Skate at Somerset House

London · Public skating times & prices

An open-air rink in the 18th-century courtyard of Somerset House, first put in in December 2000

Public skating at Skate at Somerset House: the next 7 days

Currently out of season Skate at Somerset House returns for 2026-27 from 11 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. Official schedule update

Address
Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
Phone
0343 208 1497
Website
somersethouse.org.uk
Somerset House's domed courtyard front at night, lit orange with SKATE letters on the roofline, above the empty rink and an ice resurfacer. — Skate at Somerset House
Somerset House's domed courtyard front at night, lit orange with SKATE letters on the roofline, above the empty rink and an ice resurfacer. Photo: Matt Brown · Source · CC BY 2.0
The courtyard rink by day with a few skaters, a Christmas tree and the Somerset House facade behind the rink barrier. — Skate at Somerset House
The courtyard rink by day with a few skaters, a Christmas tree and the Somerset House facade behind the rink barrier. Photo: Matt Brown · Source · CC BY 4.0

A courtyard rink at Somerset House since 2000

Somerset House first installed a temporary ice rink in its courtyard in December 2000, three years after the Somerset House Trust was set up to preserve and develop the building for public use. The courtyard, once a Civil Service car park, had just been refurbished and opened to the public.

The building is William Chambers' replacement for the original Somerset House, demolished in 1775, and his design gave it a single courtyard of 300 by 200 feet. The rest of the year the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court has 55 jets of water rising from its fountains; in winter it holds an open-air rink that runs in rain or shine around a 40ft Christmas tree. The rink appears in the opening credits of the 2003 film Love Actually.

Skate School coaches adults and teens, and a Kids' Club takes children aged 6 to 12. Skate Lates bring resident DJs and touring acts to evening sessions, and the 2026-27 season adds a first K-Pop Party with the Korean Cultural Centre UK. Spectators can watch free from the viewing platform or the rinkside Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse.

Before you head out.

Admission, rentals and arrival details, researched from official rink information. Source checks stay current for 30 days.

Admission

Adults pay £13 to £28.50 and children 12 and under £11 to £15, plus a £1.50 fee per ticket; prices vary through the run.

Source checked · · Official source

Skates & rentals

Skate hire is included in the ticket price.

Source checked · · Official source

Booking & check-in

Sessions last 45 minutes and start on the hour from 11am to 9pm, with 9am, 10am and 10pm sessions on selected dates.

Source checked · · Official source

Skating with children

Children 12 and under must skate with an adult, with at least one adult for every five children.

Source checked · · Official source

Parking & arrival

There is no parking at Somerset House; public transport is strongly advised.

Source checked · · Official source

Accessibility

Wheelchair users can skate on any public session in a manual wheelchair; call 0343 208 1497 to arrange it.

Source checked · · Official source

A source check records what the rink published on that date. Session-specific booking details take precedence.