Winter in London has a reliable ritual: historic courtyards and palaces sprout outdoor ice rinks, fairy lights go up, and everyone pretends they can skate. For 2026, the capital's seasonal line-up spans Tudor grounds, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a shopping centre car park-adjacent rink, with sessions running from late October through early January.
The headline act remains Skate at Somerset House, where the neoclassical courtyard and its 40-foot Christmas tree open to skaters from 11 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. This year brings a Virgin Atlantic Holidays rink-side Clubhouse, raclette from the Chalet by Jimmy Garcia, and the return of Skate Lates — DJ-led evening parties on Wednesdays to Fridays from 8pm, with collectives like Netil Radio and Daytimers behind the decks. There's even a K-pop Party on 23 November, timed for BTS and BLACKPINK fans.
For scenery, Hampton Court Palace (20 November–3 January) lets you glide in the shadow of Henry VIII's home, with a newly redesigned café-bar inspired by William III's Orangery. In Greenwich, the Queen's House rink (18 November–3 January) has doubled in size for 2026 while keeping capacity the same, so there's more room per skater — plus a 'skate-off pit lane', quiet sessions and free skating for kids at selected times.
Battersea Power Station's Glide (6 November–3 January) is the most unusual setup: three interconnecting rinks circling a giant tree, plus a 200-metre riverside skate trail along the Thames. Leicester Square (until 3 January) loops its rink around the Shakespeare statue and runs sessions starting every 15 minutes — the most flexible ticket in town if your plans are loose. Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park (19 November–3 January) lays claim to the UK's largest open-air rink, complete with penguin skate aids for small children and an entire funfair, German market and street-food scene around it.
Budget-wise, expect seasonal rink tickets from roughly £10–£15, rising to £20–£25 or more at weekends and near Christmas. Skate hire is usually included but check when booking — weekday morning and afternoon off-peak slots are the cheapest bet. Brent Cross's On Ice is among the earliest openers (from 23 October), with 45-minute sessions from £13 for children and £15 for adults including skates.
If you'd rather skate without the tinsel, London also keeps year-round venues going: Alexandra Palace (festive skates 9 December–4 January, but open all year), Streatham Ice Rink and Lee Valley Ice Centre all offer lessons, public sessions and the odd ice hockey match.
Who's it for? Couples after a romantic evening will lean Somerset House or Hampton Court; families with young kids get the most from Winter Wonderland, Brent Cross or Leicester Square's skate aids; and anyone who'd rather dance than pirouette should book a Skate Lates slot at Somerset House. Sessions sell out fast as Christmas approaches, so booking ahead — and checking whether skate hire is included — is worth doing before you turn up.
