10 Cool Places to Go Ice Skating in London in 2021

London is an impossibly cool city anyway, but over the festive period, these places to go ice skating in London increase the cool factor in more ways than one. Visiting a London ice rink is one of the best things to do with kids at Christmas and it’s when London really comes alive with all the twinkling Christmas lights.

Being the historic city that London is, of course it had to be the first place in the world to have a mechanically frozen ice rink, the Glaciarium, which opened in 1844. There are now lots of London ice rinks.

There are the big hitters like the Tower of London Ice Rink, Somerset House Ice Rink and The Natural History Museum Ice Rink but also some lesser known ice skating rinks in London. London really is one of the best cities in the UK to visit at Christmas.

Our top tip for ice skating in London? Arrive around 20 minutes before your session to sort your skates out.

Natural History Museum Ice Skating

Ice skating Natural History Museum – probably the most festive ice skating London can offer is the NHM ice rink. The epic backdrop of the Natural History Museum, one of the most iconic sights in London, is hard to beat.

There’s also a huge Christmas tree in the middle of the rink. We highly recommend this one if you’re looking for something to do at Christmas in London. Skate aids are available.

If you have time, why not turn up a little early and pop in to the Natural History Museum? It’s one of the best museums in the world and one of the many free things to do in London with kids.

When: 22nd October to 16th January 2022.

Price: Adult – from £12.65, Child – from £8.80.

Where: The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.

Nearest tube: South Kensington.

Somerset House Ice Skating

Ice skating Somerset House – competes with the Natural History Museum for the most beautiful location for a spot of London ice skating.

The Somerset House ice rink  has teamed up with Moet & Chandon and created a mini Christmas market next to the rink offering the best of their food, drink and gifts. Skate aids are available.

On certain evenings there are special music events (Skate Lates). Tickets prices for these events are more.

When: 17th November to 16th January 2022.

Price: Adult – from £11.00, Child (under 12) – from £8.50.

Where: Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA.

Nearest tube: Temple.

Hampton Court Ice Skating

Hampton Court is one of the most impressive Royal Palaces in the world. A quick 30-minute train journey out of the centre of London to the Hampton Court ice rink is well worth it.

The ice rink is located in the gardens of the Tudor palace and if you feel like warming up, there’s the Hampton Court Palace ice rink café and bar. Ice skating in the evening is particularly special with the palace façade illuminated. Skate aids are available.

When: 19th November 2021 to 2nd January 2022 from 10.00 am to 21.00 (except Christmas Day).

Price: Adult – from £16.00, Child (3-12) – from £11.50 for 45 minute sessions. Skate Aid – £5.00 (must be pre-booked).

Where: Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Court Way, Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9AU.

Nearest tube: Hampton Court Station (overland train) on the SouthWestern Railway from London Waterloo.

Tower of London Ice Skating

The large open space outside the imposing walls of the Tower of London is the ideal space for ice skating in London. The Tower of London is one of the most impressive castles in England and you can’t get much more of an impressive backdrop for an ice rink.

The ice rink at the Tower of London is arguably best visited in the early evening when the Tower lights are just coming on and make for a stunning illuminated backdrop to the rink. Skate aids are available and must be booked in advance.

When: This will not open in 2021.

Price: N/A

Where: Tower of London, St Katherine’s & Wapping, London, EC3N 4AB

Nearest tube: Tower Hill

Alexandra Palace Ice Skating

The Alexandra Palace Ice Rink is now open and offers fun skating sessions on an indoor rink. Ally Pally ice skating lessons are also available (although very popular). Skate aids are available for an extra charge.

It is one of the best places to go ice skating in London all year round.

When: All year – 11.00 to 17.30 weekdays and 11.00 to 18.00 weekends.

Price: (Weekdays) Adult – £9.00, Child (5-16) – £8.00, Under 5 – £6.00 | (Weekends) Adult – £9.50, Child (5-16) – £8.50, Under 5 – £6.50.

Where: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY.

Nearest tube: Wood Green (although the Alexandra Palace overground station is closer – trains depart Moorgate).

Ice Rink Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf ice skating is back in 2020 in Canada Square Park. The modern skycrapers of Canary Wharf provide a complete polar opposite to the historic backdrops of the Tower and Natural History Museum.

There’s also a huge screen providing an ever changing backdrop. Polar bear skate aids are available for little ones and the Grandstand Bar looks out onto the rink if you just want to watch.

When: 23rd October 2021 to 26th February 2022.

Price: £17.95 per adult / £11.95 per child (4 – 12).

Where: Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB.

Nearest tube: Canary Wharf.

Skylight Ice Rink

The Skylight rooftop bar is home to one of London’s lesser known ice skating rinks and a real hidden gem in London. How cool is a rooftop ice rink? If you’re popping here for a skate and fancy a bite, it’s one of six restaurants in London with igloos. It’s a really family-friendly place to eat in London. Skate aids are available.

When: TBC

Price: £12.00 for 45 minutes. No booking required. Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis. Skate aids are included.

Where: Skylight, Tobacco Dock, Pennington Street, Wapping, London, E1W 2SF.

Nearest tube: Shadwell.

Queen’s House Ice Rink

The Queen’s House Greenwich ice rink is located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the grounds of the Royal Museums Greenwich with amazing views of the River Thames. Skate aids are available.

When: 18th November 2021 to 9th January 2022 (except Christmas Day).

Price: Adult – from £15.00, Child (3-15) – from £8.50. There’s a one off booking fee of £2.95 and skate aids must be pre-booked (£5.00). Sessions last 45 minutes.

Where: Queen’s House, Romney Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF.

Nearest tube: Cutty Sark.

Winter Wonderland Ice Skating

The Winter Wonderland ice rink is the centrepiece of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland set around the Victorian band stand in Hyde Park. It’s the largest outdoor skating rink in the UK and sessions get booked up quickly. There are penguin skate aids available for kids.

When: 19th November 2021 to 3rd January 2022.

Price: Adult – from £10.50, Child (3-15) – from £7.50.

Where: Hyde Park

Nearest tube: Hyde Park Corner

Camden Market Ice Rink

Camden’s Ice Rink is located in Camden Market’s North Yard. It’s a long, narrow rink with skate aids for both adults and kids and one of the coolest places to go ice skating in London.

When: TBC

Price: TBC

Where: Camden Market, North Yard, Chalk Farm Road, Camden, London, NW1 8AH

Nearest tube: Chalk Farm, Camden Town

Watch this space…

In 2019 there was a pop up ice rink in Covent Garden in association with Tiffany & Co. There is a chance of more pop ups in 2021 so we will keep an eye on this and update accordingly.

Looking for family accommodation in London?

Looking for the perfect, family-friendly hotel in London to complete your visit to London?

We recommend the following:

Luxury

The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences – Located in Mayfair, this is a 5 star luxury aparthotel with a difference. We find it so useful when staying in hotels in with kids to have a kitchen. They also have a kids’ concierge service where they arrange your kid’s favourite DVDs and treats for the room. Guest can use all of the hotel facilities and they have a pool.

See also:

The Ritz – Located on Piccadilly near Hyde Park Corner. One of the most well-known hotels in London. The Ritz being the Ritz, they have a Very Important Kids programme providing anything a child could want in their hotel room. Children under 15 stay for free with their parents in a Junior Suite or above.

The Rubens at the Palace – Located near Buckingham Palace. This boutique hotel has their own Director of Fun and Adventure to organise activities for kids. Children under 12 stay and eat for free and there’s a 6pm check out on Sundays.

St Ermin’s – Located near St James’s Park. They offer a kids concierge to take care of the kids needs with fun and games inside of the hotel as well as outside. They even have their own bee hotel within the hotel. There are 2 new rooms that cater for families of 6. They also do a fabulous afternoon tea for kids.

Mid-Range

Park Plaza County Hall – Located near the London Eye, this is an excellent, centrally located mid-range family hotel in London. If booking the Family Getaway Package, they offer goody bags for kids at check-in and ‘Park Plaza money’ to spend in the Spectrum Bar and complimentary breakfast for children up to 12 years old. There are also interconnecting rooms for larger families.

Budget

Premier Inn Waterloo – Located by Westminster Bridge near the London Eye. Family hotels in London can be eye-wateringly expensive but the Premier Inn is a great, no-frills budget family hotel in London option if you are looking for a central location.

Map of the places to go ice skating in London