Around Town

Skating works up an appetite and this year the food on offer at the capital’s ice rinks is better than ever. Hyde Park has upgraded its Winter Wonderland (www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com) and, in addition to the hot snacks from the German Christmas market, there is Café Grell, with views over the ice rink.

The café at Somerset House’s ice-rink (www.somersethouse.org.uk), run by the very reliable team from the Tate galleries, serves good quality coffee and hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream. Meat-lovers can indulge in the beef and shallot pie; vegetarians have a choice of squash chilli con carne or a Moroccan vegetable and feta pie.

At the Natural History Museum’s Christmas fair (www.nhm.ac.uk) you’ll find fish and chips from the Sea Cow, Fine Burger Company burgers, and panini and pasta from the Italian Coffee Co.

Make like a mountie at Canary Wharf (www.canarywharficerink.com), where The Moose Bar has a Canadian cabin feel complete with sofas and fireplace. They’ll be cooking a delectable range of sausages on their specially-designed grill, plus chicken and lamb kebabs and Brazilian-style roast vegetable and cheese wraps.

The Tower of London (www.toweroflondonicerink.com), Kew Gardens (www.kewgardensicerink.com) and Hampton Court (www.hamptoncourticerink.com) rinks are offering homemade mulled wine, liqueur hot chocolate and good ol’ Bovril among their winter warmers.

See our guide to London's festive ice rinks
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