The time has come to leave your dignity at the door and don a pair of skates
for a skiddy scrabble around one of the capital's ice skating rinks. What
started on the Strand with the Somerset House rink in 2000, has flourished
into a full-on skating fiesta, with at least ten rinks now appearing in
London over December.
Rinks pop up in parks, museums and nestled alongside familiar landmarks across
the city, with Londoners falling over themselves - literally - to have a go
on the ice. If you're looking to skate this Christmas, here are the ten best
rinks in London...
All prices are for a one-hour skate session and include skate hire. Most rinks
offer lessons for an extra charge.
Greenwich Ice Rink
Escape the frenetic city and head east to Greenwich, a journey best done in an
hour by boat from Westminster (www.westminsterpier.co.uk
or www.thamesclippers.com), or
you can take the Docklands Light Railway to Cutty Sark. The rink is in the
Old Royal Naval College, between the colonnades of Baroque courtyard, with
views of the Greenwich Observatory and Queen's House. There's a café onsite
offering hot chocolate, mulled wines and mince pies, and this year it's been
moved to give skaters views over the Thames. For a spot of Christmas
shopping after your skate, the markets
in Greenwich are ideal.
Where: Old Royal Naval College
When: Saturday December 8 - Sunday January 13; 10am-10pm
How much: adults £9.50; children £7
Book: www.greenwichicerink.com
Winter Wonderland
New this year is Hyde Park's impressive 1,400 square-metre rink, which will
topple the competition to claim the mantle of London's largest rink. As well
as the rink, the site will offer a toboggan slide, traditional German-style
Christmas market, cafes and bars, a 50 metre Ferris wheel, carousel,
helter-skelter and various rides. There will also be carol concerts on
various dates, appearances from Santa Claus and a sparkling avenue of trees
donned with lights along the Serpentine Road leading to the site.
Where: Hyde Park (Hyde Park Corner tube)
I lived in London for four years and there is only one place I miss: Lea Valley Ice Rink. The best. It was a home from home.
Tina, Dusseldorf, Germany