Somerset House Ice Rink

It's one of London's most famous Christmas institutions and this year the Somerset House Ice Rink is just as popular as it's ever been. We headed along to see what the deal was. 

Ticket prices start from £7.50 so it's easy to see why the ice rink set in the neoclassical courtyard is so popular; however, even if you don't feel like skating, it's well worth a visit - to watch the people that do! 

The rink attracts skaters of all ages and abilities and is supervised throughout by stewards who are sturdy skaters, happy to help and very friendly. It's open all day and for your money, you get an hour on ice, which seems plenty of time to freeze your socks off and fall over at least three or four times. 

Alongside the ice rink is the front-facing Skate Lounge in which you can enjoy a range of drinks and snacks whilst keeping a close eye on the skaters whizzing past; if you're feeling more extravagant, you can tuck in to a Fortnum and Mason's Afternoon Tea at the Fortnum's Lodge in Somerset House's Christmas Arcade. 

I'd recommend wrapping up, getting a hot drink and standing rink-side watching the skaters take tumbles, try out new moves and edge their way around the sides - it's great fun to watch without having to get cold, wet and sore yourself! If you go on a Tuesday evening, you'll be serenaded by the choir singing Christmas carols!

Somerset House's Ice Rink is open NOW until the 11th January 2015; you can skate Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, it is however closed on Christmas Day. 

Tickets

Visit Ticketmaster
or call 0844 847 1520

Session Times
08.45 - 09.45* / 10.00 - 11.00 / 11.15 - 12.15 / 12.30 - 13.30 / 13.45 - 14.45 / 15.00 - 16.00 / 16.15 - 17.15 / 17.30 - 18.30 / 18.45 - 19.45 / 20.00 - 21.00 / 21.15 - 22.15 / 22.30 - 23.30*

The Southbank Winter Festival

One of the many things going on in Central London this advent is the Southbank Centre's Winter Festival which runs until the 11th January 2015; my partner and I went along to see what the bankside had to offer...

 The highlight of the market is the Christmas tree maze which features over three hundred trees, all lit up with twinkly lights - it costs £4 to enter (which seems a little steep in light of the fact that it's open for three months, ergo will certainly recoup the cost of the trees/lights) and on making it to the centre of the maze, all children receive a Christmas pressie. It's very pretty after-dark and it's really rather magical in its setting alongside the Thames. 

Photo: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series/winter-festival

Sat underneath a huge - apparently 'designer' - Christmas tree, sits the Christmas Tree Cafe which looks very tempting and, again, very pretty; however, on heading up there, it's all a little lacklustre, and doesn't feel in any way Christmassy - it'd put this down to the accompanying drum and bass soundtrack, which is nothing but isolating, incredibly grating and an odd juxtaposition to the family-orientated festival. Each to their own, but not for me. 

Photo: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series/winter-festival

I'm dating a cider-hater; however, the Rekorderlig Cider Lodge at the heart of the Udderbelly complex looks very welcoming, cosy and, done-up it's Scandinavian style, very Christmassy indeed! Here you can tuck into traditional Scandi street food as well as sampling the pop-up bar. 

Photo: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series/winter-festival

The Southbank Centre Express is the little red train that is sure to be a hit with the young ones in your family. You can jump aboard at Hungerford Bridge and travel along the riverbank, up to Festival Pier and back, for the price of £4. I was horribly tempted to become a passenger on the pint-sized choo-choo however, my sensibility, my tight-fistedness and the sheer embarrassment of my better half, prevented me - I did make him take a picture though...

If you want to rocket yourself into Christmas and you've got the time to potter around, head down to the Southbank and have a look at what it's offering up this Christmas; if any of the above don't take your fancy, make like we did: grab a mulled wine, wander through the Christmas Market chalets, and enjoy the Thames all lit-up of an Advent evening.


The Southbank Winter Festival, in association with Natwest:

Tuesday 11th November - Sunday 11th January 2015
Monday to Thursday 10am – 9pm 
Friday and Saturday 10am – 10pm 
Sunday 10am – 9pm

www.southbankcentre.co.uk