Hot chocolate, mulled wine, and a spin on the ice - what could be more Christmassy? SANDRA O'CONNELLgets her skates on for a whirl around some of the world's best winter wonderlands
Forget about your double axel or triple lutz, ice is nice even if you can barely stay upright. So get your skates on and have a sparkling time at one of the world’s coolest ice rinks.
I-Skate RDS, Dublin
At the RDS in Dublin, this is not just the country’s newest rink, it’s the largest, with over 1,000sq m of real ice. Numbers are restricted so it never gets too crowded, giving you plenty of space to figure out figure skating. You don’t have to worry about young ones skating rings around you either because kids get their own space – the Magic Vacations Rink. If you’re very good one of them may lend you one of their “friendly penguin” training devices, a zimmer-frame on ice to help you keep your balance.
Runs until January 13th.
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Hyde Park , London
One of London’s most popular winter attractions, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland has the UK’s largest ice rink as well a Christmas market with Bavarian food village, giant ferris wheel and, new this year, an ice sculpture park with more than 500 ice-exhibits – from ice dragons to ice castles. There’s a family circus by day and a Cirque Beserk display by night.
Skaters circle the park’s Victorian band stand and the rink is open daily from 10am to 10pm. Go in the evening for a canopy of 100,000 fairy lights – like skating under the stars. Until January 6th.
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Natural History Museum, London
A guaranteed family-pleaser at any time of year, in winter time the museum becomes an ice-bound treat with a 950sq m rink. Located against the backdrop of the stately Alfred Waterhouse building on Cromwell Road, it’s the perfect setting for a festive glide, with a separate children’s rink too.
There’s a stylish café bar for the compulsory hot chocolate/mulled wine afterwards plus a great viewing balcony on which to enjoy them – and, of course, look down on everyone tripping up below. It’s the perfect spectator sport. Open till 11pm Thursday through Saturday, 10pm all other nights. Runs until January 6th.
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Somerset House, London
Somerset House, central London’s arts and culture centre, bills its Skate at Somerset House event as the city’s most glamorous rink. Lest that give rise to scary images of diamantes and sequins a la Torvill and Dean what it actually means is that you get a cool “club night” out skating to music from live bands and top DJs. Finish off with a drink in Tom’s Skate Lounge next door, and browse the Christmas Arcade, a pop-up shop, beside it. On club nights you’re asked to dress to impress. Maybe not your best dress.
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Ice Dream, Vienna
From January to March, Vienna City Hall transforms into a winter fairytale with a whopping 6,000sq m of ice skating. It’s just as well it is big because last year saw more than half a million skaters descend on it. In fact there are two rinks, both free and right in the centre of town, connected by paths wending their way through the trees of City Hall Park, with plenty of stalls along the way to supply hot drinks and snacks. Go at night to see the entire area illuminated.
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Potsdamer Platz, Berlin
Berlin’s celebration of all things wintery, gives visitors and locals alike a chance to skate on an ice rink right in the centre of town. But there’s all sorts of other wintery sports to try too, such as curling or hopping in a rubber tyre and sliding down Europe’s largest mobile toboggan track – a 70m ski slope covered in 14 tons of snow. Open daily until January 6th.
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Rockefeller Centre, New York
Skating at New York’s Rockefeller Centre has been a quintessential New York City experience for generations. World famous, its giant glittering Christmas tree is likely as familiar to you as the one in your own front room. Even if you never don a skate it’s a terrific spot to watch others glide by as you enjoy a meal at the Rock Centre Café or Sea Grill. If you’re travelling with your boyfriend/girlfriend be warned – they have an “engagement on ice” package here including music, flowers and champagne, plus five minutes of ice time all to yourself in which to ask the question. If they start to clear the rink it’s make your mind up time. Open until April.
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Wollman Rink, New York
The Rockefeller may be the one that makes it into all the movies but in real life the outdoor Wollman Rink in Central Park makes for an even more visually arresting sight with the city skyline as its backdrop.
Located on the east side, close to the Central Park Zoo, it is open seven days until April (in summer it’s an amusement park). It stays open until 11pm Fridays and Saturdays, and is particularly nice with the lights of the city behind it. It’s also perfect for beginners – it hosts the largest “learn to skate” programme in the US.
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Millennium Park, Chicago
There’s more skyscraper views on offer at the Millennium Park ice rink in Chicago, on Michegan Avenue where for the past 11 years locals have been queuing up – literally at weekends and holidays it can be mobbed – to get their icy exercise here.
More than 100,000 come annually. Given that it is free to use the rink if you have your own skates, and only $ 10 to rent them, it’s easy to see why. Open seven days a week until March.
Rideau Canal, Ottowa
For sheer wow factor this one skates rings around the competition. When the temperatures fall below freezing, the Canadian capital’s Rideau Canal freezes over and is reborn as the Rideau Canal Skateway, an ice rink that begins just metres from Canada’s parliament buildings and extends through the city centre to Dows Lake 7.8km away. Don’t be surprised to see people skate to work along it.
If you’re looking to take things at a more leisurely pace, enjoy the designated rest areas along the way with hot drinks and toasty snacks. For maximum effect go during Winterlude, the city’s celebration of winter, February 1st-18th.
