Ice skating in London
A number of London’s top tourist attractions are transformed in ice rinks during the festive season. With eleven rinks to choose from, you are bound to find one near you! And for this year, for the first time ever, the O2 will be transformed, since there will be two artificial 45 metre indoor ski slopes! Thus, you’ll be able to ski, snowboard or even snow tube.
Ice rinks guide
Open all year round
Monday to Friday 11am-1.30pm/2-5.30pm, Weekends 10.30am-12.30pm / 2-4.30pm, Evenings Friday to Sunday, 8.30-11pm
Get your skates on whatever the weather at Ally Pally’s indoor rink. There’s loads of other icy activities on offer too.
Tickets: Adults £6 / Kids & concessions £5 (weekdays daytime) / Adults £7 / Kids and concessions £6 (evenings & weekends)
Where: Alexandra Palace, Wood Green, London N22
Tube: Wood Green
ASDA’s Battersea Winter Wonderland
24 to 30 November
11am to 9pm (last ticket 8pm) daily
Combine shopping and skating for one special week only at ASDA! Call 08700 666 844 for tickets
Tickets:£6Where: Elspeth Open Space, Lavender Hill, London SW11
BR: Clapham Junction
Bluewater
6 November 2008 to 3 January 2009from 10am to 10pm daily.
Combine your Christmas shopping with a visit to Bluewater’s new outdoor ice rink in the Water Circus.
Tickets: Adults £10/£7.50 (off peak), under-12s £7.50/£5 (off peak), family ticket £28/£20 (off peak).
Where: Bluewater, Greenhithe, Kent DA9
BR: Greenhithe for Bluewater
Broadgate Ice
15 November 2008 to 8 March 2009
Mon/Tue/Fri noon-2pm/3-5pm/6-8.30pm, Wed/Thur noon-2pm/3-5pm then private hire, Weekends 11am-1pm/2-4pm/5-8.30pm
Enjoy the City’s circular ice rink and combine the pleasure with a trip to the conveniently nearby Spitalfields Market.
Tickets: Adults £8, Concessions and under-16s £5, Skate hire: £2 adults.
Where: Broadgate Circle, London EC2
BR/Tube: Liverpool Street
Canary Wharf
22 November 2008 to 22 February 2009
Monday to Saturday from 10am to 10.30pm, Sunday from 10am to 8pm.
Take to the ice, against the backdrop of the famous Canary Wharf towers.
Tickets: Adults £10 to £12, Concessions and 12-16s £9, under-12s £7.50, Family ticket £32 (four).
Where: Canada Square Park, London E14
Tube: Canary Wharf
Ealing Ice Rink
28 November 2008 to 4 January 2009
9.45am to 10pm daily (closed Xmas Day).
Enjoy the atmosphere at this family-friendly outdoor rink, among the trees at Ealing’s Haven Green.
Tickets: Adults £8.50-9.50 / Kids & concessions £7.50
Where: Haven Green, London W5
Tube: Ealing Broadway
Hampstead Heath
29 November 2008 to 18 January 2009
10am to 10pm daily.
Enjoy a brisk walk on the heath followed by a session on the ice, perfect for a winter day out.
Tickets: Adults £9.50, under-12s £7, family ticket £28.
Where: Parliament Hill Fields, London NW5
Tube: Archway / Kentish Town
To purchase Hampstead Heath Ice Rink tickets please call 01268 764 437
Hampton Court
29 November 2008 to to 11 January 2008
10am to 10pm daily.
Hampton Court Palace and the Thames provide a splendid backdrop to this outdoor rink.
Tickets: Adults £9.50, under-12s £7.50, student and OAP concessions £8, family ticket £30.
Where: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8
BR: Hampton Court
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
22 November 2008 to 4 January 2009
10am to 10pm daily.
Set inside the grounds of the splendid Somerset House, alongside the Thames.
Tickets: Adults £10 / Children £7.50 / Family ticket (4) £28.
Where: The Strand, London WC2
Tube: Embankment
Kew Gardens
29 November 2008 to 4 January 2009
10am to 10pm daily.
Combine ice skating with a trip to beautiful Kew Gardens.
Tickets: Adults £11.50/£10 (off peak) / Children £8/7.50 (off peak) / Family ticket(4) £32/£30 (off peak)
Where: The Strand, London WC2
Tube/BR: Kew Gardens
Natural History Museum
6 November 2008 to 18 January 2009
10am to 10pm daily.
Take a day out to visit one of London’s finest museums and chill out with a spin on the ice.
Tickets: Adults £10.50 to £12; under-12s £7.50; Family ticket £30, UB40, students and OAP concessions £9.50 before 4pm and £11 from 4pm to closing.
Where: Cromwell Road, London SW7
Tube: South Kensington
The Slopes at The O2
27 November 2008 to 25 January 2009
11am to 10pm daily.
Continuing its transformation, The O2 opens two 45 metre indoor ski slopes where you’ll be able to try skiing, snowboarding and even snow tubing! The slopes are for those with experience only, but don’t worry if you haven’t any as there’s expert tuition available too!
Tickets: Ski/snowboard: £15, Snow tube: £8.
Where: The O2, Peninsula Square, Greenwich, London SE10
Tube: North Greenwich
Private Lessons available by contacting the O2’s Groups department on: 0844 844 2121.
Somerset House
19 November 2008 to 25 January 2009
10am to 10pm daily.
Set inside the grounds of the splendid Somerset House, alongside the Thames.
Tickets: Adults £10 /£12.50 evenings/£15 late, under-12s £7, family ticket £29.
Where: The Strand, London WC2
Tube: Embankment
Tower of London
22 November 2008 to 11 January 2009
10am to 10pm daily.
Outdoor skating by the Thames in the grounds of one of the capital’s most iconic tourist attractions.
Tickets: Adults £12/£10 (off peak), Concessions: £11 / £9.50 (off peak) under-16s: £8/£7.50 (off peak) family ticket: £32/£30 (off peak).
Where: Tower of London, London EC3
Tube: Fenchurch St / London Bridge