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[title]Each winter, London fills up with ice skating rinks, packed with woolly-hatted, wobbly-kneed skaters. But why not mark the festive season by trying a hotter kind of glide? Roller skating is having a real moment right now: it's exhilarating, creative, and best of all, if you slip over, you won't end up with a chilly bum.
There's a handful of roller rinks scattered across the city. But if you want to try out roller skating without paying a penny, check out Croydon's totally free pop-up rink this Christmas. Croydon is hosting its retro roller skating rink from Saturday November 26 to Sunday December 24, and it's free for everyone. It'll sit in the heart of Whitgift Shopping Centre, opposite Superdry, serving up old school thrills and spills to locals and visitors alike.
Croydon Roller is the only indoor roller rink in South London, which is open to both adults and kids over the age of five. If you're a seasoned skater, you can bring your own set of wheels (providing they're quads, not in-line skates), but there are also plenty of skates available to borrow.
Keen to have a go? Booking in advance is the best way to score your slot, although a small number of walk-ins will be available each day. Sessions are one hour long, with 15 minutes to get your skates on, then 45 minutes fun on the rink. You'll need to sign a safety disclaimer before you hit the rink, and any items are left on the side of the rink at your own risk. So maybe buy that new PS5 after your skating sesh, huh?
There's plenty of other fun festive stuff to do in Croydon this winter. So why not combine your skating trip with a peek at Croydon's Christmas lights, a visit to Santa's Grotto in nearby Centrale Shopping Centre, free gingerbread decorating workshops in Centrale, a trip to the panto at Fairfield Halls, or a bit of Christmas shopping (obviously). Roll up, roll up... for a wheely good time this Christmas!