Somerset House Ice Rink 2010

The grand eighteenth-century courtyard at Somerset House provides this 900-metre-square rink with one of the most impressive skating backdrops in town. The skate school offers lessons for beginners and there are special sessions for children, students and disabled people, as well as late-night skates and DJ nights (every Fri & Sat in Dec from 8pm). The Christmas tree is again decorated by Tiffany's, this year taking its inspiration from 'The Little Bluebird' fairytale. There's also the Tiffany Blue Box Tuck Shop, selling festive cakes and sweets, as well as ornaments and gifts. New this year is chef Tom Aikens's Tom's Skate Lounge, a bar and lounge open to both ticket and non ticket holders, serving drinks and snacks during the day and transforming into a bar in the evening. 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' Saturday sessions (Nov 27, Dec 4, 11, 18 8.45-9.45am; one adult and one child £18.50, additional child £8.50) include an early stint on the ice with a post-skate cupcake and hot chocolate for children and a glass of Champagne for adults. 'The Nutcracker Hour' (Nov 23, 30, Dec 7 3-4pm) is a skating session to music from Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker'. 'Big Ice Dance Lunchtime Workouts' (Mon-Fri Jan 10-21 12.30-1.30pm) feature a 15-minute warm up with members of English National Ballet, followed by a chance to practice dance skills. 'Big Ice Dance Day' (Jan 13) is a day devoted to ice dance, led by ice dancer and teacher Karen Barber.