Much like our annual trip to the pantomime, ice skating feels synonymous with Christmas in London. The Christmas lights, the ice rink and the post-skate hot chocolate make ice skating a truly fun way to celebrate the festive season even if, like me, you are not terribly graceful on skates!
Over the years we have tried most of the city’s festive ice rinks from Tudor palaces to Battersea Power Station. If you are wondering where to go ice skating in London at Christmas then here are the best ice rinks with up-to-date dates, prices and tips for families. See you on the rink!
Updated November 2026
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London ice rinks 2026 at a glance
| Rink | Area | 2026/27 dates | Adults from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skate at Somerset House | Strand | 11 Nov – 10 Jan | £11 (up to £28.50) | The classic London skate, plus late-night DJs |
| Skate Leicester Square | West End | 31 Oct – 3 Jan | about £17 | Combining with theatre and the Christmas market |
| Queen’s House Ice Rink | Greenwich | 18 Nov – 3 Jan | from £15 | Toddler and SEND sessions in a UNESCO setting |
| Hyde Park Winter Wonderland | Hyde Park | 19 Nov – 3 Jan | about £12.65 + entry | Making a whole day of it |
| Queens Skate Dine Bowl | Bayswater | All year | £8 | Cheap indoor skating, plus curling |
| Hampton Court Palace | Hampton Court | 20 Nov – 3 Jan | about £21 | The prettiest backdrop |
| JW3 Ice Rink | Finchley Road | 20 Nov – 3 Jan | about £18 | Christmas Day skating |
| Glide at Battersea Power Station | Battersea | 6 Nov – 3 Jan | from £20 | Space for beginners, the skate trail and the fairground |
| Alexandra Palace | North London | All year (festive sessions 9 Dec – 4 Jan) | about £18 | Indoor skating on rainy days |
What’s new and what’s not back for Christmas 2026
- Not returning: Ice Rink Canary Wharf is taking a break for winter 2026, fingers crossed there’s skating among the skyscrapers again next year.
- Back for a second year: Skate Leicester Square returns around the Shakespeare statue, opening on 31 October.
- Bigger: The Queen’s House rink in Greenwich has doubled in size, with the same capacity, so there’s more room to wobble your way around the rink.
- New at Somerset House: Its first K-Pop Party on the ice takes place on 23 November.
Skate at Somerset House
If we had to choose just one place to go ice skating in London it would be Skate at Somerset House. Somerset House’s ice rink sits in the Fountain Court behind an enormous 40ft Christmas tree covered in twinkling fairy lights. It’s a beautiful setting and the perfect place to enjoy some festive fun. And if you would rather watch than skate, it’s free to walk into the courtyard and there are shops and place to eat there.
This year’s Skate Lates feature DJs and collectives including Daytimers, Netil Radio, UKF and BUMPAH. There’s also Somerset House’s first K-Pop Party on 23 November, made with the Korean Cultural Centre UK, and an Aperol Spritz van by the rink during Skate Lates. Relaxed and wheelchair sessions run through the season.
- Dates: 11 November 2026 – 10 January 2027
- Prices: £11–£28.50, depending on whether you book off-peak or peak, plus a booking fee
- Nearest Tube: Temple, Covent Garden or Embankment
- Tip: For families, a weekday morning outside the school holidays is far calmer than a December weekend.
- Skate Skool: Open to anyone over 8 years old on selected weekends, these lessons are taught by instructors accredited by the National Ice Skating Association. Kids aged 6-12 can take part in Kids Skate Club, special sessions to help children skate in a safe, fun and friendly environment.
- Book: somersethouse.org.uk
Skate Leicester Square
After a successful first season, Skate Leicester Square is back. Created by the live entertainment company Underbelly, the rink circles the Shakespeare statue and is surrounded by the Christmas market stalls. A donation from each skate ticket goes to the Angel Child Fund at The Brain Tumour Charity. It’s close to the West End so you can combine a trip here with seeing a pinto or show.
- Dates: 31 October 2026 – 3 January 2027
- Hours: Until 26 November, 12pm–10pm on weekdays and 10am–10pm at weekends. From 27 November, 10am–10pm daily. Closes at 6pm on 24 December and 12pm–10pm on 26 December and 1 January.
- Closed: Christmas Day
- Prices: £17 for adults, £13.60 for students, £12 for children under 12, family ticket £50
- Ages: No under-3s on the ice. Under-12s must skate with an adult.
- Nearest Tube: Leicester Square (1 minute) or Piccadilly Circus
- Book: skateleicestersquare.co.uk
The Queen’s House Ice Rink, Greenwich
This open-air ice rink sits in front of Queen’s House in the middle of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, with views of Canary Wharf. It’s one of the prettiest ice rinks in London and this year it’s doubled in size but kept the same capacity, so expect much more wobble room. It’s one of the most inclusive rinks in London, with toddler, student and SEND sessions, and there’s a pit lane for anyone who needs a breather mid-session. Pair it with a visit to Santa’s Grotto at the Queen’s House and the National Maritime Museum.
- Dates: 18 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
- Hours: 10am–9pm
- Prices: From £15 for adults, £10 for students and children and £11 per person when buying a family ticket. All tickets incur booking fees.. Sessions last 45 minutes.
- Nearest station: Cutty Sark (DLR) or Greenwich
- Book: rmg.co.uk
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Ice Rink
It’s not Christmas in London without Winter Wonderland. This enormous festive fair, filled with vintage-style fairground rides, takes over one large corner of Hyde Park every festive season and is a firm favourite with families. It’s also home to the UK’s largest open-air ice rink, built around the Victorian bandstand. Be aware that you will need to book a timed entry slot into Winter Wonderland first and then a separate skating ticket.
- Dates: 19 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
- Closed: Christmas Day
- Hours: Usually 10am–10pm. Some days open later, so check before you go.
- Entry to Winter Wonderland: £1 off-peak, £5.50 standard or £8.25 peak
- Skating: Adults from £12.65, children under 12 from £9.35, family cites from £37.40. Sessions last 45 minutes.
- Nearest Tube: Hyde Park Corner or Marble Arch
- Tip: Monday to Thursday in November is the cheapest and quietest time to go.
- Book: hydeparkwinterwonderland.com
Queens Skate Dine Bowl, Bayswater
This is one of central London’s few year-round indoor rinks, with bowling and a diner under the same roof, and curling nights on Thursdays and Fridays. It isn’t the most festive rink, but it’s a good option on rainy days and an easy one to combine with some Christmas shopping.
- Prices: From £8
- Nearest Tube: Queensway or Bayswater
- Tip: After 8pm daily, Queens is an 18+ venue.
- Booking: queens.london
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
Few rinks anywhere can compete with Henry VIII’s Tudor palace as a backdrop, especially on an evening session when the palace is lit up. This year, the rink has been redesigned with a royal theme. Skating is ticketed separately from palace admission, and Historic Royal Palaces members get 15% off. Time it with the Festive Fayre (4–6 and 11–13 December) for a full day out. Otherwise, make sure to visit the palace itself while here where you can check out the famous chocolate kitchens and see if you can escape the hedge maze, the oldest in the UK.
- Dates: 20 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
- Closed: Christmas Day
- Hours: First session 10am, last session 8pm
- Quiet sessions: Daily at 10am, with fewer skaters, static lighting and softer music. These are ideal for younger children and guests with disabilities.
- Prices: Adults from £21, children under 12 from £16, students from £19.50, family tickets from £65.48.
- Getting there: About 35 minutes by train from London Waterloo to Hampton Court
- Book: hrp.org.uk
JW3 Ice Rink, Finchley Road
The Jewish Community Centre’s covered rink in the Dorfman Piazza is small and friendly, with penguin skate aids and 45-minute sessions. Crucially, it’s the only rink in London that usually opens on Christmas Day. Book early if you want to skate off the Christmas dinner.
- Dates: Dates haven’t been announced yet but the rink typically opens in early to mid-December.
- Prices: Adults from about £18 and children from about £12
- Nearest station: Finchley Road or Finchley Road & Frognal
- Book: jw3.org.uk
Glide at Battersea Power Station
Glide has three linked rinks joined by a 200-metre skate trail along the Thames, with a 30ft Christmas tree in the middle and the power station’s chimneys behind. It’s one of the roomiest rinks in London, which makes it great for nervous beginners (including my husband who spent his time comically wobbling around the rink!). Penguin skate aids are available for little ones, and afterwards there are vintage fairground rides, street food and the Glass House bar.
- Dates: 6 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
- Hours: 45-minute sessions, roughly 11am–10pm
- Closed: Christmas Day
- Prices: Adults from £20.13, children under 12 from £12.66, students from £17.26, family tickets from £14.96 per person. Sessions last 45 minutes.
- Nearest station: Battersea Power Station (Northern line) or Battersea Park
- Book: glidebatterseapowerstation.co.uk
Alexandra Palace Ice Rink
Open year-round is the ice rink at Alexandra Palace, an indoor ice rink in north London that offers two-hour skate sessions for all ages from 3 to 90! It’s also where the Dancing on Ice stars train! It goes all out at Christmas with a huge tree, disco nights and holiday music. It’s our go-to on a wet weekend, and Skate Tots lessons are great for little ones.
- Festive sessions: 9 December 2026 – 4 January 2027
- Prices: Standard sessions start from £11.75 for adults and £10.50 for children under 12. Festive sessions are a bit more expensive with adult tickets starting from around £15 or £16.
- Nearest station: Alexandra Palace, or Wood Green Tube and then the W3 bus
- Book: alexandrapalace.com
Best ice rinks in London for…
- Toddlers and pre-schoolers: Queen’s House (toddler sessions), Hampton Court (quiet sessions at 10am) and Ally Pally (Skate Tots)
- Teens: Somerset House Skate Lates, and Glide for the fairground
- Date night: Somerset House or Hampton Court in the evening
- Rainy days: Ally Pally, Queens and JW3
- Christmas Day: JW3
- Skating into January: Somerset House, open until 10 January
- On a budget: Queens, Queen’s House off-peak, or Winter Wonderland on a weekday in November
Tips for ice skating in London with kids
- Book ahead and go early. Weekday morning slots are cheaper and much calmer.
- Check age rules. Several rinks don’t allow under-3s, and most require under-12s or under-13s to skate with an adult.
- Penguin aids are first come, first served at most rinks, and some charge extra. Arrive early or pre-book where you can.
- Gloves are a good idea. As are thick socks, hired skates can rub.
- Allow time before your session to swap skates, plus a few minutes of buffer for queues.
- Booking fees. Be aware that many rinks charge booking fees.
- Look for quiet or SEND sessions if your child doesn’t like crowds or noise.
Ice rinks not returning in 2026
- Ice Rink Canary Wharf: taking a break for winter 2026. It says it hopes to return in future.
- Natural History Museum: closed permanently.
- Tower of London: not running.
FAQs about ice skating in London at Christmas
When do London’s Christmas ice rinks open in 2026? Skate Leicester Square opens first, in late October. Glide opens on 6 November and Somerset House on 11 November. Most of the rest open between 18 and 20 November.
Which ice rink is open on Christmas Day in London? JW3 on Finchley Road is usually the only London rink open on 25 December. Every major pop-up rink closes for the day.
How much does ice skating in London cost? Expect to pay about £12–£28 for an adult and £8–£17 for a child at the festive pop-ups, plus booking fees. Year-round rinks like Queens start at about £8.
Is the Canary Wharf ice rink open in 2026? No. Ice Rink Canary Wharf is taking a break for winter 2026.
Which London ice rink stays open the longest? With Canary Wharf gone, Somerset House runs latest, until 10 January 2027. Ally Pally and Queens are open all year.
Are there indoor ice rinks in London? Yes. Alexandra Palace and Queens Skate Dine Bowl are fully indoor, and JW3 is covered.
What’s the minimum age for ice skating? It varies by rink. Skate Leicester Square doesn’t allow under-3s. Most rinks require young children to skate with an adult, and many offer penguin aids.
Photos my own or courtesy of Depositphotos.com
