The festive season is finally upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by wrapping up warmly and going for a skate.
Here are the best seasonal spots in Surrey and SW London (plus we've chucked in a few of our favourites from central London).
Whether you are an ice skating superstar or you spend the majority of the time scooting around on your bottom, spending some time on the rink is always good fun.
Especially seeing as nowadays it is becoming more and more fashionable to add DJ sets and ice bars into the mix, creating a brilliant atmosphere that is bound to cheer up even the scroogiest of Mc Scrooges.
So go grab your warmest socks and get ready to ice skate in these lovely locations:
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Hampton Court Palace
📅 22 Nov - 5 Jan 2020
Take a spin on the ice with the historic royal palace as a backdrop at the Hampton Court Palace ice rink. Enjoy a skating session on the gleaming ice by day, or book an evening session to see the palace lit up after dark as you skate under the night sky. And make a day of it with a visit to the palace and its gardens.
Booking is advised around Christmas and New Year’s period for this popular spot. Sessions last an hour and ice guides are available for first-timers or skaters keen to improve their skills.
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Ian Stratton Photo: Ian Stratton
Priory Park
Priory Park, Bell Street, Reigate, RH2 7RL📅 Nov - 4 Jan 2020
Reigate on Ice is a fantastic place to go and practice your groovy ice-skating moves. This year it will be held undercover in a big top marquee, ensuring that skaters can experience the wonder of skating on real ice in whatever weather, which as we know in the UK can be very temperamental!
Festive music, a bar, eateries, rides and other attractions will add to the festive vibe.
Timings vary so check here to make sure you don't get caught out.
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Natural History Museum
📅 Until 12 January 2020
The Natural History Museum never looks more beautiful than when the surrounding trees are draped in fairy lights all twinkling in the night sky and there is a majestic Christmas tree in the middle of the ice.
This ice rink is a great place to go and feel especially festive, and the perimeter is host to live music every Thursday and a pretty fairground carousel. Warm up with drinks from the Café Bar and soak up the wonderful atmosphere.
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Somerset House
📅 13 Nov - 12 Jan 2020
The grand 18th-century courtyard that is home to Somerset House ice rink provides a stunning location for a skating session this winter.
There are lots of tempting extras too: the Fortnum's Lodge will offer champagne, afternoon tea and even private dining, whilst Club Nights will feature DJs from Ministry of Sound and Island Records. The Christmas Arcade will bring beautiful shopping from Fortnum & Mason, and guests can admire the skaters with a drink in hand at the Botanical Bar.
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Hyde Park
Park Ln, London, Greater London, City of London, W2 2UH📅 Until 2 Jan 2020
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park has become quite the destination for Christmas ice skaters. With an incredible ice rink, food stalls, drinks stations and fairground rides, it is the mecca for all things wintry.
If you're feeling up to popping your skates on then fear not, for there are many other activities to partake in such as perusing the Christmas markets or visiting Father Christmas himself.
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Tower of London
St Katharine's & Wapping, City of London, EC3N 4AB📅 Until 5 January 2020
Located in the dry moat, the Tower of London ice rink offers a grand setting for seasonal skating sessions, along with views of London's magnificent ancient fortress.
This year, why not round off a skate with a visit to the Tower's temporary 'ice bar', where all drinks are served in ice, or fill up on some scrummy winter food such as fondue and warming drinks with a view over the rink.
Booking is advised.
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