Ice skating central London Christmas

[Toomuchleopard]

It’s my daughter’s 18th at the start of December and she wants to go to London for the weekend. One night we are going to the theatre to see the Devil Wears Prada musical. The other night she wants to go ice skating and to Christmas markets/looking at Christmas lights.

Can anyone recommend a good place to go for the ice skating/Christmas lights. I looked at Winter Wondeland at Hyde Park and it actually looks really commercial and awful and has bad reviews. I know there’s others at Somerset House, Leicester Square, Greenwich Park and Hampton Court Palace. Has anyone been to these and can recommend. I haven’t booked accommodation yet but I imagine it will be Covent Garden/west end area

I haven’t been for a couple of years, but Somerset House is lovely. Especially if you go after it’s dark. There’s usually one at Battersea Power Station which is nice if you also want to do some shopping. Haven’t been to the other ones you mention, but I wouldn’t go to one in Leicester Square myself, unless it’s geographically handy as there are a lot nicer places in London.

Somerset house is really lovely and they have a champagne bar which would be fun for an 18th.

I should add that if staying in Covent Garden then it is an easy walk to Somerset House.

Somerset House is a lovely rink

Thanks all, will check out Somerset House

https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/skate-somerset-house

Agree with PP, absolutely Somerset House. You definitely need to pre book ages in advance - like now.

If you really want to splash out, Spring is a lovely restaurant in the SH complex too.

Somerset House is lovely and would be good for a covent garden hotel, but Battersea is bigger and last year there was a sort of side track bit where you had a lovely view of the river. Plus the shopping centre itself always has lovely lights, and you can book igloo things for drinks by the ice

There are usually Christmas market stalls near the Royal Festival Hall - and is also beautiful to walk along the river there on a winters night.

Have fun!

We weren't that happy with Battersea Power Station, Somerset House is a lot more attractive and the ice was better.

The champagne bar is a nice touch, especially for an 18th birthday.

The markets are crap, sorry. Tat and fast food. Saying that, it depends on what date you go, Leadenhall Market is lovely decorated normally and does some markets but only on specific dates.

Somerset House looks gorgeous !
Does your DD skate ? (I used to years ago and I would love to glide across the ice again but I'd be hanging onto the edges )

You are right to avoid Winter Wonderland , it is grim.