Okay, so if you aren’t a Torvill or Dean or Tonya Harding, then ‘gliding’ might be an exaggeration. Nevertheless, London’s finest ice skating rinks are still can’t-miss Christmas experiences. So, even if you’re not pirouetting above the ice, you can cautiously inch your way alongside the handrails with the best of them! Get your skates on ASAP, as these are the best ice skating rinks in the capital this year.
1. Skate at Somerset House, open from November 12 till January 11, 2026
Amongst the most iconic of the city’s ice rinks, the Somerset House rink is not to be missed. Each year, the area transforms into a wonderful winter destination. Their popular Skate Lates evening sessions are returning for 2025, as well as chilled-out sessions (with reduced capacity and lower music), and a Skate Club for kids. That’s not to mention the wealth of food and drink, and even more events to check out.
📍 You’ll find the Somerset House ice rink at Somerset House on the Strand, WC2R 1LA.
🚇 Nearest station: Temple.
🎟️ Details on tickets and more can be found here.
2. Hampton Court Palace, open from November 21 to January 4, 2026
Now this is a right royal skating experience. The sixteenth-century palace makes for a stunning backdrop, particularly when night rolls around and the illuminations begin. The food is hot, the drinks are boozy, and you’ll feel like royalty come night’s end. Given that the royal ice rink at the Tower of London doesn’t look to ever be coming back, the festive occasion here is sure to provide you with your fill.
📍 You’ll find Hampton Court Palace in East Molesey, KT8 9AU.
🚇 Nearest station: Hampton Court (National Rail).
🎟️ Tickets can be bought here.
A brand new ice rink is arriving this year, and it doesn’t get much more central than this. Leicester Square welcomes a rink to its festive space for the first time, and we’ll get our first glimpse of it in less than a month from now. They’ll run 45-minute skate sessions that kick off every 15 minutes between 10am and 10pm each day throughout the festive period , so you can spin around the ice before sipping on a mulled wine and enjoy a potter around the market afterwards.
📍 You’ll find Skate at Leicester Square, WC2H 7LU.
🚇 Nearest station: Leicester Square.
🎟️ Details on tickets and more can be found here.
4. Ice Rink Canary Wharf, open from October 25 to February 22, 2026
Returning for 2025 is one of the longest-running of the ice rinks on this list: you’ll be able to enjoy the action on this ice rink for a whopping 17 weeks. That’s almost four full months! You’ll find the spot over at Canada Square Park, and you’ll be bowled over by their spectacular roof, boasting over 1,000 lights to give you a suitably festive feel. Plus, that sparkling disco ball just adds a wonderful touch.
📍 You’ll find Canary Wharf ice rink at Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, E14 5AB
🚇 Nearest station is Canary Wharf (E14).
🎟️ Tickets can be bought here.
5. Alexandra Palace ice rink, open all year round
While this may be a permanent fixture, whatever the season, in London’s ice rink scene, there are plenty of reasons to choose Ally Pally ice rink as your festive skating spot. You’ll catch the ice rink turning into a festive paradise over the holidays, with mulled wine, and warming food and drink to sip and munch between spins around the rink. It also transforms into a disco dance floor on selected dates, meaning you can belt out some bangers as you glide around the historic hall. Ideal, right?
📍 You’ll find the Alexandra Palace ice rink at Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY.
🚇 Nearest station: Wood Green.
🎟️ Tickets can be bought here.
6. Glide At Battersea, open November 7 to January 4, 2026
2021 sadly saw us saying goodbye to the ice rink at the Natural History Museum. Luckily for us, the same team behind it gave us a brand-new one over at London’s impressive Battersea Power Station: Glide At Battersea Power Station. Glide is coming back this year on November 7, and boasts a towering 30ft Christmas tree, vintage fairground rides, twinkling lights, street food galore and more. That’s not to mention the panoramic views of the historic building and a plethora of destinations to eat and shop.
📍 You’ll find Glide at Battersea at Circus Road West, Nine Elms, London, SW8 5BN.
🚇 Nearest station: Battersea Power Station.
🎟️ Tickets can be bought here.
Proving once and for all that Winter Wonderland does nothing by halves, Hyde Park is setting up the largest open-air ice rink in the UK once again this Christmas! Skate around the Victorian bandstand under a canopy of glittering lights, and you may even get serenaded. Amidst everything that Winter Wonderland has to offer – from Christmas market stands to hair-raising rides, street food, and more – the ice rink remains one of our favourite parts every year.
📍 You’ll find the Winter Wonderland rink in Hyde Park, W2 2UH.
🚇 Nearest station: Hyde Park Corner.
🎟️ Details on tickets and more can be found here.
8. Queen’s House Ice Rink, from November 21 to January 4, 2026
It’s not often you get to twirl around the ice with the backdrop of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After taking a year off in 2024, the famous Queen’s House ice rink is returning for the festive season in Greenwich, and this time they’ve introduced a new ‘Pit Lane’ where you can break for a hot chocolate or mulled wine before hitting the ice again. You’ll also, of course, be able to grab some of these at the Zero Degrees restaurant, which also offers up pizza, mac ‘n’ cheese, and more to warm you up after a pirouette or two on the rink.
📍 You’ll find the ice rink at Queen’s House, Greenwich, SE10 9NF.
🚇 Nearest station: Greenwich.
🎟️ Tickets can be found here.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best ice rinks in London this festive season. Whether you want to rock it like a royal at Hampton Court or check out a wintry wonderland, this roundup should have you more than covered this year!
