Somerset House’s annual ice rink pop-up has long been one of the city’s favourite festive traditions, with thousands of Londoners and tourists alike making it part of their celebrations each year, and for good reason. Gliding (or nervously shuffling) around the rink, gazing upon the surrounding Georgian architecture and the courtyard’s magnificent 40ft Christmas tree feels like you’ve skated onto a movie set, ready to be watched by families settling in for their post-turkey food coma.
There’s more to this rink than just skating, though. Pop-up king Jimmy Garcia’s gourmet dining spot The Chalet returns, offering up a menu of Alpine-inspired treats including decadent cheese fondue, charcuterie plates, pommes aligot, crudités and a variety of festive small plates. Or you can really lean into après-ski vibes with a crisp glass rosé at Whispering Angel’s rinkside skate lounge.
And as usual there’ll be a variety of events to keep you entertained throughout the season. The ever-popular Skate Lates series is back, with DJ takeovers from the likes of Rinse FM, Daytimers’ Rohan Rakhit, Dankie Sounds, and Jay Jay Revlon. Or if you’re after a good old festive singalong, check out one of The Chalet’s all new Après Skate evenings, where you can enjoy a toasty gluhwine and a three course fondue feast with roaming entertainment throughout, followed by a chance to belt out some Christmas classics around the piano afterwards.
You can even combine ice skating with some Christmas shopping with a visit to the Shelter Boutique, a pop-up stocking pre-loved clothing, homewares and gifts. And there are also several special chilled-out sessions for those who want to skate but need things to be a little quieter, plus weekend coaching for skaters of all ages at the skate school and kids’ skate club.
How much does Skate at Somerset House cost?
Ticket prices for Skate at Somerset House vary depending on what time you visit. Adult tickets start at £18.50 for super off-peak times (which with peak time tickets costing £26.50. Children’s tickets (for ages 12 and under) are between £12.50 and £15 depending on the time of day. There are no group offers available, so tickets must be bought individually, while children’s prices do not apply for the Skate Late sessions, which take place from 8pm on select days.
When to visit Skate at Somerset House
Skate at Somerset House predictably tends a to be busiest during weekends, evenings and the days running up to Christmas, hence the elevated ticket prices for these times. For cheaper prices, consider visiting in the morning, as tickets tend to be less expensive before midday.
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