Where to go ice skating in London this Christmas 2026
Ice skating is one of London's great Christmas offerings. From the end of October the rinks appear in courtyards, parks and palace gardens, and by December they are one of the few things the whole city agrees on. These are our five picks for the season, from the courtyard at Somerset House and the only riverside rink in the city at Battersea Power Station to the rink in front of Henry VIII's home at Hampton Court Palace.
Skate Leicester Square
Skate Leicester Square. Image credit Nyla Sammons.
#FLODown: Skating circles the Shakespeare statue in the centre of the square, with the Christmas market stalls around it. Sessions last 45 minutes and begin every 15 minutes, and walk-ins are taken alongside advance bookings, so it is the easiest of the five to do on the day. It opened on 31 October, making it the first seasonal rink of the year, and skate hire is included in the price. The rink is presented by Underbelly, with ticket sales raising money for the Angel Child Fund at the Brain Tumour Charity.
Date: 31 October 2026 - 3 January 2027, closed 25 December. Location: Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LU. Time: daily 10am until 10pm, last session 9.15pm. Until 26 November the rink opens at midday Monday to Friday. Price: from £10, skate hire included. Book now
Skate at Somerset House
Skate at Somerset House returns (12 November 2025 – 11 January 2026). Image credit Owen Harvey. Courtesy of Somerset House.
#FLODown: The courtyard rink, under a 40ft Christmas tree, opened on 11 November and closes on 10 January, a week later than any other outdoor rink this year. Skate Lates return with DJs and collectives including Daytimers, Netil Radio, UKF and BUMPAH, and there is a first K-Pop party made with the Korean Cultural Centre UK. Reduced capacity relaxed sessions and dedicated wheelchair skating sessions are part of the programme, and a skate school is on site for beginners. Entry to the courtyard is free and a ticket is needed only to skate.
Date: 11 November 2026 - 10 January 2027, closed 25 December. Location: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA. Time: first session 11am, last session 9pm, with 9am, 10am and 10pm sessions on selected dates. Price: adults from £13 plus a £1.50 booking fee, children 12 and under from £11, up to £28.50 at peak times. Book now
Glide at Battersea Power Station
Image courtesy of Glide at Battersea Power Station.
#FLODown: Three interconnecting rinks and a 200 metre skate trail through the trees, with a 30ft Christmas tree and vintage fairground rides alongside. This is the only riverside rink in the city, with views across the Thames and up at the chimneys. It has been open since 6 November. Standard sessions last 45 minutes, and extended sessions of up to three hours and 45 minutes are available on weekday mornings in November. The Glass House Bar is open to anyone who would prefer to watch without a skating ticket.
Date: 6 November 2026 - 3 January 2027, closed 25 December. Location: Battersea Power Station, Circus Road West, Nine Elms, London SW11 8BZ. Time: sessions from 9am until 10pm. Price: adults from around £19, children from around £12. Book now
Queen's House Ice Rink
Image courtesy of Queen’s House Ice Rink
#FLODown: Greenwich's open-air rink is to return on 18 November after being doubled in size, with the same number of skaters per session, so there will be more room on the ice. It is laid in the grounds of the house inside the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, with views towards the Thames and the Canary Wharf skyline. The 2026 season is run by Tamarisk Events and will include sessions for toddlers, students and SEND families, along with Blue Light worker discounts and £5 community tickets. There is a skate-off pit lane for a mid-session break and a viewing area beside the café.
Date: 18 November 2026 - 3 January 2027, closed 25 December. Location: The Queen's House, Romney Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF. Time: daily 10am until 9pm. Price: adults from £15, children from £10, skate hire included. Book now
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
Image courtesy of Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
#FLODown: The rink in front of Henry VIII's palace is to open on 20 November, enlarged by eight metres this year and laid under a canopy of 18,000 fairy lights. The season will include live ice sculpting, DJ sets on the ice, a skating Santa and family face painting, with an adult-only evening skate every second Friday. The café and bar will serve hot chocolate, mulled wine and hot toddies. A separate ticket is needed, as skating is not included in palace admission, though Historic Royal Palaces members get 15 per cent off.
Date: 20 November 2026 - 3 January 2027, closed 25 December. Location: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU. Time: first session 10am, last session 8pm. Price: Adult from £19.50 , child from £14.50. Book now
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