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The beginning of November means just one thing – the Christmas countdown is on. With less than eight weeks to go until the big day, London had already started transform into a festive wonderland. Lights are switching on, trees are being put up and markets are beginning to open.
On top of that, glistening ice rinks are starting to pop up at some of London’s greatest landmarks. Because is it really winter if you can’t get your skate on? From the beloved ice rink at Somerset House to newcomers at Leicester Square and Kensington Olympia, there’ll be plenty of places to show off all your best ice moves this year.
Most of the rinks are available to book right now, but here’s when all of London’s best Christmas ice rinks will actually open for winter 2025.
RECOMMENDED: When every major London Christmas lights display will turn on for 2025.
When are London ice rinks returning for Christmas 2025?
Skate Leicester Square
Skate Leicester Square is a brand new addition to London’s spread of pop-up rinks. Encircling the Shakespeare statue at the centre of the plaza, right in the middle of the annual Christmas market, it’s the first to welcome skaters onto the ice this year.
Opening date: November 1
Closing date: January 4
Glide at Battersea Power Station
Battersea’s ice rink will take up its usual spot right next to the Thames for a fourth year. Glide is one of the most aesthetic ice rinks in the city, with views over the river and across London’s glistening skyline. Besides the rink itself, there’s a vintage fairground and a bar with DJs.
Opening date: November 7
Closing date: January 8
Skate at Somerset House
Skate at Somerset House isn’t just a pop up ice rink, it’s a full on winter festival. Within the beautiful Georgian courtyard, there’s a rinkside chalet serving warm festive refreshments, a Shelter Boutique with takeovers from sought-after brands like All Saints and Nobody’s Child and a series of Skate Lates featuring trailblazing women-run radio station Foundation FM, NTS Radio host Ruf Dug and queer dance party Sue Veneers.
Opening date: November 12
Closing date: January 11
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
The UK’s largest outdoor ice rink will be back from mid-November. Winter Wonderland’s huge rink (sponsored by Mayfair’s art museum Moco for 2025) wraps around Hyde Park’s Victorian bandstand and is illuminated by more than 100,000 fairy lights to get you in the festive mood.
Opening date: November 14
Closing date: January 1
The Queen’s House Ice Rink
After a fallow year, South London’s only outdoor ice rink will be back in front of Greenwich’s grand Queen’s House for Christmas 2025. Spend an hour gliding in front of one of London’s prettiest UNESCO World Heritage Sites before picking up some seasonal food and drink at the Zero Degrees restaurant next door.
Opening date: November 21
Closing date: January 4
Winter Funland at Kensington Olympia
For all the fun of Christmas skating without the temperamental winter weather, head for Kensington Olympia. A huge ice rink is popping up at The Grand Hall in Olympia as part of Winter Funland, one of Europe's biggest indoor festive family extravaganzas.
Opening date: December 13
Closing date: January 4
The best ice skating rinks in London, according to Time Out.
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