout for one of the best locations to ice skate in London with children, how family-friendly are all of them?
Having taken to the ice with my daughter and alone, there are loads which make a incredible festive time out within the capital – and quite a lot of which aren’t short-term for Christmas should you fancy ice skating in London with children year-round.
Better of all, they’re usually within the shadow of a few of London’s greatest recognized landmarks, so you possibly can mix it with a household time out, or absorb the historic buildings as you whizz (or stumble) round. Right here’s my choose with the eight greatest locations to ice skate with children in London, up to date for 2023.
For extra of one of the best issues to do for Christmas in London with children, try my high picks
Christmas ice rinks in London
Skate at Somerset Home
The Somerset Home ice rink is likely one of the longest-running Christmas ice rinks in London, and even after greater than twenty years it’s recurrently voted one of many capital’s favorite winter experiences.
Set within the grand courtyard, with a 40ft Christmas tree including a ultimate festive contact, there are additionally stalls to buy plus occasions and different actions happening over the Christmas interval – partnered with Switzerland Tourism this 12 months, the entire vibe of Skate at Somerset Home will get an added festive twist.
The skate space was elevated final 12 months, with loads of house for getting and returning your skates.
There are normally a few choices that are excellent for youths, together with Skate College on chosen weekends. For teenagers aged eight and up, there are programs and single classes for all ranges taught by instructors from the Nationwide Ice Skating Affiliation.
For one thing much less formal Youngsters Skate Membership is geared toward children aged six to 10, on particular morning classes with assist from the crew of skilled ice marshals, together with skate aids to assist them keep up (first come, first served).
Beforehand years have seen ‘Chilled out’ skate classes on some weekday mornings, with lowered numbers, to cease them feeling overwhelmed by older or quicker skaters – superb for neurodiverse children too.
There are additionally skate aids accessible for under-eights throughout regular classes, however you possibly can’t pre-book these. You may pre-book Skate Mates for any further help for teams of 3-10.
Skates are included within the session value with youngster’s dimension 6 (appropriate for round three to four-year-olds) as much as grownup dimension 15.
The place is it?
Within the courtyard of Somerset Home – any entrance will take you to the rink. Temple tube station is closest to the river entrance, or you possibly can stroll in from the Strand
When is Somerset Home ice rink open?
The rink is open from November 15 till January 14, 2024. Session instances begin at 11am and run to 9pm, with some early 9am and 10am classes in addition to 10pm Skate Lates slots.
Instances additionally differ for Skate college. Skate college classes normally begin at 8.45, and Youngsters Skate Membership has two choices at 8.35 or 9.15 (each on chosen dates).
How a lot is Somerset Home ice rink?
Tbc for 2023 – tickets go on sale on September 29. Final 12 months, tickets price from £10-£22 for adults and £7.50-£11 for youngsters aged 12 and beneath, plus a £2.95 transaction price. There was additionally a ten% household low cost off the standard complete should you ebook 4 tickets (two adults and two children, or one grownup and three children).
A number of walk-up tickets are normally accessible on the day nevertheless it’s at all times standard so price prebooking to ensure your slot.
Final 12 months, Youngsters Skate Membership prices £11 for youths aged six to 10 whereas Skate College price £17 for youngsters aged 8-12 (plus reserving price) for an hour-long lesson.
What else do I have to know?
Classes final for 45 minutes and also you’re requested to reach 20 minutes beforehand, or earlier if that you must depart gadgets within the cloakroom.
You may depart one merchandise totally free, nevertheless it then prices £2 to go away additional baggage within the cloakroom. No baggage are allowed on the ice.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for ice skating in London with teenagers, the later classes even have DJs taking part in at Skate Lates.
To heat up afterwards, the Lodge Chocolat Chocmobile usually gives treats – there are numerous different foods and drinks pop-ups, though most are geared toward adults (or older children).
Try the following tips for the greatest sizzling chocolate in London with children, should you’re trying to heat up after ice skating London
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland ice rink
One of many UK’s largest out of doors rinks, this London ice rink is a part of the Winter Wonderland Christmas market in Hyde Park, set across the park’s Victorian bandstand with lights glowing above the open-air ice skating rink.
For extra recommendations on the greatest Christmas markets in London with children, try my high picks
There’s additionally usually dwell music from the bandstand as you swirl and twirl (or stumble and giggle) across the ice – should you’re extra the latter, there are Ice Guides which could be booked to assist as you get your ice legs.
And since it’s within the coronary heart of the Winter Wonderland attraction, there are large numbers of different issues to do throughout your go to to make a day of it – though you possibly can come, skate and go residence.
There are penguin skate aids to rent for £5 however these can’t be prebooked and can be found on a first-come first-served foundation.
Skate rent is included, with sizes from kids’s dimension 9 as much as adults dimension 13. There are free double bladed bob skates which go over kids’s sneakers for smaller skaters, additionally accessible on a primary come first served foundation.
The place is it?
Winter Wonderland takes place in Hyde Park – you possibly can enter by way of any gate, though the closest one to the ice rink is the Blue Gate is most handy.
Use the helpful What Three Phrases app to seek out out precisely the place – the Blue Gate entrance is ///open.restrict.gold which is the southern a part of the park, closest to Hyde Park Nook tube.
When is Winter Wonderland ice rink open?
Winter Wonderland runs November 17 till January 1, 2024. The rink is open from 10am to 9pm each day.
How a lot is Winter Wonderland ice rink?
Tickets price from £11.50 for adults and £8.50 for youngsters, with costs various relying whether or not you select off-peak, commonplace or peak classes.
There are additionally household tickets from £34 and an Ice information prices £35 (for all classes). There’s additionally a transaction price based mostly on the worth of your reserving.
Entry to Winter Wonderland itself is free should you go to throughout an off-peak session, however in any other case it prices £5-£7.50. If you happen to spend £25 per individual on rides, sights or different actions on-line upfront, your entry cost is routinely refunded.
There are various fees for the totally different actions and exhibits however you solely want so as to add a few issues on high of skating to succeed in that complete. Ebook right here.
You can too ebook an earlier timed slot to enter Winter Wonderland, if you wish to go searching earlier than skating, or keep so long as you need afterwards.
What else do I have to know?
Classes final for 50 minutes and skaters are requested to reach 20 minutes beforehand.
Baggage have to be checked in to the cloakroom, costing £2 per merchandise, and you’ll’t take cameras on the ice for security causes, though you should buy memento pictures taken by Winter Wonderland’s skilled.
You may get sizzling drinks on the spectator’s platform or there’s an enormous array of different foods and drinks stalls all through Winter Wonderland.
The Queen’s Home, Greenwich
One of many newer additions to London’s ice skating scene, the ice rink on the Queen’s Home in Greenwich is the one open air rink in south London should you’re on the lookout for ice skating for youths outdoors central London.
Head out onto the ice right here, and you’ll benefit from the elegant grandeur of a former royal residence however a moderately extra intimate setting than Hampton Court docket’s grandeur.
The home itself shows gadgets from the Nationwide Maritime Museum’s collections – the museum itself is a stone’s throw away and is free, so you possibly can simply pop in earlier than or after an ice skate with children (prebooking is suggested).
The particular Tiny Tots classes for youths aged three to 6 are additionally again – with beneath 50% of the standard most numbers on the ice, when the rink is quieter and there are further marshals too, excellent should you’re apprehensive about your little ones getting squashed by extra enthusiastic skaters.
The place is it?
On the sting of Greenwich Park, close to the Nationwide Maritime Museum and the buildings of the Outdated Naval School, the rink is subsequent to the ‘Home of Delight’ constructed for James I’s Queen.
For concepts of extra issues to do in Greenwich with children, try my high picks
When is the Queen’s Home ice rink open?
The rink will probably be open from November 23 till January 7, 2024 from 10am to 9pm, with the final skate session beginning at 8pm, or 11am to 9pm off-peak.
Tiny Tots classes run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from November 28 to December 20, between 11am and 11.45am.
How a lot is the Queen’s Home ice rink?
Tickets price from £17 for adults and £10 for youths (beneath 16), together with skate rent – there’s additionally a £3 transaction price and it’s dearer for tickets at peak instances.
There’s a 30% low cost for Royal Museums Greenwich members, whereas as much as two kids aged 3-6 go free in the course of the Tiny Tots classes (grownup tickets price £17, any older kids pay the standard youngster charge).
There’s restricted availability so reserving on-line is really useful – the identical should you’re shopping for tickets at any of the Royal Museums Greenwich (together with the Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory, Nationwide Maritime Museum and Queen’s Home itself).
There are additionally penguin skate aids accessible to rent for youngsters (strictly these 120cm or under), which price £5 and which could be booked on-line, topic to availability.
What else do I have to know?
Classes final 45 minutes and also you’re requested to reach 15-Half-hour upfront to have probability to retailer any belongings and get your skates.
You may’t take any baggage on the ice, and there’s restricted storage on the rink. It price £2 to go away gadgets within the cloakroom (a most of three per individual), with contactless fee solely.
There are festive foods and drinks stalls subsequent to the rink serving sizzling drinks, mulled wine and snacks.
Minimal age to skate is three years, kids’s skates can be found from dimension J8 up, and there are double bladed bob skates for youthful children (topic to availability). You can too prebook helmets (restricted availability).
Ice Rink Canary Wharf
If you happen to simply can’t wait to get skating once more, Ice Rink Canary Wharf is again once more for 2023 in October – final 12 months it stayed open for a whopping 18 weeks.
As a lined ice rink, it’s an important possibility if the climate isn’t type (you don’t count on to be heat when ice skating, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly much less enjoyable within the drizzle!)
Because it’s clear, you continue to get the enjoyable of twinkling lights on darkish nights, plus all of the glowing skyscrapers of Canary Wharf – and the longer session means households have plenty of probability to squeeze in loads of ice skating.
The place is it?
The ice rink is at Canada Sq. Park, inside Canary Wharf procuring centre, just some minutes from Canary Wharf tube.
Or for a extra thrilling journey from central London, Uber boat by Thames Clipper stops at Canary Wharf Pier (for extra on one of the best boat excursions in London with children, try this put up)
When is the Canary Wharf ice rink open?
Particulars for 2023 are tbc, however the rink is because of open in October. Final 12 months the rink was open from October 22 till February 25, 2023 (closed Christmas Day), so one of many few Christmas ice rinks to stay round effectively into the New 12 months.
There have been two separate timetables for 2022 – peak classes run from 9.30 till 21.25 (financial institution holidays, college holidays and weekends), whereas off peak instances (Monday to Friday in time period time) start at 10am, with a ultimate session at 21.55.
How a lot is Ice Rink Canary Wharf?
Tbc for 2023. Final 12 months, tickets price from £17.95 for adults and youths and £13.50 for youths (aged 12 and beneath), or a household ticket from £53.95.
The value contains skate rent – there was additionally a £3.50 transaction price.
There are additionally skating classes accessible which have to be prebooked.
What else do I have to know?
Classes final 50 minutes and also you’re requested to reach no less than 25 minutes earlier than the beginning of your session. The minimal age to skate is 4, and there are skates accessible from dimension 8 up.
There are additionally skate aids accessible, priced £5.95 every. Beforehand, these might be prebooked however you may also rent them as much as Half-hour earlier than the beginning of every skate session on the field workplace, first come first served – there’s restricted availability.
You can too prebook Skate Buddies for £35 – marshals who will accompany teams of 3-15 individuals.
You may’t take baggage on the ice, however there are lockers accessible priced £1 (non-refundable) for smaller baggage. If you happen to don’t have a £1 coin, you should buy a token – solely Canary Wharf tokens will work within the lockers.
There are snacks and drinks, together with sizzling chocolate, accessible from the Off Piste Bar.
Hampton Court docket Palace ice rink
This superb Tudor palace is someplace I by no means tire of visiting, so I’d undoubtedly suggest making a full day with a skating session and and exploring inside (though it’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the Magic Backyard play space usually closes in the course of the winter too ).
Henry VIII may need had the frozen Thames to go skating on, nevertheless it’s onerous to beat with the ability to strap in your skates as nightfall falls with the palace lit up behind you, seen from the open air rink at Hampton Court docket Palace.
It’s additionally the place my daughter braved ice skating for the primary time so the perfect introduction to ice skating with children in London.
See what we thought on our go to to the ice rink at Hampton Court docket Palace.
You can too ebook skate aids upfront right here (though there are normally no skate aids accessible for the night classes from 8pm).
Appropriate for for youths beneath 120cm, they price £5 every. In earlier years, any unbooked skate aids have been accessible first come, first served – but when you realize your children will want one, greatest to not threat it.
Skates are included with sizes from kids’s dimension 8 as much as grownup dimension 14, with bob skates accessible for youthful children.
The place is it?
In entrance of Hampton Court docket Palace – the palace has (paid) automotive parks inside strolling distance or Hampton prepare station can also be a few minutes away, with trains from Waterloo taking Half-hour.
When is Hampton Court docket ice rink open?
The ice rink is open from November 17 till January 7, 2024, excluding Christmas Day. Classes run from 10am to eight.45pm (final session begins at 8pm).
How a lot is Hampton Court docket ice rink?
Grownup tickets price from £19 (together with teenagers aged 13 and above) and from £14 for youngsters aged three to 12. There are additionally household tickets from £53. Ebook right here.
What else do I have to know?
Every session lasts for as much as 45 minutes, and you might be requested to reach 15 to Half-hour earlier than your session begins.
Tickets are transferable, and can be exchanged as much as 48 hours earlier than the unique reserving as soon as once more. You may’t cancel or be refunded besides in distinctive circumstances although.
There’s a cloakroom which prices £2 per merchandise (card funds solely). No baggage are allowed on the ice. The ice rink café has sizzling drinks, meals and a bar.
Glide at Battersea Energy Station
A comparatively new festive addition in one among London’s iconic landmarks, December sees Battersea Energy Station being reworked right into a winter village with its personal ice rink, plus foods and drinks pop-ups, Christmas bushes and cosy alpine wood huts to snuggle up in opposition to the chilly.
Created by the individuals behind the Pure Historical past Museum ice rink, Glide at Battersea Energy Station can also be the town’s solely riverside ice rink.
In reality, there are three interconnecting rinks, surrounded by twinkling lights and a 30ft Christmas tree, plus classic funfair rides, meals stalls and mulled wine to get pleasure from afterwards, together with a Christmas path.
There are penguin skate aids accessible for a price though you possibly can’t ebook upfront – it’s first come first served, Skates are included with sizes from kids’s dimension 9 as much as grownup dimension 15, plus bob skates accessible for youthful children – there’s no minimal age to skate, though under-12s have to be accompanied by an grownup.
And should you can’t get sufficient of being on the ice, there are additionally some prolonged skate classes accessible, in addition to skating classes.
The place is it?
Proper in entrance of Battersea Energy Station overlooking the Thames – head to Battersea Energy Station tube on the Northern Line or you may also arrive by water with the Uber Boat service.
When is Battersea Energy Station ice rink open?
Glide at Battersea Energy Station is open from November 10 to January 7, 2024.
How a lot is Glide at Battersea Energy Station
Tbc – tickets go on sale on September 7. Beforehand tickets price from £12 for adults, £8 for youths aged 12 and beneath with household tickets from £36. Ebook right here.
What else do I have to know?
Every session lasts for as much as 50 minutes, and you might be requested to reach 40 minutes earlier than your session begins (or 20 minutes earlier than the primary session of the day).
There’s an choice to resell tickets on Ticketmaster, and that you must contact Ticketmaster relating to any refunds or rescheduling your session.
There’s a cloakroom which prices £2 per small merchandise, £4 per massive merchandise. No baggage are allowed on the ice. There are a string of locations to eat and drink at Battersea Energy Station earlier than and after your session.
Westfield London Winter Village
The short-term ice rink at Westfield London Winter Village is again once more for 2023, together with classes for youngsters with further wants throughout its seven week run.
The 1,000 metre sq. rink can also be residence to a 65ft Christmas tree, plus you’ll discover different festive household occasions at Westfield, together with a Meet Santa expertise.
The primary hourly session each day has quieter music, lowered capability and static lighting so it’s an important possibility for neurodiverse children, in addition to anybody else who would profit from a calmer expertise.
The place is it?
The open air ice rink is positioned in Westfield Sq., Ariel Manner in Shepherds Bush. The closest tube stations are Wooden Lane (Circle & Hammersmith & Metropolis Line) & White Metropolis (Central Line).
When is Westfield ice rink open?
Working from November 10 to January 7, 2024, classes will happen from 10am to 10pm (final skate 9pm).
How a lot is Westfield Winter Village ice rink
Priced from £15 for adults, from £11 for youths aged 3-12, plus a £1.20 reserving price, with totally different costs for peak and off-peak classes.
Household tickets are additionally accessible, and you’ll prebook skate aids for youths aged 3+ for £5. Helmets are additionally accessible freed from cost (topic to availability).
Click on right here for extra info or to ebook.
What else do I have to know?
Classes final 45 minutes, and also you’re requested to reach 15-Half-hour early. Kids’s skates can be found for dimension 8 up, in addition to bob skates for youthful skaters (restricted numbers).
No baggage are allowed on the ice, so that you must depart them within the cloakroom – priced £2 per merchandise. Greatest to go skating earlier than you buy groceries…
There’s an enormous variety of locations to eat and drink inside Westfield procuring centre itself.
Tickets are transferable or could be exchanged as much as 48 hours earlier than the unique reserving, however can’t be refunded or cancelled besides in distinctive circumstances.
Christmas ice rinks in London not returning for 2023
Tower of London ice rink
Probably the most memorable locations to ice skate in London with children, a mixture of Covid and the Superbloom Jubilee celebrations meant the Tower of London ice rink was cancelled for the previous couple of years.
Organisers have now confirmed that the rink is not going to be returning to the Tower of London moat. Disgrace because it at all times felt moderately fairy-tale to have the towers and partitions of a Unesco World Heritage website as a backdrop as you skate.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a Christmassy time out on this a part of London, head throughout the Thames for a go to to the Christmas on the River market close by, or head somewhat additional alongside the river to the South Financial institution Christmas market.
Pure Historical past Museum ice rink
A household favorite for years with the gorgeous Pure Historical past Museum constructing lit up behind it and a Christmas tree glowing within the centre, the Pure Historical past Museum ice rink is unfortunately now not a festive fixture – 2021 was the ultimate 12 months that you may take to the ice earlier than it closed.
The five-acre gardens on which the rink sits are being reworked right into a hub for city wildlife as a substitute.
If you happen to’re planning a go to to the Pure Historical past Museum too, try my suggestions for visiting, in addition to my information to London’s museums with children.
Winterville ice rink
There’s one thing moderately tempting concerning the concept of skating throughout Clapham Widespread – you’d want to attend some time for the widespread itself to freeze, however the ice rink at Winterville took care of all that. Sadly after being cancelled as soon as once more in 2021, there aren’t any plans for the Christmas market and festive enjoyable to return this 12 months.
Ice skating in London with children year-round
The ice rink at Alexandra Palace
The Alexandra Palace ice rink is open year-round, whether or not you’re trying to brush up your skating earlier than taking up the Christmas ice rinks in London or whether or not you’ve found a style for skating at one of many short-term rinks.
And Ally Pally, because it’s higher recognized to Londoners, has been residence to an ice rink for round 30 years – the Folks’s Palace, to provide it its first identify, was opened in 1873 earlier than a fireplace destroyed the unique constructing simply 16 days later.
Reopened, it continued till 1980 when a second blaze destroyed a lot of the palace, till it was lastly reopened as soon as once more. The grounds embody a boating lake, deer enclosure and park, it’s a music venue, and there are occasions and actions galore.
The ice rink itself hosts ice hockey and a weekend ice disco, in addition to the general public classes. There are skates accessible from youngster dimension 6 (as much as grownup dimension 14) in addition to skate aids to rent.
The place is it?
Alexandra Palace is between Muswell Hill and Wooden Inexperienced in north London – the closest tube is Wooden Inexperienced or you possibly can take a prepare to Alexandra Palace railway station from King’s Cross.
There are additionally 1,200 parking areas should you select to drive. The ice rink is on the suitable hand facet of the principle buildings.
When is Alexandra Palace ice rink open?
Opening instances might differ between time period time and holidays, so it price checking the location earlier than you go to. It’s presently open from 11 or 11.30am, closing between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
There are additionally ice skating programs together with ice skating for toddlers up.
How a lot is Alexandra Palace ice rink?
Entrance to the ice rink prices from £9.50 for adults, £8.50 for youngsters aged 5 to fifteen and £6.50 for beneath fives (extra at weekends and faculty holidays).
There are additionally skate aids for youngsters, priced from £6.50 for penguin skate aids for youths aged three to seven, £7.50 for snowmen for youngsters aged 8-11. You can too rent seal skates for youths aged 5 and beneath (to be pushed by an grownup skater).
Accessible for public classes on holidays and weekends solely and have to be prebooked.
What else do I have to know?
There’s a café on the location, and Alexandra Palace additionally hosts a Panto on Ice throughout December.
Queens Skate ice skating
Queens Skate | Dine |Bowl is residence – as its identify suggests – to bowling in addition to ice skating, and its indoor ice rink just isn’t solely the dimensions of two soccer pitches, it’s additionally the one one in central London.
Open year-round, there are public classes in addition to programs if you wish to enhance your abilities. The Be taught to Skate classes are for youngsters aged 5 and up, and run throughout term-time for between 4 and 7 weeks to show the fundamentals of ice skating.
If ice hockey grabs your children, there are additionally separate programs to show the fundamentals of ice hockey to over fives.
The place is it?
Queens is correct by Queensway tube (therefore the identify) or two minutes from Bayswater tube. It’s additionally strolling distance from Notting Hill Gate tube amongst others.
When is Queens ice rink open?
The ice rink is open seven days per week from 10am, with totally different classes on weekdays and on the weekend till late night, in addition to after college skate golf equipment.
Nonetheless, under-18s are solely allowed till 8pm within the night after which it turns into an over-18s zone.
How a lot is Queens ice rink rink?
Skating at Queens ice rink prices from £12.75 for over 12s and £11.25 for under-12s should you prebook.
There are additionally particular offers on Mondays and Tuesday (excluding half-terms, Christmas and Easter college holidays) with ice skating for £8 per individual, all day, for all ages – have to be prebooked.
Skate rent isn’t included and this prices £3 should you don’t have your individual skates. These can be found from children’ dimension 4 (as much as grownup dimension 14) with some strap-on double-blade skates for toddlers.
Penguin skate aids are additionally accessible to ebook.
What else do I have to know?
The rink does have a skate-up bar, the SinBin, in addition to meals served from noon from MeatLiquor. Realistically, it’s extra prone to attraction to teenagers than youthful children although.
Different Christmas ice rinks in London
Pop-up ice rinks come and go, because the identify suggests so even beforehand standard rinks don’t at all times make a return – the ice rink on the London Eye has not taken place for the previous couple of years.
And whereas the rooftop ice rink in central London, Skyline Skating at John Lewis, has additionally did not return lately, the rooftop ice rink in east London, Skylight at Tobacco Dock in Shadwell, was again in 2022. Not but confirmed for 2023, it’s aimed extra at adults (or teenagers) than households, for these planning ice skating with children in London.
For extra festive concepts of issues to do in London with children, try this put up on London’s festive gentle trails in addition to one of the best issues to do for Christmas in London with children
Disclaimer: Ice skating is a big quantity of enjoyable nevertheless it does have dangers – please skate responsibly and make your individual judgements on whether or not your children are sufficiently old to attempt themselves.
PIN FOR LATER: THE BEST PLACES TO ICE SKATE IN LONDON WITH KIDS
Pure Historical past Museum picture, Alexandra Palace and Canary Wharf courtesy Depositphotos, Winter Wonderland picture copyright Carolina Faruolo/Winter Wonderland, Queen’s Home rink courtesy Royal Museums Greenwich, Winterville copyright The Pigeon Pair and Me. All others copyright MummyTravels
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