There’s nothing which says Christmas is coming greater than watching the Christmas ice rinks in London begin to seem – however when you’re on the lookout for the perfect 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 a lot which make a unbelievable festive time out within the capital – and various which aren’t non permanent for Christmas when you fancy ice skating in London with children year-round.
Better of all, they’re typically within the shadow of a few of London’s greatest recognized landmarks, so you may mix it with a household time out, or take in 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 2021.
For extra of the perfect issues to do for Christmas in London with children, take a look at my prime picks
Christmas ice rinks in London
Pure Historical past Museum ice rink
With the attractive Pure Historical past Museum constructing lit up behind it and a Christmas tree glowing within the centre, that is simply one of the family-friendly London Christmas ice rinks – sadly 2021 is the ultimate yr will probably be operating.
For youths who’re nervous about hitting the ice, they also have a Penguin Skate Membership with classes for youngsters aged 4 to eight, which takes place on Saturday mornings at 10am and 11am from November 6-20, and November 27 to January 8 (excluding New Yr’s Day) at 9am and 10am.
There are restricted locations so you must e book this on-line upfront.
For those who’re planning a go to to the Pure Historical past Museum too, take a look at my ideas for visiting, in addition to my information to London’s museums with children.
For those who’re visiting with youthful children, there are additionally particular weekday classes geared toward adults with toddlers – plus you get a free sizzling drink (sizzling chocolate, tea, espresso) or mushy drink. The particular classes run to 2pm till December 3, in addition to weekdays from January 10-14.
Skates are included, with sizes from youngster’s dimension 9 (as much as an grownup’s dimension 15) and you may as well get free youngsters’s bob skates, twin bladed skates to suit over children’ sneakers that are good for toddlers or children with smaller ft.
The place is it?
The open-air rink is in entrance of the museum in its courtyard on Cromwell Highway, near South Kensington tube station – the station is closed to Piccadilly line trains till March 2022, however District line trains are nonetheless stopping.
When is the Pure Historical past Museum ice rink open?
The ice rink is open from October 22, 2021 to January 16, 2022 (closed on Christmas Day) from 11am to 10pm, though occasions might fluctuate on sure days.
How a lot is the Pure Historical past Museum ice rink?
Grownup tickets price from £12.65, youngsters from £8.80 and there are additionally household tickets from round £43. E-book right here.
Penguin skate membership prices £18.15 whereas the toddler classes price £11.50. Transaction charges additionally apply.
Penguin skate aids can be found for different classes and value £6. You’ll be able to’t e book these upfront and so they’re out there on a first-come, first seved foundation from the skate rent counter.
What else do I have to know?
You’ll be able to e book tickets upfront, which is really useful – it’s notably well-liked with households, so you may count on to attend when you flip up with out having purchased beforehand.
Every session is round 50 minutes lengthy. Be sure you flip up no less than 40 minutes earlier than the beginning of your session, or 20 minutes earlier than if it’s the primary session of the day.
There’s a cloakroom which prices £2 per merchandise. No luggage are allowed on the ice.
The café has sizzling drinks, together with mulled wine (greatest after you’ve been on the ice), in addition to meals and truffles plus mushy drinks.
Try the following pointers for the greatest sizzling chocolate in London with children, when you’re seeking to heat up after ice skating
Tower of London ice rink
**The ice rink gained’t be returning to the Tower for 2021**
Theirs is nothing fairly as magical as skating within the moat of the Tower of London – one among my favorite buildings within the metropolis (in all probability on the planet), it feels relatively fairy-tale to have the towers and partitions as a backdrop as you skate.
The rink is well-liked with all ages so when you’re centered notably on ice skating in London with children, I’d counsel the sooner classes are higher – because it’s on the sting of the Metropolis, the sooner classes and weekend daytimes can typically be quieter than different rinks.
Make a Christmassy day of it and mix your ice skating with a go to to the Christmas on the River market close by, or head just a little additional alongside the Thames to the South Financial institution Christmas market.
A giant bonus is which you could e book skate aids upfront for different classes (though there aren’t any skate aids out there on the final 8pm session of the day). There’s a restricted quantity so it have to be carried out upfront, costing £5, however not like quite a lot of different Christmas ice rinks in London, you don’t must take the danger of them operating out when you go to with children.
Skates are included with sizes from youngsters’s dimension 8 as much as grownup dimension 14.
The place is it?
On the Tower of London – head to the standard signed entrance from Tower Hill tube to succeed in the ice skating entrance.
When is the Tower of London ice rink open?
The ice rink is normally open for seven weeks from mid November till early January, excluding Christmas Day.
In earlier years, classes have run from 11am to 9pm on weekdays till December 18, then 10am to 9pm, and from and 10am to 9pm on weekends till November 29, after which there’ll be late opening till 10pm.
How a lot is the Tower of London ice rink?
Grownup tickets price from £16 (together with teenagers aged 13 and above) and from £11.50 for youngsters aged three to 12. There are additionally household tickets from £46. E-book right here.
What else do I have to know?
Every session lasts for 45 minutes, and you might be requested to reach Half-hour earlier than your session begins. You’ll be able to change your reserving on-line (or by e-mail) so long as you do it no less than 48 hours upfront.
There’s a cloakroom which prices £2 per merchandise (card cost solely). No luggage are allowed on the ice.
The ice rink café has sizzling drinks, meals and a bar.
Hampton Courtroom Palace ice rink
This superb Tudor palace is someplace I by no means tire of visiting, so I’d undoubtedly advocate making a full day and exploring inside (though the Magic Backyard typically closes through the winter) in addition to the skating session.
Henry VIII might need had the frozen Thames to go skating on, however I beloved with the ability to strap on my skates as nightfall fell and the palace was lit up behind us, seen from the open air rink.
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.
Run by the identical organisation behind the Tower of London ice rink, you may as well e book dolphin and penguin skate aids upfront right here (though there aren’t any skate aids out there for the night classes from 8pm).
Appropriate for for youths aged 10 and beneath, they price £5 every. In earlier years, any unbooked skate aids have been out there first come, first served – but when you understand your children will want one, greatest to not danger it.
Skates are included with sizes from youngsters’s dimension 8 as much as grownup dimension 14.
See what we thought on our go to to the ice rink at Hampton Courtroom Palace.
The place is it?
In entrance of Hampton Courtroom 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 Courtroom ice rink open?
The ice rink is open for six weeks, from November 19 till January 2, excluding Christmas Day. Classes run from 10am to eight.45pm.
How a lot is Hampton Courtroom ice rink?
Grownup tickets price from £16 (together with teenagers aged 13 and above) and from £11.50 for youngsters aged three to 12. There are additionally household tickets from £46. E-book 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.
In earlier years, you would change your reserving as much as 48 hours upfront, however for 2021, tickets are non-transferable and are unable to be rescheduled, refunded or cancelled.
Nevertheless, you may reschedule or rebook when you’re unable to skate due to Covid restrictions.
There’s a cloakroom which prices £2 per merchandise (card funds solely). No luggage are allowed on the ice.
The ice rink café has sizzling drinks, meals and a bar.
Skate at Somerset Home
The Somerset Home ice rink is without doubt one of the longest-running Christmas ice rinks in London, having already celebrated its twentieth yr and recurrently voted one of many capital’s favorite winter experiences, with a 40ft Christmas tree including a ultimate festive contact.
Set within the grand courtyard, there are additionally stalls to buy plus occasions and different actions going down over the Christmas interval – partnered with Moet & Chandon this yr, the entire vibe is ready to be as luxurious as ever.
There’s additionally a extra open skate space this yr, and additional house once you’re getting and returning your skates.
There are a few choices that are good for youths, together with the return of Skate Faculty. For youths aged eight and up, there are programs and single classes for all ranges taught by instructors from the Nationwide Ice Skating Affiliation,
Youthful children can even borrow skate aids, and this yr there’s a brand new set of ‘Chilled out‘ skate classes on some weekday mornings, with diminished numbers, to cease them feeling overwhelmed by older or quicker skaters – perfect for neurodiverse children too.
There are additionally skate aids out there for under-eights throughout regular classes, however you may’t pre-book these. You’ll be able to pre-book Skate Mates for any further help for teams of 3-10.
Older children (aged eight and up) can be a part of Skate Faculty with which happen on chosen weekends, together with Children Skate Membership classes on the rink utilizing stabilisers, with assist from ice marshals.
Skates are included within the session worth with youngster’s dimension 7 (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 may stroll in from the Strand
When is Somerset Home ice rink open?
The rink is open from November 17 till January 16, 2022. Session occasions begin at 10am and run to 10pm, together with some Skate Lates, though occasions additionally fluctuate for Skate faculty.
Skate faculty classes begin at 8.45, and Children Skate Membership has two choices at 8.35 or 9.15 (each on chosen dates).
How a lot is Somerset Home ice rink?
Tickets price £11 for adults and £8.50 for youngsters plus a reserving price, in addition to 10% off the standard complete for a household ticket (two adults and two children, or one grownup and three children).
Just a few walk-up tickets will likely be out there on the day nevertheless it’s all the time well-liked so price prebooking to ensure your slot.
Children Skate Membership prices £9 for youths aged six to 10 whereas Skate Faculty prices from £17 for youngsters aged as much as 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 you should go away objects within the cloakroom.
You’ll be able to go away one merchandise free of charge, nevertheless it then prices £2 to go away additional luggage within the cloakroom. No luggage are allowed on the ice.
To heat up afterwards, the Resort Chocolate Chocmobile will likely be offering treats – there are additionally children’ chocolate workshops to e book, and meals on the Chalet Barragists pop-up (together with making your personal luxurious s’mores).
For those who’re on the lookout for ice skating in London with teenagers, the later classes even have DJs enjoying at Skate Lates.
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 rink.
There’s additionally typically reside music from the bandstand as you swirl and twirl (or stumble and giggle) across the ice – when you’re extra the latter, there are Ice Guides which may 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 enormous numbers of different issues to do throughout your go to to make a day of it – though you may come, skate and go house.
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 youngsters’s dimension 9 as much as adults dimension 13. There are free double bladed bob skates which go over youngsters’s sneakers for smaller skaters, additionally out there first come first served.
The place is it?
Winter Wonderland takes place in Hyde Park – the household entrance is on the pink gate which takes you thru to Santa’s Grotto and a number of the different household sights, however when you’ve prebooked tickets for the ice rink, the Blue Gate is most handy.
Use the fabulous What Three Phrases app to seek out out precisely the place – the Blue Gate entrance is ///spare.teams.giving which is the southern a part of the park, closest to Hyde Park Nook tube.
The Crimson Gate is ///mount.tigers.lodge
When is Winter Wonderland ice rink open?
Winter Wonderland runs November 18 till January 3. The rink is open from 10am to 10pm day-after-day (or from 4pm on November 21).
How a lot is Winter Wonderland ice rink?
Tickets price from £10.50 for adults and £7.50 for youngsters off-peak as much as £15.50 and £10.50 for peak classes.
There are additionally household tickets from £30 and an Ice information prices £35 (for all classes). There’s additionally a transaction price primarily based on the worth of your reserving.
Beforehand entry to Winter Wonderland itself was free and you would simply flip up – for 2021, you should prebook tickets with timed slots, though when you’re inside you may keep so long as you need.
It’s nonetheless free off-peak, however in any other case prices £5 or £7.50 to enter, however when you spend £20 per particular person on rides, sights or video games on-line upfront, your entry cost is robotically refunded
There are various expenses for the completely different actions and reveals however you solely want so as to add a few issues on prime of skating to succeed in that complete. E-book right here.
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 £1 per merchandise, and you’ll’t take cameras on the ice for security causes, though you should buy memento images taken by Winter Wonderland’s skilled.
You will get sizzling drinks on the spectator’s platform or there’s an enormous array of different food and drinks stalls all through Winter Wonderland.
The Queen’s Home, Greenwich
One of many latest additions to London’s ice skating scene, new in 2019, the ice rink on the Queen’s Home in Greenwich is the one open air rink in south London.
Head out onto the ice right here, and you’ll benefit from the elegant grandeur of a former royal residence however a relatively extra intimate setting than the Tower of London or Hampton Courtroom’s grandeur.
The home itself shows objects from the Nationwide Maritime Museum’s collections – the museum itself is a stone’s throw away and is free, so you may simply pop in earlier than or after an ice skate with children (prebooking is suggested).
The place is it?
On the sting of Greenwich Park, close to the Nationwide Maritime Museum and the buildings of the Outdated Naval Faculty, the rink is subsequent to the ‘Home of Delight’ constructed for James I’s Queen.
When is the Queen’s Home ice rink open?
The rink will likely be open from November 18 till January 19 from 10am to 9pm on peak days (11am to 9pm on off peak days.) The final skate session begins at 8pm.
How a lot is the Queen’s Home ice rink?
Tickets price from £15 for adults and £8.50 for youths (beneath 16), together with skate rent – there’s additionally a £2.95 transaction price and it’s costlier for tickets at peak occasions.
There’s restricted availability so reserving on-line is really useful – the identical when 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 out there to rent for youngsters, which price £5 and which may 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 likelihood to retailer any belongings and get your skates. There will likely be staggered skate classes this yr, and restricted numbers on the ice to make sure distancing.
You’ll be able to’t take any luggage on the ice, and there’s restricted storage on the rink. Beforehand it price £2 to go away objects within the cloakroom (a most of three per particular person), with contactless cost.
There are festive food and drinks stalls subsequent to the rink serving sizzling drinks, mulled wine and snacks.
Minimal age to skate is three years, youngsters’s skates can be found from dimension J8 up, and there are double bladed bob skates for youthful children (topic to availability).
Ice Rink Canary Wharf
After taking final yr off, Ice Rink Canary Wharf has confirmed it’s returning for the 2021 winter season.
As a lined ice rink, it’s a fantastic possibility if the climate isn’t variety (you don’t count on to be heat when ice skating, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly much less enjoyable within the drizzle!)
The rink goes to be open for 18 weeks, which provides households plenty of likelihood to squeeze in some ice skating in London, with the twinkling lights and backdrop of Canary Wharf.
The place is it?
The ice rink is at Canada Sq. Park, inside Canary Wharf purchasing 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 the perfect boat excursions in London with children, take a look at this submit)
When is the Canary Wharf ice rink open?
The rink will likely be open from October 23 till February 26, 2022 (closed Christmas Day), so one of many few Christmas ice rinks to stay round effectively into the New Yr.
How a lot is Ice Rink Canary Wharf?
Tickets price £17.95 for adults and youths and £11.95 for youths (aged 12 and beneath), or a household ticket for £49.50.
The worth consists of skate rent – there’s additionally a £2.50 transaction price.
What else do I have to know?
Classes final 50 minutes and also you’re requested to reach 20-Half-hour earlier than the beginning of your session.
The minimal age to skate is 4, and there are skates out there from dimension 8 up. There are additionally skate aids out there, priced £5 every.
These can’t be prebooked however you may rent them as much as Half-hour earlier than the beginning of every skate session on the field workplace, first come first served. Just for youngsters beneath 1.2m tall.
You’ll be able to’t take luggage on the ice, however there are lockers out there priced £1 (non-refundable) for smaller luggage.
There are drinks, together with sizzling chocolate, out there from the Grandstand Bar.
Winterville ice rink
**Winterville was initially attributable to return for 2021, though with ice curling relatively than ice skating however won’t now be going down**
There’s one thing relatively tempting concerning the thought of skating throughout Clapham Widespread – you’d want to attend some time for the widespread itself to freeze, however the ice rink at Winterville implies that’s all taken care of.
One of many newer Christmas markets and festivities in London, it’s additionally a well-priced possibility if you wish to ice skate with children in London plus it manufacturers itself as the choice Christmas market, so when you’ve had your fill of carols and tinsel, it is a good possibility.
Penguin skate aids have been out there at £5 for youths on a first-come first-served foundation, with skates from youngsters’s dimension 9 (as much as grownup dimension 13) included.
The place is it?
Winterville takes place on Clapham Widespread. The closest tube stations are Clapham Widespread and Clapham South.
When is Winterville ice rink open?
Winterville has confirmed it gained’t be in 2021 (the final occasion went forward in 2018 after 2020’s Covid cancellarions). Dates are normally from mid November to round Christmas.
Beforehand, it was open Tuesday to Sunday and skating classes ran from 3pm to 10pm on weekdays, and from 11am to 10pm at weekends.
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 seeking 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 non permanent rinks.
And Ally Pally, because it’s higher recognized to Londoners, has been house 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 embrace 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 out there 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 may take a prepare to Alexandra Palace railway station from King’s Cross.
There are additionally 1,200 parking areas when you select to drive.
The ice rink is on the best hand facet of the primary buildings.
When is Alexandra Palace ice rink open?
Opening occasions might fluctuate between time period time and holidays, so it price checking the positioning earlier than you go to. It’s at the moment open from 11am, closing between 3.45pm and 5.30pm.
There are additionally ice skating programs from toddlers up.
How a lot is Alexandra Palace ice rink?
Entrance to the ice rink prices from £9.00 for adults, £8.00 for youngsters aged 5 to fifteen and £6.00 for beneath fives (extra at weekends and college holidays), or from £32.40 for a household ticket.
There are additionally skate aids for youngsters, priced from £5 for penguin skate aids for youths aged three to seven, £6 for snowmen for youngsters aged 8-11.
Obtainable 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 positioning, and Alexandra Palace additionally hosts a Panto on Ice throughout December.
Queens Skate ice skating
Queens Skate | Dine |Bowl is house – as its identify suggests – to bowling in addition to ice skating, and its rink is just not 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 completely different classes on weekdays and on the weekend till late night, in addition to after faculty skate golf equipment.
Nevertheless, under-18s are solely allowed till 8pm within the night after which it turns into an over-18s zone.
You now must prebook skate classes as there are particular timed slots (and it’s cheaper that approach as effectively)
How a lot is Queens ice rink rink?
Skating at Queens ice rink prices £11.95 for over 12s and £10.95 for under-12s when you prebook.
You may as well get cut-price entry on Mondays all day (£7 per particular person) as a part of the Monday Insanity deal – you should prebook, excludes faculty holidays.
Skate rent isn’t included and this prices £2.75 when you don’t have your personal 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 can be found for youths as much as 1.4m tall, priced £6 for an hour. They will’t be booked upfront, so it’s first come first served.
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 well-liked rinks don’t all the time make a return – the ice rink on the London Eye is just not coming again for 2021.
There has additionally beforehand been a brief London Christmas ice rink at Westfield London however there aren’t any confirmed plans for this to return this yr, or for the rooftop ice rink in central London, Skyline Skating at John Lewis or the rooftop ice rink in east London, Skylight at Tobacco Dock in Shadwell.
The latter two have been aimed extra at adults than households in any case, for these planning ice skating with children in London,
For extra festive concepts of issues to do in London with children, take a look at this submit on London’s festive mild trails in addition to the perfect 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 personal 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
