Nov 15-Mar 8 2009
A small, no-frills rink hidden behind Liverpool Street station with skating
lessons, broomball and private hire available until March.
Broadgate Circle, EC2M (020 7505
4068/www.broadgateice.co.uk). Nov 15-Dec
19: Mon, Tue, Fri 12noon-2pm, 3-5pm & 6-8.30pm; Wed, Thur 12noon-2pm,
3-5pm; Sat, Sun 11am-1pm, 2-4pm & 5-8.30pm; closed Dec 25, 26 & Jan 1.
£8 + £2 skate hire, under-16s & concs £5 + £2. Liverpool Street tube/rail.
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
Nov 29-Jan 11 2009
A 900 sq m rink located near the main entrance of Henry VIII’s old
pad with an adjacent café and carousel.
Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, East Molesey, KT8 (0870 060
1778/www.hamptoncourticerink.com). Daily 10am-10pm (sessions last
an hour). Peak: £11.50, concs £9, under-16s £8, family (two adults + two
children or one + three) £32; off-peak: £10/£8/£7.50/£30. Hampton Court rail.
Kew Gardens Ice Rink
Nov 29-Jan 4 2009
A 1,000 sq m rink, with space for 250 to skate at a time, in front of the
Temperate House.
Kew
Gardens, Kew Rd, Richmond, TW9
(0844 412 4642/www.kewgardensicerink.com). Daily
10am-10pm (sessions last an hour).
Peak: £11.50, concs £9, under-17s £8, family (two adults +
two children or one + three) £32; off-peak: £10/£8/£7.50/£30; spectator £1;
joint tkts with Kew Gds avail. Kew Gardens tube/Kew Bridge rail.
Feature
continues
Natural History
Museum Ice Rink
Nov 6-Jan 18 2009
A 1,000 sq m outdoor rink in front of the museum with a café and bar
overlooking the ice and a Christmas fair.
Natural
History Museum, Cromwell
Rd, SW7 (0844 847 1576/www.nhmskating.com). Daily 10am-10pm; early morning and late-night sessions announced on the
website. Peak: £13, children (age up to 12), £8.50, family (two adults + two
children or one + three) £34.50; off-peak: £11.50/£8/£31; concs (off-peak only)
£10.50. South Kensington tube.
Skate at
Somerset House
Nov 19-Jan 25 2009
The grand eighteenth-century courtyard provides one of
the most impressive skating backdrops in town. The skate school lessons for
beginners and there are special sessions for children, students and disabled
people, as well as late-night skates and DJ nights
Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R (0844 847 1520/www.somersethouse.org.uk). Daily
10am-10.15pm. Day: £10.50, children (age up to 12) £7.50, family (two adults +
two children or one + three) £30; evening (from 5.30pm): £12.50/£8/£32; late
skate £15; limited student sessions £7.50. Charing Cross tube/rail or Temple
tube.
Tower
of London Ice Rink
Nov 22-Jan 11 2009
An oval rink with a small café and piped carols for a
seasonal atmosphere. Wheelchair users are welcome at any time except the final
session of the day (9-10pm).
Tower of London, Tower Hill, London, EC3N (0844 412 4640/www.toweroflondonicerink.com).
Daily 10am-10pm (sessions last an hour). Peak: £12, concs £11, under-16s £8,
family £32; off-peak: £10/£9.50/£7.50/£30. Tower Hill tube.
Winter
Wonderland
Nov 22-Jan 4 2009
Located between Hyde Park corner and the Serpentine, the site features London's
largest ice rink and a toboggan slide. There's also a Christmas market and
rides including a carousel, helter-skelter and a 50m observation wheel.
Hyde Park, London, W2 (0844 847 1771/www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com). Daily 10am-10pm. Peak: £12.50, concs £11, children £7.50, family
(four tkts) £28; off-peak: £10/£9/£7.50/£28; observation wheel £7, children
£4.50; rides priced separately. Hyde Park Corner tube.
For
our American friends, a few suggestions. My American collegue has informed me that
most states, climate permitting, have outdoor ice rinks.
Outdoor Ice Skating in New York City
Over a quarter million people skate at Rockefeller
Center's ice rink each year. It is considered part of the "New York
City experience." The rink is open from October through April. There are
other outdoor ice skating options in New York City. Those options include
Wollman Rink in Central Park and Lasker Rink in Central Park. Another great
option is ice skating on The Pond in Bryant Park. Admission is free for those
who have their own skates.
Outdoor Ice Skating in Vail, Colorado
At the top of the Lions Head Gondola in
Vail, Colorado, is an outdoor ice rink. Skate rental is available. The gondola
ride up is free after 2:00 PM. Free public skating is also available on the
outdoor skating rink at The Vail Nordic Center and at Eagle-Vail Pavilion.
Ice Skate Outdoors in Washington, DC
Ice skaters can view sculpture while
skating outdoors at the Sculpture
Garden Ice Rink. Music is played in the background. This outdoor ice rink
is located across from the National Gallery of Art. Another outdoor ice rink in
Washington, DC is the Pershing
Park Ice Rink which is located just two blocks from the White House. The
rink is family-oriented and nice for young children. The rink is lighted for
nightime skating.
Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink at
Embarcadero Center in San Francisco
Embarcadero Center Holiday Ice Rink is
a San Francisco holiday tradition. Shoppers can skate, shop, and eat. The rink
is very crowded, but this rink does put skaters in the mood for the winter
holidays. The rink is open for seven weeks in November and December of each
year. The rink is located at Justin Herman Plaza, adjacent to Four Embarcadero
Center and across from the historic Ferry Building.
The Winter Lodge
in Palo Alto, California
Winter Lodge is a permanent outdoor ice
rink. The rink offers public skating sessions and private party rentals.
Skaters can warm up next to fireplaces that are set up inside and outside. Hot
chocolate is available. Ice skating lessons are also offered.
Source :
http://www.timeout.com/london/aroundtown/features/102/London_ice-skating_rinks.html
http://figureskating.about.com/od/getstartedfigureskating/tp/outside.htm
