Ice rinks in London for Christmas
If you are looking for some fun with the whole family during the Christmas holiday, here are some places that offer ice skating for you to enjoy.
We have all seen the pictures produced by Currier & Ives of children and adults both ice skating wearing heavy coats, muffs over their hands and old fashioned ice skates as they go around the ice. Ice skating is one of the most popular winter activities and its popularity in the United Kingdom has returned full force. If you are looking for a place to go ice skating this holiday season, here are a few of our suggestions that are located in the city of London. Please note that as of right now, all details are tentative and will be confirmed shortly.
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
Ice skating rinks in London can be found at Hampton Court, the Tower of London, Kew Gardens, and at the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. The skating rink at the Tower of London is open from 10am to 10pm and skating sessions are in hour increments. The ticket prices to get in include skate hire. There is a small café available for the skater’s where they can go and get warmed up with a good cup of tea or hot cocoa.
Hampton Court
The ice skating rink at Hampton Court operates during the same hours as the Tower of London sessions with one hour sessions available. Peak ticket times are on the weekends with the off peak ticket times being in the mornings and afternoons through the week. The staff recommended booking your tickets in advance in order to make sure you will be able to get on the ice and enjoy yourself. All children under that age of twelve are required to be accompanied by an adult at all of the skating rinks listed in herein. Hampton Court’s rink offers visitors Ice Guides if required at £30 per session.
Kew Gardens
The skating rinks at Kew Gardens are open from November 29, 2008 through January 4, 2009 and it is a 1,000 square meter real ice rink capable of holding 250 people at a time. It is located before the Temperate House and if you purchase a Joint Gardens and Skating ticket, you will be able to also enjoy the gardens in their winter state. The skating rink at Hyde Park is capable of holding 400 people at a time and both rinks should be booked in advance.
Planning and enjoying the ice skating rinks
If you are planning on going ice skating at any of these rinks, please remember that these are outdoors and appropriate clothing – including rain gear – should be brought with you in case the weather turns bad. If you are going to be renting skate, arrive about 20 minutes before your scheduled session to fit your skates, especially if you are going to be fitting children’s skates. You are permitted to bring your own skates and the rink staff will inspect them to make sure they are suitable. There is a cloakroom available to check your items and wheelchair users are welcome to come out and enjoy ‘skating’ through all sessions except the last one of the day.