Best Ice Skating Rinks in London for Christmas (2026)
A courtyard skate under a 40ft tree, a riverside trail at Battersea, a Tudor palace and an indoor Christmas session: where to skate in London for 2026–27.
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London's best Christmas skating is as much about where you are as what's under your feet. You can skate beneath a 40ft tree in an 18th-century courtyard, follow a trail along the Thames at Battersea, or circle the ice in front of Henry VIII's palace.
This guide covers eight Christmas rinks and three year-round indoor options for 2026–27, with what you'll actually pay at each one.
The quick answer: Somerset House is our first choice for the classic London skate. Glide at Battersea is the date night, Queen's House is the family day out and Hampton Court has the grandest backdrop. Book Alexandra Palace's Festive Skate if you want the Christmas atmosphere without the weather.
London's Christmas ice rinks at a glance
| Rink | Best for | 2026–27 dates | Adult ticket | Family of four | Time on the ice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset House | The classic London skate | 11 Nov–10 Jan | £14.50–£30 | 10% off family bookings | 45 minutes |
| Glide at Battersea Power Station | A date night | 6 Nov–3 Jan | £19.56–£28.76 | £59.84–£69.04 | 45 minutes; longer on some weekday mornings |
| Queen's House, Greenwich | A family day out | 18 Nov–3 Jan | £16.80–£26.88 | £49.28–£66.08 | Up to 45 minutes |
| Hampton Court Palace | A historic backdrop | 20 Nov–3 Jan | £21–£23 | £65.48–£71.48 | Up to 45 minutes |
| Alexandra Palace Festive Skate | Christmas indoors | 9 Dec–4 Jan | £18 | £66 for two adults and two under-12s | Sessions start every two hours |
| Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park | A full festive evening | 19 Nov–3 Jan | £12.65–£19.25, plus event entry | £37.40–£55, plus event entry | 45 minutes |
| Skate Leicester Square | A West End add-on | 31 Oct–3 Jan | £15–£24.50 | £42–£72 | 45 minutes |
| ONICE Brent Cross | An easy north London outing | 23 Oct–3 Jan | £15 | £50 | 45 minutes |
The best Christmas ice rinks in London
We chose these for the whole outing: the setting, the atmosphere, the price and how easily each one fits into your day. Most are open-air, so check the forecast and pack gloves.
Skate at Somerset House
Strand, London WC2R 1LA, UK
Somerset House is the one we'd book for a first Christmas in London. The rink fills an 18th-century courtyard beneath a 40ft tree, and it feels like an occasion before you've picked up your skates. Go after dark if you can. Skate Lates bring DJs to selected Wednesday to Friday nights, The Chalet serves raclette, and anyone who isn't skating can watch for free from the viewing platform or the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. It gets busy, so think of it as a Christmas night out more than a chance to work on your crossovers. Details: Open 11 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. Adults £14.50–£30 and children £12.50–£16.50, including the booking fee and skate hire. Sessions last 45 minutes, plus 90-minute lunchtime skates on 11, 17 and 23 November. Arrive 30 minutes early. The RoamRecs move: First-timers should book one of the four relaxed sessions on 22 November, 2 and 8 December or 3 January. They have fewer skaters, quieter music and a space to take a break.
Glide at Battersea Power Station
Nine Elms, London SW11 8EF, UK
Glide is our pick when skating is only the start of the evening. Three connected rinks and a 200-metre trail make it more fun than a single rectangle, with the chimneys on one side and the Thames on the other. Afterwards, there's food and drink at The Glass House, vintage fairground rides and more than 170 shops, bars and restaurants around the power station. Friends who'd rather watch can sit at the Glass House Bar without a skating ticket. Details: Open 6 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Adults £19.56–£28.76 and children £12.07–£18.40, including fees and skate hire. Standard sessions last about 45 minutes. Arrive at least 40 minutes early, or 20 minutes early for the first session of the day. The RoamRecs move: Look for Extended Skate on weekday mornings until 4 December. You can stay on until 2:40pm through 20 November and 1:40pm after that, and it costs barely more than a standard session.
The Queen's House Ice Rink
Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF, UK
Queen's House is our favourite way to build skating into a day in Greenwich. The rink has doubled in size this year while keeping the same capacity, so there's more room to find your feet, and the views run across the Thames to Canary Wharf. It's also the most family-minded rink on this list. Kids skate free on Tuesdays from 4pm to 6pm between 23 November and 18 December, Parent & Mini Skater sessions run on weekdays from 2pm to 3pm until 18 December, and Monday SEND sessions run from 3pm to 4pm. Details: Open 18 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Adults £16.80–£26.88, children £11.20–£22.40 and families of four £49.28–£66.08, including fees and skate hire. Sessions last up to 45 minutes. Arrive 30–40 minutes early. You can change your ticket up to 24 hours before your session. The RoamRecs move: Spend the day at the National Maritime Museum or inside the Queen's House, which are both free, then skate after dark when the house is lit up.
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
Hampton Ct Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU, UK
Hampton Court is the choice when you want the skate to feel like a proper excursion. The rink sits in front of the palace's West Front, so you're skating right beside Henry VIII's home, and it looks even better lit up at night. It's about 35 minutes by train from Waterloo, so give it an afternoon or evening of its own. Spectating is free, and the rinkside café does hot chocolate, mulled wine and hot toddies. Details: Open 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Adults £21–£23, children £16–£17.50 and families of four £65.48–£71.48, including booking fees and skate hire. Sessions last up to 45 minutes. Arrive 30–40 minutes early. Under-13s need an adult on the ice, and phones and cameras can't be used while you skate. The RoamRecs move: See the palace by day, then skate after dark. Winter Palace runs from 28 November to 3 January and the Festive Fayre runs 4–6 and 11–13 December. Both need palace admission, which isn't part of your skating ticket.
Alexandra Palace Festive Skate
Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY, UK
Festive Skate is the best answer if you want Christmas atmosphere without gambling on the weather. A towering tree, twinkling lights, festive music and a sprinkle of falling snow turn the palace's indoor rink into a proper seasonal outing. Finish with a mince pie and mulled wine at the East Court Café. It's on the main list for its atmosphere, and the roof is a bonus. Details: Open 9 December 2026 to 4 January 2027. Adults £18, under-12s and over-65s £15, and under-5s £8.50, with skate hire included. On most days, sessions start every two hours from 11am. The minimum age is three, and under-8s need an adult on the ice. Adults supervising under-16s without skating need a spectator ticket. Arrive 15 minutes early. The RoamRecs move: Skate aids are sold at the rink on a first-come basis and can't be booked online. If a nervous child is counting on one, get there early.
Ice Skating at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park, Serpentine Rd, London W2 2UH, UK
Winter Wonderland is the pick when you want the whole production. The UK's largest open-air ice rink wraps around the Victorian bandstand under a canopy of lights, and the skate is one part of a much bigger night of rides, food and shows. It suits groups who are excited about the full event. If you just want a simple skate and an easy exit, one of the rinks above will suit you better. Details: Open 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Advance adult tickets are £12.65–£19.25 and children's tickets are £9.35–£13.75, including skate hire and fees. You also need a timed event entry ticket, at £5.50 for standard slots and £8.25 for peak slots. Every £25 you spend on activities in one online booking unlocks one free entry ticket. Sessions last 45 minutes, and you should be at the rink 20 minutes early. Phones aren't allowed on the ice, and bags cost £2 per item in the cloakroom. The RoamRecs move: Choose your entry slot first, leave plenty of time to get through the gates and across the site, then book your skate. Off-peak slots are the cheapest for both entry and skating.
Skate Leicester Square
Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LU, UK
Skate Leicester Square earns its place on convenience. The rink circles the Shakespeare statue in the middle of the West End, with a seasonal bar and Christmas market stalls beside it and sessions starting every 15 minutes. It's an easy add-on before a show or dinner. Choose it for the location, since Somerset House and Glide make for a bigger night out. Details: Open 31 October 2026 to 3 January 2027. Adults £15–£24.50, children £10–£18 and families of four £42–£72, with skate hire included. Sessions last 45 minutes. There are no lockers or cloakroom, so anything you can't carry stays in the boot room at your own risk. Photos aren't allowed on the ice. The RoamRecs move: Skate before you shop, and leave extra time to return your skates if you've got a theatre booking.
ONICE Brent Cross
Prince Charles Dr, Brent Cross, London NW4 3AJ, UK
ONICE isn't trying to compete with a palace courtyard, and that's fine. It's set in the John Lewis car park at Brent Cross, with free parking at the shopping centre, so it's a simple choice for north London families combining a skate with shopping or a meal. We wouldn't make a special trip for the scenery, but it's easy, good value and low on fuss. Details: Open 23 October 2026 to 3 January 2027. Adults £15 and children £13, with skate hire included. Sessions last 45 minutes and start on the hour. Arrive 20 minutes early. Regular weekday sessions start at 3pm, so check the calendar for daytime slots. Skate aids cost £5 for under-10s below 110cm. The RoamRecs move: Buy the £50 family ticket if you're a group of four with one or two adults. It saves £4–£6 on separate tickets.
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Year-round indoor rinks in London
These three won't give you a Christmas tree in a courtyard. Book one when you care more about time on the ice, need a roof, or live nearby.
QUEENS, Bayswater
17 Queensway, London W2 4QP, UK
QUEENS has been running since 1930 and pairs skating with bowling, darts and MEATliquor, so it's an easy pick for a group that wants more than one activity. Monday and Tuesday skating starts at £8, Late Skate sessions start at £10 from 9pm, off-peak sessions start at £11.75 and peak sessions start at £13.75. Skate hire costs extra, so that £8 won't be your final total. It's 18+ from 8pm, with last entry for under-18s at 7pm, which makes Late Skate a good low-key date. This is QUEENS in Bayswater, so don't confuse it with the Queen's House rink in Greenwich.
Lee Valley Ice Centre
Lee Valley Ice Centre, Lea Bridge Rd, London E10 7QL, UK
Lee Valley is the place to go when the skating comes first. It has two Olympic-size rinks, and public sessions cost £16 for adults and £13 for juniors with skate hire included. During school holidays, Holiday Skate tickets cost the same, with a £52.50 family ticket. Rink users get up to four hours of free parking. Book a public or Holiday Skate session and skip the training slots.
Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre
390 Streatham High Rd, London SW16 6HX, UK
Streatham has been a south London skating institution for more than 80 years, with an Olympic-size 60m by 30m rink and 60-minute public sessions. That's 15 minutes more than most Christmas rinks give you. Skate hire and penguin aids are available, and children under 8 need a skating adult with them. Book ahead, and make sure you've picked a public session.
What to know before you book
Your start time isn't your arrival time. Glide asks for at least 40 minutes, Queen's House and Hampton Court for 30–40, Somerset House for 30, Winter Wonderland and Brent Cross for 20, and Alexandra Palace for 15. If you're late, you'll usually just get less time on the ice.
Budget for the extras. Skate aids cost £5–£7.50 at most rinks, and cloakrooms at Winter Wonderland and Queen's House cost £2 per item. Somerset House gives you your first item free. Somerset House, Hampton Court and Alexandra Palace are cashless, so bring a card.
Rain doesn't usually stop an outdoor rink. Skating continues in wet weather, and a bad forecast won't get you a refund. Wear gloves and something waterproof, and bring spare socks. If staying dry matters, book Alexandra Palace or one of the year-round rinks from the start.
Check access for your exact session. Wheelchair users can skate at any Somerset House session, and it also runs dedicated sessions. Hampton Court and Queen's House ask that a companion joins you on the ice, so add that to your booking plans.
The final verdict
For one memorable London Christmas skate, book Somerset House. If you'd rather make a whole evening of it, choose Glide. If you've got kids and a free day, go to Greenwich.
Whichever you pick, go after dark if you can, get there earlier than feels necessary, and leave time to enjoy what's around the rink.
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