Seasonal
The 6 Best Ice Skating in London
Six London rinks worth lacing up for, from a courtyard classic on the Strand to a Tudor palace and a real rooftop rink, plus two that run all year.
In short: our top picks are Skate at Somerset House, Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink and Skate Leicester Square. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
There is a particular kind of London magic in gliding across an open-air rink as the lights come up and the cold bites at your cheeks. We have kept this list to the genuinely lovely ones, the courtyards and palace forecourts that make a wobbly lap feel like an occasion, and added the two permanent rinks for anyone who fancies skating in July as well as December. Book ahead, wrap up warm, and let someone else worry about the mulled wine.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Skate at Somerset House | Strand | £££ |
| Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink | East Molesey | £££ |
| Skate Leicester Square | Leicester Square | £££ |
| Skylight Tobacco Dock | Wapping | £££ |
| Alexandra Palace Ice Rink | Muswell Hill | ££ |
| QUEENS Skate Dine Bowl | Bayswater | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
Skate at Somerset House
Why we pick itWinter only, running mid November to mid January each year. The Skate Lates sessions add rink-side DJs and an Aperol Spritz bar once the sun goes down, and the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court setting is hard to beat for atmosphere.
The grande dame of London rinks, set in a glorious neoclassical courtyard with a towering tree at its centre
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Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
Why we pick itWinter only, typically open late November to early January. Worth the train out for the sheer drama of skating beneath the palace, with a heated marquee, festive food stalls and the gardens to wander afterwards.
A storybook rink laid out in front of Henry VIII's Tudor palace, with the West Front floodlit behind you as you skate
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Skate Leicester Square
Why we pick itWinter only, running early November to early January, presented by Underbelly. Right on top of a Tube station and ringed by the Leicester Square Christmas market, it is the easiest central rink to slot into a day out.
A glittering West End rink in the middle of Leicester Square, circling the statue of Shakespeare amid the theatreland buzz
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Skylight Tobacco Dock
Why we pick itWinter only, opening around mid November. Real ice up on the roof, heated igloos with full table service, resident DJs from Thursday to Saturday and a family-friendly skate package on Sunday afternoons.
Europe's only real-ice rooftop rink, glowing above Wapping with an igloo village and an apres-ski lodge alongside
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Alexandra Palace Ice Rink
Why we pick itOpen year round (a short closure each July aside), with generous 90 minute sessions and festive late skates through December. Voted the UK's number one ice rink, and the only one here you can rely on in high summer.
A proper permanent rink inside the grand Victorian people's palace, with sweeping views across north London from the terrace
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QUEENS Skate Dine Bowl
Why we pick itOpen year round and skating since 1930, the capital's oldest and only all-year rink. Make a night of it with bowling, interactive darts, on-ice curling lanes and a proper dinner, all under one roof.
London's oldest ice rink, a retro Bayswater institution pairing skating with bowling, MEATliquor burgers and a couple of buzzy bars
Before you book
The festive rinks (Somerset House, Hampton Court, Leicester Square and Skylight) sell out fast, so book your 45 to 90 minute slot online a week or two ahead, especially for weekend and twilight sessions. Alexandra Palace and Queens run year round, so they are your fallback when the seasonal rinks have packed up for the year.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Skate at Somerset House is our editor's choice: Winter only, running mid November to mid January each year. The Skate Lates sessions add rink-side DJs and an Aperol Spritz bar once the sun goes down, and the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court setting is hard to beat for atmosphere. Skate at Somerset House, Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink and Skate Leicester Square lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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