Break the ice on a rink (and hopefully no bones!)

It’s that time of year again. With the temperatures dropping and the lights a twinkling, it’s no surprise many people want to take to the ice. As usual, there are a host of pop-up, open air rinks on around town. Many are accompanied by other wintry activities and festive food and drink offerings. Here’s a guide to open-air and pop-up ice skating in London this winter season.

• 26 October – 7 January 2018 : Natural History Museum Ice Rink

A 1,000 square metre rink in the gardens of the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. Opening hours vary. Session times last 1 hour. Adults from £12.65, Children 12 and under from £8.80. Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, SW7 5BD. Nearest station: South Kensington. To book, visit the Natural History Museum website.

• 2 November – 14 January 2018 : Skylight London

London’s highest ice rink surface on top of Tobacco Dock’s car park. Features alfresco and covered bars, fondue and ice hockey slap shot. Under 18s allowed until 6pm. Free entry to Skylight. Skating tickets: £10 (45 minutes). Skylight, Tobacco Quay, Pennington Street entrance, Wapping, E1CW 2SF. Nearest station: Shadwell or Wapping. For booking, visit the Skylight London website. For Metro Girl’s review, click here.

• 4 November – 24 February 2018 : Ice Rink Canary Wharf

Skate over ice in the middle of the soaring skyscrapers of Canary Wharf. Non-skaters can watch the action from the bar or street food stalls. Session times last 1 hour. Opening times vary. Adults £9.95-£16.95, Children £9.95-£10.95. Canada Square Park, E14 5AB. Nearest station: Canary Wharf. To book, visit the Ice Rink Canary Wharf website.

• 15 November – 14 January 2018 : Skate at Somerset House with Fortnum & Mason

One of the original pop-up ice rinks located in the courtyard of Somerset House. As well as general skating, they also host club nights on ice and skate lessons. Session times last 1 hour and are from 10am until 10.30pm (later for club nights and New Year’s Eve). Tickets start from £8.90. Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA. Nearest station: Temple. To book, visit the Somerset House website. 

• 17 November – 1 January 2018 : Ice Rink @ Winter Wonderland

A pop-up ice rink at the annual Winter Wonderland in the south east corner of Hyde Park. Session times last 1 hour. 10am-10pm. Adults £14.50, Children up to 12 £9.50. Hyde Park, Westminster, W2 2UH. Nearest station: Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Victoria or Knightsbridge. To book, visit the Winter Wonderland website.

Whole lotta history: Skate in the dry moat of the Tower Of London

• 17 November – 2 January 2018 : Tower Of London Ice Rink

Skate on a rink in the moat of the Tower of London. After a skate, visit the Eis Haus Ice Experience, an immersive ice bar where you can drink out of glasses made of ice. 11am-10pm. Tickets: Adults £14.50, Children under 12: £10.50. Teens £12.50. Tower Of London (off Lower Thames Street or Tower Hill), EC3N 4AB. Nearest station: Tower Hill. To book, visit the Tower Of London Ice Rink website.

• 23 November – 1 January 2018 : Winterville Ice Rink

Clapham’s alternative winter attraction features an alfresco ice rink over 600 square metres. Mon-Fri 12pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-10pm. Tickets: Adults £14, Children (under 12s) £9.50, Teens £12. Clapham Common, SW4 9DE. Nearest station: Clapham Common. For more information, visit the Winterville website.

• 24 November – 7 January 2018 : Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink

Skate in front of King Henry VIII’s favourite London residence. Session times last 45 minutes. First sessions start at 10am, last sessions start at 9pm. Adults £14, Teenage 13-15yrs £12, Children 3-12yrs £10. Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU. Nearest station: Hampton Court (36 minutes from Waterloo). To book, visit the Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink website.

• 1 – 31 December : Skating @ Greenwich Winter Time

Open-air ice rink in the shadows of the Old Royal Naval College will be open as part of a winter festival. As well as ice skating, the festival features live music, theatre, children’s shows, DJs, silent disco, street performers, winter market and food and drink. Ice skating tickets: £10 (skaters must also pay for General Entry to festival Adults £15-£18, Children £8). Old Royal Naval College, Park Row, Greenwich, SE10 9LS. Nearest station: Cutty Sark, Greenwich or Maze Hill. For more information, visit the Greenwich Winter Time website.

• 3 December – 14 January 2018 : JW3 Ice Rink

Pop-up ice rink at the Piazza at JW3, the London Jewish Cultural Centre. Also including café serving mulled wine, hot drinks, doughnuts, etc. Adults: £13, Children £8. JW3, 341-351 Finchley Road, Hampstead, NW3 6ET. Nearest station: Finchley Road and Frognal or West Hampstead. To book, visit the JW3 website.

And if you fancy ice skating any other times, these rinks are open all year round…

• Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Wood Green, N22 7AY. Nearest station: Alexandra Palace.
• Streatham Ice Rink, 390 Streatham High Road, Streatham, SW16 6HX. Nearest station: Streatham.
• Lea Valley Ice Centre, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, E10 7QL. Nearest station: Lea Bridge.
• Queens Ice And Bowl, 17 Queensway, Bayswater, W2 4QP. Nearest station: Queensway.

Or for something completely different, why not try a spot of curling at Queens. Read Metro Girl’s review.

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