1/8 Broadgate ice rink
Why go? Choose London’s longest running outdoor ice rink to go skating this winter.
Activities: Drink and dine at “The Tasting Room”, a newly added pop-up bar and smokehouse, while enjoying a spectacular view of the city.
Book: Tickets are £13.95 for adults, £9.95 for children (ages 4-12) and £36.50 for a family of four. Broadgate ice rink is open from 14th November to 2 February 2017.
2/8. Winter Wonderland
Why go? This is the UK’s largest ice rink set around a Victorian bandstand and lit up with over 100,000 lights.
Activities: Families can meet Santa in his grotto or watch Zippos Christmas Circus. Less strenuous activities include a big wheel, funhouse, ghost train and carousel.
Book: Hyde Park’s off-peak ice skating tickets are £14.50 for adults, £9.50 for children and £38.00 for families. Winter Wonderland is open from 18 November to January 2 2017.
3/8. The Natural History Museum
Why go? The Natural History Museum in South Kensington offers 1,000 square metres of ice and a restaurant, The Café Bar, that has festive-themed snacks and hot chocolate.
Activities: For younger skaters there is a junior rink and Penguin Skate aids (£5), as well as a carousel.
Book: Tickets online are £12.65 for adults, family tickets (multiples of four) are £8.80 each and children under 12 skate for £8.80 at off peak times. Families skate for£39.60. The ice rink is open from 27 October until 8 January 2017.
4/8. Skate at Somerset House with Fortnum & Mason
Why go? Somerset House offers after dark ice skating sessions set to a live soundtrack. Every Tuesday is Glad Tidings Tuesdays complete with Christmas treats and shopping at a pop up market, The Christmas Arcade with Fortnum & Mason (who are partners of Somerset House for Christmas 2014), which has an exclusive range featuring a bauble, charm, and hamper.
Activities: Add dinner at Tom’s Kitchen or stay at The Savoy. Children under six can join the penguin club and learn to ice skate.
Book: Tickets are £8.90 online for adults and £8.90 for children 12 and under. The ice rink is open from 18 November to 10 January 2016.
Photo by James Bryant
5/8. The Eden Project, Cornwall
Why go? Cornwall’s Eden Project has an ice rink with sessions for beginners, ice discos on various Friday evenings and food rink-side. Penguin aids are also available for the young ones.
Activities: For kids between 18 months and five years there is a special ice-play session with toys. For six to 12 year olds, junior sessions offer races and games, while for those between 12 and 18 there are ice discos where families can groove to the music.
Book: Tickets are £6 for children and £7 for adults. Buy them online. Eden Project’s ice rink is open from 15 October until 19 February 2017.
6/8. Hampton Court Palace
Why go? Skate at the oldest surviving Tudor Palace in England where Henry VIII once lived. It’s a beautiful backdrop during both the day as well as lit up at night.
Activities: After an hour-long skate session parents can enjoy some hot refreshments while children ride the carousel – make sure you leave time to explore the maze too.
Book: Book tickets online. £13.50 for adults, £9.50 for children (16 and under). £38 for a family group ticket. Ice at the Palace is open from 25 November to 8 January 2017.
7/8. Westfield London Ice Rink
Why go? Enjoy themed skating sessions with a live DJ when you skate at Westfield London. Take advantage of “bumper sessions” where you can skate until your skates become dull.
Activities: Watch a film at the cinema or enjoy a nice meal at a Westfield restaurant after you hang up your skates.
Book: Off-peak tickets are £10.50 for adults, £8.50 for children and £32.00 for a family of four. The ice rink is open from 24 November to 8 January 2017
8/8. The Ice Factor, Yorkshire
Why go? Visit the north of England’s largest outdoor ice rink in Yorkshire. Complete with a new rinkside Café, you can relax at rustic tables, and enjoy Christmas cocktails for grown ups, hot chocolate for kids and Nutella pancakes for all.
Activities: If you’re not completely exhausted after a day of skating, take a ride on the 1930s speedway, dodgems or the carousel. Let the kids excitement culminate with a chance to meet Father Christmas himself.
Book: Tickets can be purchased online for just £10.45 for adults, £9.45 for children (16 and under). £36 for a family of four group ticket. The rink is open from 19 November to 31 December 2016.