Best Ice Rinks in London 2025 – Magical Christmas Skating Experiences
Discover the best ice rinks in London for Christmas 2025 – dates, tickets, locations and must-visit skating events across the city’s most magical venues.
Published 03/11/2025 - Image © Somerset House
As winter settles over London, the city’s most beautiful spaces turn into glittering ice rinks — places where fairy lights sparkle, music drifts through the air, and everyone, from seasoned skaters to first-timers, joins in the festive fun. The capital’s ice-skating scene for Christmas 2025 promises both tradition and surprise: open-air rinks beneath grand historic landmarks, riverside settings beside the Thames, and even rooftop spots with sweeping skyline views.
Whether you’re planning a family day out, a romantic evening glide, or a seasonal get-together with friends, London offers rinks to suit every mood. Many are paired with pop-up bars, festive food stalls, and dazzling light displays, turning a simple skating session into a full winter experience. Below, we’ve highlighted seven of the best ice rinks in London 2025, complete with dates, locations, booking links and travel details — so you can choose your perfect spot to skate into the Christmas spirit.
From iconic park settings to glittering riverside backdrops, London’s festive rinks each bring their own magic to the season. Whether you’re drawn to the grandeur of Hyde Park, the charm of Battersea, or the contemporary flair of Canary Wharf, each venue captures the spirit of winter in its own way. So lace up your skates, wrap up warm, and explore seven of the most enchanting ice rinks in London for Christmas 2025 — starting with one of the city’s most beloved festive traditions.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – Ice Rink
Set in the heart of London’s famous Hyde Park, the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink remains one of the city’s most iconic festive experiences. Running from 14 November 2025 to 1 January 2026, it’s the UK’s largest open-air ice rink, encircling a beautifully lit Victorian bandstand beneath a canopy of twinkling lights. Skaters glide to live music as the scent of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine fills the air — creating an atmosphere that feels timeless and wonderfully festive.
Date & Hours: 14 November 2025 – 1 January 2026 (sessions approximately 10:00–22:00)
Address: Hyde Park, London W1K 7AN
Tickets: Pre-book online via the official Winter Wonderland website
Parking: No dedicated parking; public transport strongly recommended
Each session lasts around 45 minutes, with hourly time slots available from morning through evening. Families, couples and groups of friends can all enjoy the rink, whether you’re taking your first steps on the ice or perfecting your spins. The experience extends beyond skating itself, with nearby Christmas markets, fair-ground rides, and cosy themed bars offering plenty to explore before or after your session.
With its scale, atmosphere and central location, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland’s ice rink remains the definitive destination for skating in London at Christmas. Book early to secure your preferred time — evening sessions, in particular, tend to sell out fast.
Few settings capture the magic of London at Christmas quite like Skate at Somerset House. Set against the neoclassical grandeur of this 18th-century courtyard, the rink combines elegance, heritage and festive sparkle in one unforgettable experience. From 12 November 2025 to 11 January 2026, visitors can glide across the ice surrounded by twinkling lights, a magnificent Christmas tree, and the stately façade of Somerset House — making it one of the city’s most photographed winter attractions.
Date & Hours: 12 November 2025 – 11 January 2026 (times vary by session)
Address: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
Tickets: Pre-book via the official Somerset House website
Parking: No on-site parking; public transport strongly recommended (nearest station: Temple or Covent Garden)
The experience extends well beyond skating. Guests can enjoy Skate Lates, a series of evening sessions with curated DJ sets, or unwind afterwards with a hot chocolate or winter cocktail from the rink-side Fortnum & Mason Lodge, known for its festive treats and luxury flair. Families will find dedicated daytime sessions for younger skaters, while couples and groups can book evening slots for a more atmospheric experience.
Graceful, glamorous and quintessentially London, Skate at Somerset House offers a festive experience that blends art, architecture and ice — an unmissable highlight of the city’s Christmas season.
New for 2025, Skate Leicester Square brings an exciting addition to London’s festive calendar, offering open-air skating right in the heart of the West End. Framed by glittering lights and the buzz of theatreland, this circular ice rink wraps around the square’s Shakespeare statue, creating a picture-perfect scene for both locals and visitors.
Date & Hours: 1 November 2025 – 4 January 2026 (session times vary)
Address: Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DE
Tickets: Available via the official Skate Leicester Square website
Parking: No dedicated parking; public transport recommended due to central location
The rink’s central location makes it ideal for combining skating with other Christmas traditions — from a pre-theatre dinner to a stroll beneath London’s famous festive lights. After your session, warm up with a mulled wine or hot chocolate from the nearby seasonal bar and soak up the atmosphere of one of London’s liveliest spots. Sessions run from morning until late evening, with quieter times earlier in the day.
Blending festive fun with city sparkle, Skate Leicester Square is perfect for those seeking a social, scenic and quintessentially London skating experience this Christmas.
Ice Rink Canary Wharf
If you’re looking for a sleek, contemporary skating experience that lasts well beyond Christmas, Ice Rink Canary Wharf is the perfect choice. Open from 25 October 2025 to 22 February 2026, it offers one of London’s longest skating seasons — and, thanks to its transparent roof, it’s entirely weatherproof. Skaters glide beneath twinkling lights and a mirrored disco ball, with the dramatic glass skyline of Canary Wharf rising all around.
Date & Hours: 25 October 2025 – 22 February 2026 (sessions typically 10:00–20:00)
Address: Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AB
Tickets: Available via the official Ice Rink Canary Wharf website
Parking: Ample parking available nearby; public transport also convenient (Canary Wharf Underground & DLR)
Stylish, sheltered and set against a backdrop of modern architecture, Ice Rink Canary Wharf brings a touch of cosmopolitan charm to London’s winter skating scene — and its extended season means there’s plenty of time to enjoy it.
Set against one of London’s most iconic backdrops, Boots presents Glide at Battersea Power Station returns for Christmas 2025 with even more sparkle, style and riverside charm. Running from 7 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, this open-air rink offers unrivalled views of the Thames, surrounded by twinkling lights and the soaring chimneys of the Grade II* listed power station. With three interconnecting ice loops circling a glittering 30-foot Christmas tree, it’s the most uniquely designed rink in the city — combining festive fun with incredible photo opportunities.
Date & Hours: 7 November 2025 – 4 January 2026 (daytime and evening sessions; select nights until 22:00)
Address: Battersea Power Station, Footpath beneath Grosvenor Bridge, Nine Elms, London SW8 4NN
Tickets: Book online via the official Glide Battersea website
Parking: On-site parking available at Electric Boulevard (SW11 8BH); nearest Tube station: Battersea Power Station
After your skate, step inside The Glass House Bar, a cosy post-skate retreat where you can warm up with hot chocolate or a festive cocktail while watching others glide by. For something extra special, book one of the Air Canada Private Igloos — a snug, glass-walled hideaway complete with sparkling wine and panoramic views. Group and corporate visitors can even opt for hospitality packages, reserving tables with gourmet food, drinks and rink-side service.
The festive fun extends well beyond the ice. Battersea Power Station is now home to over 120 shops, cafés, and restaurants, from Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza and Searcys Champagne Bar to Where The Pancakes Are, Duck & Rice, and Roti King. A short stroll through the neighbourhood reveals fairground rides, live entertainment, and plenty of twinkling lights — all part of the wider Christmas experience at Battersea.
Blending contemporary design with festive indulgence, Glide at Battersea Power Station isn’t just an ice rink — it’s a destination. With its riverside setting, stylish extras and lively neighbourhood atmosphere, it’s the ultimate place to skate, socialise and celebrate Christmas in London 2025.
Winter Funland at Olympia London
Winter Funland at Olympia London brings festive magic indoors with the city’s largest Christmas spectacular — featuring a giant ice rink, fun-fair rides, circus shows, and family entertainment all under one sparkling roof. Set inside Olympia’s historic Grand Hall, this all-weather event offers plenty of space for children and families to enjoy skating, fair-ground fun, and festive food stalls serving mince pies, hot chocolate, and winter street favourites. Warm, vibrant, and brimming with holiday spirit, it’s the perfect choice for a full festive day out whatever the weather.
Date & Hours: 12 December 2025 – 4 January 2026
Address: Olympia Grand Hall, Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UX
Tickets: Book online via the official Winter Funland website
Parking: Paid parking available nearby; public transport recommended for ease of travel
Colourful, cosy and full of festive cheer, Winter Funland at Olympia London is perfect for families and groups wanting a full-scale Christmas day out — complete with skating, shows and sparkle, whatever the weather.
Bussey Rooftop Rink (Peckham)
For a festive experience with a twist, the Bussey Rooftop Rink in Peckham transforms one of South London’s most popular rooftop bars into an open-air winter escape with skyline views. Running from 17 November 2025 to 1 January 2026, it combines ice skating, music and city lights in one effortlessly cool setting.
Guests can glide beneath the stars while enjoying DJ nights on Fridays and Saturdays, before warming up with spiked hot chocolates, mulled wine or wood-fired pizzas at the rooftop bar. Heated zones and cosy blankets make this the perfect spot for a fun evening out with friends or a relaxed date night. It’s more sociable than traditional rinks — casual, atmospheric and full of local charm.
Date & Hours: 17 November 2025 – 1 January 2026
Address: Rooftop, Bussey Building, 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15 4ST
Tickets: Available online via the Bussey Rooftop Bar website
Parking: No on-site parking; public transport recommended
Playful, laid-back and distinctly South London, Bussey Rooftop Rink offers a refreshing alternative to the city’s grander venues — where skating, skyline views and festive spirit meet under the open winter sky.
London’s Christmas ice rinks in 2025 capture the very essence of winter in the city — from open-air skating under fairy lights to stylish riverside loops and rooftop sessions with skyline views. Whether you’re gliding beneath the chimneys of Battersea Power Station, skating around the glittering tree at Somerset House, or dancing to DJ beats in Peckham, each rink brings its own sparkle to the season. Plan ahead, book your sessions early, and wrap up warm before stepping onto the ice. However you choose to skate, these spectacular London venues promise an unforgettable way to celebrate Christmas 2025 — full of light, laughter and festive charm.
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