We’ve reached the best time of the year when London is starting to prepare for full festive swing. And what better way to get into the Christmas spirit than with a trip to Alexandra Palace’s very own ice rink? Offering a backdrop unlike any other, it’s a top spot this month to glide into the festive season, a la Emilia Clarke in Last Christmas.
The ice rink at Alexandra Palace is open all year round, but the Christmas period is undeniably the best time to visit, with a number of chilled out and advanced sessions each day.
What’s on at Ally Pally for Christmas?
Between November 24 – January 7, the marvellous rink at Ally Pally gets its festive makeover. That means festive tunes to pirouette to and just Let It Go; Baileys hot chocolate, mulled wine and mince pies to warm you up between skate sessions (unless the cold doesn’t bother you anyway); and even snow falling onto you as you skate to complete the festive paradise.
Plus, there’s the return of the ice rink disco, which hits the ice on December 14 and January 3, 2024. Let the frozen surface become your dancefloor and glide around to the chart hits underscored by the funky lights. (Get more info and tickets to the Disco sessions here).
Christmas at Ally Pally doesn’t rest solely on its ice rink, either. Once you’re all skated out, you can head to the beautifully decorated hall, or if you’re an excellent planner you can time your visit with one of their events.
Santa is present at the grounds and you can find his grotto between December 1-23, or you can check out a performance of A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story, featuring Keith Allen as Scrooge and Peter Forbes as Marley between November 24 and January 7. If you’re ready to go back on the ice, and you happen to be in town on December 8-11, you can witness J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan tale taking to the rink.
Check out the Alexandra Palace website to book your tickets to the marvellous winter schedule of events.
Also published on Medium.