Skating in London

[mr7740]

I have noticed there seem to be at least a few people on this board who are from England so I thought I would inquire about skating in London. I am going to be visiting there for 10 days and I am also trying to train for adult nationals so I was hoping to be able to skate at least a few times. I believe I will be staying in Kensington? or South Kensington? with someone who is studying abroad. (it is my first time in Europe) Does anyone know any names of rinks where I might find decent (not too crowded) ice? Also, general prices? Thanks!

[TashaKat]

The nearest would be Queens but it's quite a small rink now and not really geared towards competition. If you can go during the day it can be reasonably quiet though.

Other alternatives are Alexandra Palace (North London), Streatham (South London) and Lee Valley (East London).

If you want to move slightly further out (travel times can be similar) then there's Slough. Bracknell and Basingstoke are also out of London and would take slightly longer to get to. Bracknell is a very nice rink though if you can get there.

I'm afraid I don't know prices anymore but I'm sure that someone will be able to help.

[kateskate]

Nearest would be Queens. I skate there. It is reasonably quiet during the day. There are a few clear ice sessions but you have to be having a lesson in order to skate on that ice. And they are usually more crowded than daytime public sessions anyway. Weekends and weekday afternoons/evenings are a little crazy.

And it's small - 50m x 20m

[dooobedooo]

As you are likely to be using public transport, I thought it might be helpful to expand a bit on Tashakat's suggestions.

The first thing is that there is currently a reality TV series called Dancing on Ice being filmed up until early March 2007. Celebrities learn to skate, do dance routines with a professional partner, and compete against each other. Unfortunately, this means that there may be restrictions on size of ice surface, use of music etc, particularly for rinks near London. Slough may currently be about the worst for this. Best to phone. For all the rinks mentioned, the best time to go for serious practice is weekday mornings.

Queens is the nearest to South Ken, and the only one in Central London - underground station is Bayswater (District/Circle line) or Queensway (Central line) (about 20 minutes). It is a smallish rink, probably about 2/3 standard size. Public ice all day from 10 am. Bonus is the local area (Kensington Gardens, good shops and restaurants)
http://www.queensiceandbowl.co.uk/

Alexandra Palace is in North London - nearest underground Wood Green (Piccadilly line), then W3 bus (about 40 minutes). Rink is standard international size (ie. 25m by 50m) not quite Olympic size. Morning training ice up to 11 and then public sessions all day. A bonus is the great views over London and the adjacent pub (the Phoenix) and exhibition halls.
http://www.alexandrapalace.com/icerink.html

Streatham is in South London - nearest overground station Streatham (www.nationalrail.co.uk), or perhaps better for you, get underground to Brixton (Victoria line) and then a bus (about 40 minutes). Rink is big, roughly Olympic size. Public sessions all day from 1030. Bonus is the opportunity to visit Brixton market.
http://www.streathamicearena.co.uk/information.htm

Lee Valley is in East London. It is 20 minutes walk from Clapton Station, and not at all convenient by public transport.
http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Attraction/Lee_Valley_Ice_Centre/ec52/

[BatikatII]

Bracknell is not being used for Dancing on ice at all so our schedule is as normal (except half term week from 12-16th Feb).

From London it is approx an hour on train from London Waterloo to Bracknell station and then a bus (10 mins) to the rink. From South Ken you get an underground to Richmond (not far) and a surface train from there to Bracknell - about 40 mins. There are also regular buses into and out of London to Bracknell but I have no info on times etc.

Bracknell is Olympic size 60 x 30 and usually nice and warm. :) Ice quality is good except currently on wednesday mornings early patch (5.45am til 9am) - some problems with availability of resurfacers. There is a quiet morning patch from 9.30 - 10.00am which is mostly populated by serious adult skaters and a few older 'elites'. Also most weekdays there is lunchtime patch too from 12.45 - 2pm.

Weekends are very busy - serious training ice from 5.45 - 8.30 on Saturdays followed by Academy and group lessons.

if you were williing to fork out £12 to join Bracknell ice skating club you could skate Sunday evenings - quiet club patch from 8.30pm (later if there is a hockey match beforehand) til 10.30pm. Actually you could probably come as a guest and just pay the club patch fee if you let us know in advance so we coud register you as a guest.

Anyway it may be too far out for you but you'd be most welcome! Nothing much around the rink but the cafe is not too bad.

patch ice is £4.40 per hour.

[Mrs Redboots]

I recommend Streatham. If you email info@streathamicearena.co.uk, you will probably get an answer from one of the teachers (http://streathamicearena.co.uk/pro_marshall.htm), who may be able to arrange for you to use the teaching and practice ice. This costs £5.00 per sesson, and lessons are about £7.50 per 15 minutes.

The best way of getting there is by train; pm me and I'll go into more detail than will be interesting to the wider community!

I train there four mornings a week, and hope to meet you!

[Clare]

I recommend Streatham...

I train there four mornings a week, and hope to meet you!


I'm a 2 evenings & 2 mornings skater at Streatham and I definitely second Mrs R's recommendation :)

Clare

[mr7740]

Thanks so much for all of the replies! I have to check to see exactly where I will be staying, but he did mention he was near a rink, which sounds like the Queens rink from the descriptions. I just want to be able to practice jumps, spins, passages from my program. I am already behind (the program isnt' finished yet) and I don't want this trip to set me back weeks. It would be ideal if I could play it, but I am not expecting to be able to. I will definately check out Stratham on the website and then inquire more!

[blisspix]

I'm going to be in London for a couple of days after a longer Europe trip - will any outdoor rinks be open in early March? I'm staying in Bloomsbury.

I won't be taking my own skates so will have to heap mercy on the rental skate gods.

[TashaKat]

Broadgate Ice (at Liverpool Street) usually closes about April time. It's only a small, circular rink but you can some basic stuff, jumps and spins on it (if it's quiet). I'm not sure about the others but will try and check and let you know unless anyone else knows :)

[dooobedooo]

I'm going to be in London for a couple of days after a longer Europe trip - will any outdoor rinks be open in early March? I'm staying in Bloomsbury.....

There is a small circular seasonal outdoor rink at Broadgate, near Liverpool St Station (Central line) open until 3 April 2007. It really is small, but someone I know claims to be able to land a double lutz in it. The atmosphere is quite good, with lots of city people around. I'm not sure I'd make a special trip there, though. Link: http://www.timeout.com/london/aroundtown/events/294518/broadgate_ice_rink.html

[Mrs Redboots]

Well, 2loop2loop has skated exhibitions there, so he's probably a good person to tell us about it - John, you around?

I skated there once the first year I started skating - I think it was the first year it was open, actually - but have only been there to watch the exhibitions since then. It functions as a "proper" rink, as opposed to the seasonal "holiday" rinks, almost all of which have now closed. It employs a (very good, very nice) free-skating coach, and is also a broomball centre.

[2loop2loop]

Well, 2loop2loop has skated exhibitions there, so he's probably a good person to tell us about it - John, you around?

Yes I'm still about, just not much time to post a lot at the moment.

In fact I skated at Broadgate during my lunch hour last Friday. As everyone has said it's not very big (circular and, I believe, 20m across). However, provided it s not too busy, it's still possible to do stuff there. I was jumping doubles there last week without too much trouble. They seem to do a good job of looking after the ice as long as the weather isn't against them. The only weird bit is getting used to all the city workers who stop by to watch during their lunch break.

If you decide to skate there it's probably worth googling the website to check opening times.

I may as well also flag up my home rink in Milton Keynes for consideration - 35-40 minutes from Euston station on a fast train and right next to the station at the other end. Quiet public sessions every daytime and freestyle ice every morning and some afternoons which is open to visiting skaters.

John

[Helen88]

I skate at Alexandra Palace - £6 for a junior (sorry - not sure about adults), but when I phoned up the other day to check the Sunday morning times, the security guard told me it was 10 - 12.30, only to find that when I got there, we weren't allowed onto the ice until 11, so I'd phone ahead. They've been using it for Dancing on Ice training (I got to see Stephen and Kristina!), but the just cone the end of the ice off, so it doesn't really disrupt the session.