Ice skating is one of my favourite Christmas activities; there’s just something wonderfully romantic, festive, and fun about it. And there are so many incredible places to go ice skating in London this Christmas. Many have some great extras, such as disco nights or themed sessions.
With the city as a beautiful backdrop, ice skating is one of the best things to do in London in winter. The only tricky bit is choosing where to go! So I’ve put together a list the best ice rinks in London this winter – enjoy!
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Updated 2019: This post has now been updated with the latest info and 2019 dates.
8 Ice Skating London Christmas Rinks
The dates and opening hours shown in this London Christmas ice skating post are simply guidelines. Many of the rinks are closed on the public holidays over Christmas, and some have different hours on different days of the week. So double check their websites to make sure you have the most up to date info!
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
21st November 2019 – 5th January 2020
© Carolina Faruolo / Fanatic 2018
This is one of the most popular – and magical – Christmas events in London! Once Winter Wonderland takes over Hyde Park, guests can enjoy a beautiful outdoor ice rink set around the illuminated Victorian bandstand.
With a Christmas tree at its centre and a cover of a web of over 10,000 twinkling lights overhead, the rink is truly beautiful. It’s also the largest outdoor ice rink in the UK. So this really is London Christmas ice skating at it’s best!
10am to 10pm. Tickets start at £9.50 per adult. More info here.
Somerset House Ice Skating
13th November 2019 – 12th January 2020
Set in the impressive surroundings of this 18th-century palace, the outdoor ice rink at Somerset House is overlooked by a huge Christmas tree decked out in red ribbons. The 2019 festive season will be the 20th of Skate at Somerset House.
After a skating session, guests can browse the popup shops in the Christmas Arcade, which takes over the West Wing for the festive season. Or, you can chill with a hot chocolate in the rink side Fortnum’s Lounge. Somerset House is easily one of the best ice rinks in London. The setting is stunning, and the rink hosts several special events such as club nights and discos!
10am to 10:15pm. Tickets start at £11 per adult. More info here.
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
22nd November 2019 – 5th January 2020
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink, Image Credit: LeftfieldImages.com
Another royal setting, this time beneath the grandeur of Henry VIII’s palace. Hampton Court Palace is illuminated after nightfall to provide a truly fairytale setting for skaters.
The Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink also offers skating lessons for children and a rink-side bar and café, serving winter drinks and festive treats. Surely one of the most spectacular places to ice skate in London.
Opening times vary, but most ice skating sessions run from 9am to 10pm. Tickets start at £15 per adult. More info here.
Natural History Museum Ice Skating
Mid-October 2019 – January 2020 (exact dates TBC)
A 950m² rink with a beautifully lit Christmas tree at its centre, and the stunning Natural History Museum as its backdrop, it’s no wonder that this is one of the most popular ice rinks in London. The rink-side bar offers wintry treats like mulled wine and hot chocolate, with great views of the ice.
Opening times vary, but most ice skating sessions run between 11am and 10pm. Tickets start at £12.65 per adult. More info here.
Ice Rink Canary Wharf
November – February (exact dates TBC)
The Canary Wharf ice rink is set in Canada Square Park, surrounded by soaring towers and the fantastic nearby complex of shops, bars and restaurants. Fairy-lit trees, a luxurious on-site restaurant and bar, and London’s only skate path – the ice rink at Canary Wharf is one of the coolest in London.
Opening times vary, but most ice skating sessions run from 10am to 10pm. Tickets start at £16.95 an adult. More info here.
Tower of London Ice Rink
16th November 2019 – 5th January 2020
Image Credit: Arena PR
One of the most iconic places to ice skate in London this Christmas is definitely the Tower of London ice rink. This was always my favourite festive treat when I lived in Tower Hamlets! The rink is located in the dry moat outside the Tower of London, so it’s a particularly grand historical setting. Plus the onsite cafe/bar has plenty of tasty treats to warm up tired skaters.
Opening times vary, but most ice skating sessions run from 10am – 9pm Monday – Sunday. Tickets start at £15 for adults. More info here.
Skylight Rooftop at Tobacco Dock
31st October 2019 – TBC
Ice Skating at Skylight, Tobacco Docks. Image Credit: Chris Orange
On the converted top floor of a multi-storey car park, Tobacco Dock’s Skylight is “London’s most imaginative rooftop bar”. Awesome views across some of the city centre’s most iconic buildings, a lively wooden bar, and tasty street food stalls make for a seriously cool experience. In winter, things get even cooler with the return of Skylight’s amazing ice rink – London’s first (and only) rooftop ice rink!
Open Thursday – Sunday, 12-11pm. Prices TBC.
Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
18th October 2019 – 5th January 2020
Out in Greater London, the Ruxley Manor Garden Centre outside of Sidcup is hosting its annual pop-up ice skating rink. Theirs is actually an indoor rink, so if you fancy ice skating in London this Christmas but you don’t want to chance our temperamental weather, this could be the one for you!
Skate beneath a magical canopy of fairy lights for the perfect festive atmosphere! When you’re done, Ruxley Manor Garden Centre offers the perfect chance to do some Christmas shopping, too.
Opening times vary, but most ice skating sessions run from 10am – 5pm, with later nights towards the end of November. Tickets start at £5 for adults off-peak and £10 peak. More info here.
Have I missed any of the best ice skating London Christmas rinks from this list? Share your top tips in the comments!
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Can’t wait for Christmas ice skating in London! I am moving over in less than a month and think this is one of the things I’m most excited about. Thank you so much for the list of the best options! Do you know if there are rinks available all year or are they all made up just for the season?
Most of them are only available over xmas, usually Nov-Jan. There are definitely some indoor rinks all year round, but no outdoor I’m afraid. There’s one near Green Park tube station that is pretty big and relatively cheap :)
Where are you moving from?
Awesome thanks, will definitely be giving it a go.
Am moving from New Zealand! Was meant to stay after traveling around Europe last year but had to go home for a family emergency so looking forward to heading back and giving it a real go!
Wow, big move!! London is a great place to live, so much stuff going on :) Do you know where you’ll be living yet?
Yeah can’t wait to be there, the three weeks last year was no where near enough!
Am hoping to live and work in the Clapham/Fulham/Putney jobs of area. Find out about work in a week or two then will figure it out from there:-)
Clapham is an awesome place to live! I lived pretty nearby in Brixton and loved it – left to come to South America though!
South America would be awesome! Are you planning on going back to London after o starting a new adventure?
If I have enough money left then I want to start a new adventure – or maybe spend a year abroad teaching/writing! But I’ll probably wind up in London again eventually, all my friends are there.
Looking at a place there on Thurs! Hope your enjoying your new adventure:-)
Really?! It’s such a cool area, I definitely recommend it :)
That would be a good one, Asia is meant to be a good spot to teach English etc and cheap to live!
I love watching people skate, although I end up injured every time I try!
Haha – that means you just need more practice!! I love it, although I’ve only really mastered going forwards – turning quickly is impossible, and stopping usually involves crashing into the barrier ;)