Whether it’s a Sunday roast, afternoon tea, Bonfire Night firework display and Halloween parties, London knows how to deliver when it comes to offering visitors and city dwellers fun, fancy and flippin’ fantastic food during the Autumn and Winter months.

And with Christmas just around the corner, we can’t wait to bundle ourselves up in layers of puffa jackets and cashmere jumpers, whip on our skates and head out to the ice rinks at some of the capital’s most famous landmarks.

After all, where else can you have the chance to skate in front of an 18th Century Neoclassical building or among the twinkly lights in a park just metres away from the doors of Buckingham Palace?

Whether it’s mulled wine and a hot mug of steaming cocoa or a chance to practice your toe loops and axels, it’s time you get yourself down to one of London’s ice skating rinks:

Somerset House Ice Rink

Ice Skating Rink At Somerset House Is Launched For Christmas
Leon Neal//Getty Images

Filled with ice, the 18th Century courtyard of Somerset House will be a beautiful and evocative venue to twirl (or, more likely, stumble) around this winter.

After dark, during 'Skate Lates', DJs will turn the 990-square-metre rink into a party, while the Fortnum’s Lodge is on hand to offer up raclette, cheese fondue, smoked salmon and mince pies to be washed down with champagne and mulled wine. Alternatively, if you’re planning a big night, a luxury stay at nearby The Savoy is always an option.

Dates: 13 Nov 2019 - 12 Jan 2020
Tickets: Adult tickets from £11.00

BUY TICKETS

Alexandra Palace Ice Rink

instagramView full post on Instagram

When it’s not home to some of the most in-demand gigs in the capital or hosting an epic Bonfire Night firework display, Ally Pally invites visitors to prance around its indoor skating arena for everything from figure skating and ice hockey to ice discos.

Better yet, the location also puts on skating classes for wannabe Torvill and Deans throughout the year and some of London’s best pop DJ’s from Club De Fromage take over the ice rink for some serious 90s nostalgia once every month.

Dates: All year round
Tickets: Children from £6, Adults from £9.50

BUY TICKETS

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland
Oli Scarff//Getty Images

Celebrity spotting and skating go hand-in-hand at the UK’s biggest outdoor ice rink. Surrounding Hyde Park’s Victorian bandstand and strung with more than 100,000 lights, the site is also home to a new 70m observation wheel this year, as well as its traditional rollercoasters, food stalls, fairground rides and Bavarian Village (think bratwurst, mulled wine and live music).

Dates: 21 Nov 2019 - 5 Jan 2020
Tickets: Children from £7.50, Adults from £9.50

BUY TICKETS

Natural History Museum Ice Rink

Natural History Museum
Justin Setterfield//Getty Images

The ice rink located directly in front of the Natural History Museum is pure fairytale and ideal for those wanting to live out their childhood Nutcracker dreams. The 1,000-metre-square rink reflects the lights that hang in the huge old trees engulfing the London landmark while a giant Christmas tree and old-fashioned carousel proudly in the centre of the rink. To one side of the venue stands an indoor café bar with a viewing balcony overlooking the skaters. You grab the hot chocolate and we’ll get the mulled wine in.

Dates: Now until 12 Jan 2020
Tickets: Adults from £12.65

BUY TICKETS

Tower of London Ice Rink

England, London, Tower of London, Ice Skating
Prisma by Dukas//Getty Images

The Tower of London is as eerie and impressive by day as it is by night given its rich history with royals, criminals and yes, the ever infamous beheadings. However, on a winter’s afternoon the site transforms into a wonderland where friends and families have the chance to skate in the frozen moat of the fortress. Those tired of practicing their axel and Lutz jumps also have the chance to tuck into food and drink on the side lines at the Ice Bar & Café.

Dates: 16 Nov 2019 - 5 Jan 2020
Tickets: Children from £11.70, Adults from £16.20

BUY TICKETS

Skylight London

If heights and ice are to your liking, you’ll need to get yourself down to rooftop bar, Skylight London. While it might be known for its cocktails and croquet in the summer, the venue transforms into a winter’s paradise, offering stunning vistas of the city and a glistening ice skating rink.

Also on offer are igloos and huts for visitors to kick back in, street food from pop-ups Yiro and Flip Side and the option to enjoy wine, skating and dinner for two for just £49.

Dates: 1 Nov 2019 (end date TBC)

Skylight is free to enter but huts and igloos can be booked here from £90.

FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION

Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink

Hampton Court Ice Rink
Peter Macdiarmid//Getty Images

It’s not every day you have the chance to skate in front of Henry VIII’s 16th Century Tudor palace so we couldn’t think of anything better than whipping on our leotards (too far?) and heading to Hampton Court this winter. While the daytime scenery might be impressive, it’s at night when the palace truly comes alive when the ice rink sparkles under illuminations . Better yet, the 1,040 square metre rink is adjacent to a pop-up serving hot and cold drinks.

Dates: 22 Nov 2019 - 5 Jan 2020
Tickets: Children from £11.70, Adults from £16.20

BUY TICKETS

preview for Did Serena Williams Wear Ice Skating Tights While Playing in 80-Degree Weather at Wimbledon?
Headshot of Katie O'Malley
Katie O'Malley
Site Director

Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.