Greenwich Ice Skating Rink From £19: Queen's House Ice Rink

The Queen's House Ice Rink is the winter rink on the lawn in front of the Queen's House, Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF, part of Royal Museums Greenwich. For 2026–27 it runs from Wednesday 18 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, closed only on Christmas Day. Sessions last 45 minutes, and skate hire and optional helmets are included in every ticket. Adult tickets start at £19, children aged 3 to 12 from £16.50 and family tickets from £49.95.

The rink sits in front of the Queen's House, the white classical villa designed by Inigo Jones in the 17th century, framed by the colonnades of the National Maritime Museum and the green slope of Greenwich Park behind. This season it is run by Tamarisk Events, which announced on 15 September 2026 that the ice would be 30 percent bigger while keeping session capacity the same. In practice that means more room per skater, which makes the rink noticeably more comfortable for beginners than a crowded city-centre rink. It also leaves more space at the edges for anyone who wants to hold the barrier while they find their balance, and more room in the middle for confident skaters to pick up a little speed without weaving through a crowd.

The rink has some of the best deals of any London winter rink. Kids skate free on Tuesdays. Students skate from £10 on Student Nights. Locals get 20 percent off on Mondays and Tuesdays with the code LCLOVE2026. There are also £5 Community Sessions and Quiet Skates, designed for people who prefer a calmer, less crowded session. For a family on a budget, a Tuesday visit can cut the cost to the adult tickets alone.

Each session lasts 45 minutes, and the rink closes at 9 pm, with the last session starting at 8 pm. Arrive 30 to 40 minutes before your session to collect your skates and helmet and get ready for the ice. Alongside the public sessions, the programme includes toddler sessions, student sessions and SEND sessions. A skate-off pit lane lets you take a break in the middle of a session without leaving the ice area, a small but useful touch for young children who tire quickly. One note on timings: the rink's own site and the Royal Museums Greenwich page give different morning opening times, so pick your session on the booking page, which shows the slots actually on sale for each day.

Skate hire is included in the ticket, and so is an optional helmet, a sensible choice for children and nervous adults. Skate aids are available for £5 on a first-come, first-served basis and are only for children under 130 cm. Child tickets cover ages 3 to 12, and anyone aged 13 or over needs an adult ticket. The rink recommends warm, outdoor clothing and asks skaters to wear gloves, so pack a pair for every member of the group.

For £6 more, the VIP upgrade offers what the operator calls an elevated experience, and the site includes a VIP Lodge, which makes the upgrade a good treat for a birthday or a date. Everyone else can warm up at the Zero Degrees Café beside the rink, which serves food and drink throughout the day. Inside the Queen's House itself there is a Santa's Grotto for younger visitors, which makes the rink part of a full festive day out in Greenwich for families with small children.

Greenwich and Maze Hill rail stations are both about a ten-minute walk from the rink. The DLR to Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich is another easy option, especially from Canary Wharf and the City, and from there the walk takes you past the Cutty Sark and the old Royal Naval College. River buses stop at Greenwich Pier, which turns the journey from central London into a sightseeing trip along the Thames, a fine way to arrive on a clear winter day.

The rink is surrounded by things to do. Royal Museums Greenwich includes the National Maritime Museum next door, which is free to enter. Climb the hill in Greenwich Park to the Royal Observatory for one of the best views over London, with Canary Wharf and the City spread out across the river. The Greenwich Christmas market is just a few minutes' walk from the rink, and the town centre has plenty of pubs and restaurants for a warm meal after skating.

Plan a full Greenwich day: a morning at the museums or the market, lunch in town, then a skate in the afternoon or early evening. Book online in advance for weekends and the Christmas holidays, since sessions sell out. If you are bringing children, aim for a Tuesday to take advantage of free kids' tickets, or choose a Quiet Skate if your child is nervous on the ice. Students should look for the Student Nights listed on the booking page.

Families get the best value thanks to free kids' Tuesdays and the included helmets. Students will like the £10 nights. Couples can book the VIP upgrade for a special evening, and anyone who finds crowded rinks stressful can choose a Quiet Skate. Visitors to London get a rink in a UNESCO World Heritage Site setting, combined with museums and park views, without the crowds of the central London rinks. Because the ice is larger this year while session numbers stay the same, it is also one of the more relaxed outdoor rinks for a first attempt at skating.

The Queen's House Ice Rink, The Queen's House, Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF. Season 18 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, closed 25 December. Closes 9 pm, last session 8 pm; sessions 45 minutes. Adults from £19, children 3 to 12 from £16.50, families from £49.95; VIP upgrade £6. Kids free on Tuesdays; students from £10 on Student Nights; locals 20 percent off Monday and Tuesday. Skates and helmets included; skate aids £5. About ten minutes' walk from Greenwich and Maze Hill stations; DLR to Cutty Sark.