Have an ice day: outdoor skating rinks
Get your skates on and head to the UK’s best venues for some chilly fun
Royal Pavilion, Brighton
Each winter the courtyard of Brighton’s iconic Royal Pavilion palace comes to life with ambient lighting, winter music and festive food served from the Rinkside Bar and Kitchen. Keep the kids entertained at the weekends at a number of drop-in activities such as decoration making, or make the most of the grand surrounds by staying on for a three-course Christmas dinner featuring warming dishes such as spiced pumpkin and sweet potato soup, slow-roasted pork belly and mulled wine pear tatin.
Adult skate tickets £10 to £13.50; royalpavilionicerink.co.uk
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Somerset House, London
This year Somerset House has once again teamed up with fine food purveyors Fortnum & Mason for its popular skating experience. By day relax in the cosy Fortnum’s Lodge with mulled wine and an indulgent sharing mince pie or discover the shopping arcade, while the destination truly comes into its own at night. For the first time Somerset House has introduced Skate Lates, a curated programme of music enlisting the likes of Field Day founders Eat Your Own Ears and Peckham-based radio station Balamii to soundtrack the evening.
Opens 15 November, adult tickets from £8.90; somersethouse.org.uk. Image © James Bryant
The Eden Project, Cornwall
Each winter, educational charity The Eden Project is home to Cornwall’s most spectacular ice rink. The visitor centre is nestled in a huge crater, in which two huge biomes house the largest rainforest in captivity. This sets the stunning backdrop to the yearly ice rink, open now until February 2018. It’s part of the Christmas in Cornwall winter festival, which includes a vibrant light and sound show and other family-friendly activities, as well as the ice rink and seasonal food stalls.
Adult tickets from £3.50 (valid Eden Project admission also needed); edenproject.com
Hampton Court Palace, Richmond
Hampton Court hosts one of the most scenic rinks in the country, allowing you to skate against the regal backdrop of Henry VIII’s magnificent historic home. Make sure to leave plenty of time to explore the impressive 65 acres of grounds, which include its famous gardens and the world’s oldest puzzle maze, as well as the palace itself where you can step back in time with a tour of William III’s ornate State Apartments.
Opens 24 November, adult tickets £14; hamptoncourtpalaceicerink.co.uk. Image © leftfieldimages.com
St Andrews Square, Edinburgh
Set in central Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square, this vast oval ice rink takes you on a journey around the towering Melville Monument. For those less confident on the ice, there are plenty of other activities to get you in the festive spirit; browse for gifts at the nearby traditional Christmas markets, have a go at scaling the Ice Wall or delve into Scotland’s past with an immersive historical journey told through ice sculptures.
Opens 17 November, adult tickets from £9; edinburghschristmas.com. Image © Eoin Carey
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 22, 2024
Cartoons Monday's cartoons - dystopian laughs, WNBA salaries, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The celebrity winners of 2023
Why everyone's talking about Girl power's still got it as Taylor Swift, Barbie and Britney all come out on top
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Christmas songs: where are the new hits?
Talking Point The internet, the music industry and a 'generational effect' make us return to the same old festive classics again and again
By The Week UK Published
-
The 6 best Christmas horror movies
The Week Recommends These bloody good horror flicks put a dark spin on the holiday
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Christmas recipe: Brussels sprouts and smashed pigs in blankets
The Week Recommends Tom Booton's festive side dish is cooked on the BBQ
By The Week UK Published
-
Luxury in Lapland: how to meet Santa in style
The Week Recommends From husky sleigh rides and tobogganing to searching for Father Christmas on a snowmobile
By The Week UK Published
-
Regifting presents: what are the rules?
In Depth Giving away unwanted gifts needn’t be considered ‘tacky’ – if done thoughtfully
By Julia O'Driscoll Published
-
Recipes for Christmas and turkey leftovers
The Week Recommends Make your festive feast last even longer this year with these expert tips and recipes
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport on TV guide: Christmas 2022 and New Year listings
Speed Read Enjoy a feast of sporting action with football, darts, rugby union, racing, NFL and NBA
By Mike Starling Published