With the recent drop in temperatures and a chill in the air, I’m already picking out my favourite sweater, tossing a blanket on the sofa, and preparing for cosy season. (Even if there is another bout of warm weather on the horizon.) And as cosy season slides (glides?) on into winter properly, some of London’s wonderful wintry activations will start popping up. Among them are the likes of holiday markets, ice rinks, Christmas lights, and more.
With that in mind, I got to wondering just when London’s ice rinks would make a return to the city. How long until I can strap on some skates and inch my way along the ice, grasping at the barrier, with dreams of double axels and sequined skating costumes? Here’s when we can expect them to return! (And how to secure tickets before they sell out!)
Queen’s House Ice Rink
This Greenwich ice rink is perhaps the most beautiful example in the city. And it’s no wonder since guests can twirl around the ice with the backdrop of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As such, it’s extremely popular. So popular, in fact, that it’s already announced its opening date! The Queen’s House Ice Rink will open on Wednesday, November 18, with skaters able to spin themselves into a ice-skating tornado until early January.
Tickets are already available. Grab them here.
Skate Leicester Square
A brand new ice rink debuted in Leicester Square last year, and its returning for 2026. Organisers have confirmed that the Skate Leicester Square rink will open on Saturday October 31, inviting guests to skate all the way through to January. It’s a unique opportunity to skate around Leicester Square’s iconic Shakespeare statue.
Find out more and grab tickets (when they’re available) here.
Alexandra Palace Ice Rink
This particular London ice rink is open all year round! Get a head start on the season’s next season’s ice skating with a trip to this iconic spot. The ice rink turns into a festive paradise over the holidays, with mulled wine, and warming food and drink. It also transforms into a disco dance floor on selected dates!
Book a skate session at Alexandra Palace Ice Rink here.
Glide At Battersea
Glide At Battersea is one of London’s most popular ice rinks, and comes from the team behind the now-closed Natural History Museum’s ice rink. Each year the rink boasts a towering Christmas tree, vintage fairground rides, twinkling lights, street food galore and more. That’s not to mention the panoramic views of the historic building and a plethora of destinations to eat and shop.
Glide AT Battersea will return to (where else?) Battersea Power Station for the 2026 holiday season on November 6.
Tickets are on sale now, grab yours here.
Skate at Somerset House
This is one of London’s most iconic ice rinks. Each year, Somerset House transforms into a wonderful winter destination with holiday decorations, Skate Lates evening sessions, and a Skate Club for kids. That’s not to mention the wealth of food and drink, and even more events to check out.
This year, Skate at Somerset House will open the doors to its ice rink on November 11, 2026. You’ll be able to take to the ice until the second weekend of January.
Sign up for pre-access to tickets here.
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
For a royal-ly good skating experience, head to this sixteenth-century palace this winter. Hampton Court Palace makes for a stunning backdrop, particularly when night rolls around and the area begins to light up.
The seasonal ice rink will return on November 20 to enchant London’s skaters. And this year it’s even bigger than before. They’ve extended the rink by 8 metres, and they’ll be festooning it with a whopping 18,000 fairy lights!
Find out more and grab tickets here.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland sure doesn’t do things halves, as each year the Hyde Park attraction sets up the largest open-air ice rink in the UK. Visitors can skate around the Victorian bandstand under a canopy of glittering lights.
The rink will return, alongside everything else Winter Wonderland has to offer, on November 19.
Find out more and grab tickets here.
Ice Rink Canary Wharf – NOT RETURNING
Ice Rink Canary Wharf is not returning for the 2026 winter season.
Online, they write:
“After many wonderful seasons at Canary Wharf, we have made the decision to take a break for the 2026 winter season and the rink will not be operating this year.”
