The best ice skating in London for 2025
London’s most beloved Christmas activity is back. As festive cheer returns to the city, with twinkling lights and the scent of mulled wine drifting through the air, for many Londoners and visitors from further afield, nothing quite captures the spirit of the city at Christmas like strapping on a pair of skates and stepping onto the ice.
Skating in London offers once again a variety of settings to enjoy, from a grand neoclassical courtyard at Somerset House, to a Tudor palace glowing by lantern light at Hampton Court, or the towering skyscrapers of Canary Wharf mirrored in the ice. This year, there are also two new ice rinks in the city, giving skaters even more magical spaces to glide and enjoy. Whether you are a confident skater gliding across the rink or someone who clings determinedly to the barrier with mittened hands, the experience is the same, a feeling of festive joy that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
Here is your essential guide to the best places to ice skate in London this Christmas…
Skate at Somerset House
Skate at Somerset House returns (12 November 2025 – 11 January 2026). Image credit Owen Harvey. Courtesy of Somerset House.
#FLODown: No rink captures the romance of Christmas in London quite like Somerset House. Its 18th‑century courtyard transforms into a festive scene with a giant Christmas tree, twinkling lights, and music echoing off the stone façades. By day, it’s perfect for families; by night, Skate Lates (DJ nights) bring a lively atmosphere with women‑led acts from Foundation FM, NTS Radio, Ruf Dug, and Sue Veneers. Rink‑side, the Skate Lounge and The Chalet by Whispering Angel offer warming treats like raclette, mince‑pie desserts, mulled wine, and hot chocolate, while a Shelter Boutique pop‑up sells pre-loved designer goods to support the charity Shelter.
Date: 12 November 2025 – 11 January 2026. Location: Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA. Price: £11 - £26.50. Book now
Glide at Battersea Power Station
Image courtesy of Glide at Battersea Power Station
#FLODown: Glide at Battersea Power Station features three interconnected ice rinks circling a 30‑foot Christmas tree, set against the distinctive backdrop of the historic power station. The riverside location is complemented by festive food and drink stalls, seasonal entertainment, and vintage fairground rides, making it easy to enjoy a full winter outing beyond skating. This year, a new Skate Trail connects the ice loops for a smoother flow around the rink.
Date: 7 November 2025 – 4 January 2026. Location: Battersea Power Station, Circus Road West, Nine Elms, London SW11 8EZ. Price: Adults from £23.10; children from £16.50. Book now
Queen’s House Ice Rink
Image courtesy of Queen’s House Ice Rink
#FLODown: Set within the UNESCO-listed grounds of Maritime Greenwich, the Queen’s House rink is one of London’s most elegant. With its classical colonnades and sweeping views of the Thames and Canary Wharf, skating here feels both historic and atmospheric. Smaller and quieter than central venues, it’s perfect for those who prefer a calmer experience.
Date: 21 November 2025 – 4 January 2026. Location: Queen’s House, Romney Road, Greenwich, London , SE10 9NF. Price: Adults around £19 - £21.95; children £16.60 - £19. Book now
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
Image courtesy of Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
#FLODown: Few backdrops are as enchanting as Henry VIII’s palace at twilight. The Hampton Court rink lies just outside the palace walls, with the red-brick Tudor façade glowing in the background. It’s one of the larger rinks, with plenty of space to glide, and it’s especially magical when combined with a daytime visit to the historic palace itself.
Date: 21 November 2025 – 4 January 2026. Location: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, KT8. Price: from £18.00 for adult, £16.50 for student, and £13.50 for child. Book now
Skate Leicester Square
Image credit Skate Leicester Square
#FLODown: Making its debut for Christmas 2025, Skate Leicester Square brings a brand-new festive experience to the heart of London’s West End. The rink will encircle the iconic Shakespeare statue, creating a magical skating space surrounded by twinkling lights, market stalls, and seasonal treats. Visitors can take to the ice in the heart of the city before enjoying mulled wine, street food, and Christmas shopping at the nearby pop-up market, all while supporting the Angel Child Fund through an optional donation with each ticket.
Date: 1 November 2025 – 4 January 2026. Location: Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7DE. Price: Adults from £14.50, Children from £9.50 (45-minute sessions). Book now
ICE at Bussey Rooftop Bar
Image courtesy of ICE at Bussey Rooftop Bar
#FLODown: A brand-new addition to London’s festive line-up, ICE at Bussey Rooftop Bar transforms Peckham’s iconic Bussey Building into the capital’s highest rooftop ice rink. Set against sweeping views of the city skyline, the rink offers an intimate, atmospheric setting where visitors can glide beneath a canopy of fairy lights, enjoy live DJ sets, and warm up with mulled wine and street food.
Date: 17 November 2025 – 1 January 2026. Location: Bussey Building Rooftop, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 4ST. Price: Adults from £14, Children from £9. Book now
Canary Wharf Ice Rink
Image courtesy Canary Wharf Ice Rink
#FLODown: If you want to skate whatever the weather, Canary Wharf is your best bet. Its rink is covered, so rain won’t spoil the fun, and the mirrored skyscrapers create a dramatic backdrop for evening sessions. There are bars and restaurants nearby for post-skate dining, and the rink runs later into the season than anywhere else in London.
Date: 25 October 2025 – 22 February 2026. Location: Ice Rink Canary Wharf, Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB. Price: from £13.95 adult/child. Book now
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Image courtesy of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
#FLODown: The UK’s largest open-air ice rink will return to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland for Christmas 2025, offering skaters a festive experience set around the historic Victorian bandstand under a canopy of twinkling lights. The rink features 45-minute skating sessions, with advance arrival recommended, and penguin skating aids are available for younger children. Surrounded by Winter Wonderland’s famous (and rather expensive) Christmas markets, street food stalls, rides, and live entertainment, it provides a magical seasonal atmosphere in the heart of London.
Date: 14 November 2025 – 1 January 2026. Location: Hyde Park, London W2 2UH. Price: Adults from £11.50, Children from £8.50 (varies by timeslot / peak periods). Book now
Alexandra Palace Ice Rink
Image courtesy of Alexandra Palace Ice Rink
#FLODown: Ally Pally’s year-round rink comes into its own at Christmas. The indoor arena is festooned with festive decorations, offering a reliable skating option whatever the weather. With its large size, it’s ideal for groups and families, and afterwards you can explore the park and enjoy sweeping views of the London skyline.
Date: Open all year; festive programme from late November 2025. Location: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY. Price: from £11 adults. Book now
