Stay up to date with everything happening in London for Christmas 2025, including all of London's winter ice rinks.
How's this for a dreamy Christmas day out: ice skating beneath twinkling fairy lights, in front of a beautiful, historic palace, alongside the River Thames?
The Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink is back for Christmas 2025, and it's offering some new experiences this year. As always, the rink is laid out in front of the main facade of the palace (just a couple of minutes' walk from Hampton Court station), so you can practice your twirls — and tumbles, if you're anything like us — in the shadow of those famous brick chimneys.
Skate aids are available for children who need a bit of help on the ice, and there are dedicated quiet sessions at 10am each day. Wheelchair users are welcome on the ice (free carer tickets are available), but electric wheelchairs must be set to manual mode.
New experiences for 2025 include:
- Live ice carving demonstrations (26 November, 3, 10 and 17 December, 5pm-7pm)
- Skating Santa: The man in red finds time to perform snowploughs and spins (6-7 and 13-14 December, 10am-12pm);
- Adults-only skate evenings: Leave the kids at home and skate as a DJ spins tunes — with a festive cocktail menu available at the rinkside bar (23 and 30 November, 7 December, from 7pm)
Speaking of refreshments (liquid and otherwise), the café & bar alongside the rink has had a makeover this year, decked out with rustic wood, twinkling lights and green foliage, inspired by the historic Hampton Court. Here you can tuck into a hot chocolate, mulled wine, or a hot toddy, with seasonal snacks from south London-based Dee light Bakery, as well as that festive cocktail menu.
Our top tip for the Hampton Court Palace rink is to book your session over sunset. One year we had the joyous experience of watching the sun set over the river, and the moon rising over the palace building, all within a single skating slot. Peak London.
The Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink is open 21 November 2025-7 January 2026.
