Times, Tickets & FAQs

Please check your tickets to make sure that they are for the correct date and time, and that you have the correct number of tickets.

If the date, time or quantity are not what you were expecting, please contact us as soon as possible on 0343 208 1497 quoting your reference number.

There is no parking available. Public transport is strongly advised.

Please arrive at Somerset House 30 minutes before your skating session begins so that you have time to get your skates and still enjoy your full session on the ice.

Please do arrive earlier if you need to leave items in the cloakroom.

If you arrive late you will be allowed on the ice but you may not have your full session of skating and will only be able to stay for the remainder of your booked session.

Please note that all sessions are 45 minutes. 

Tickets are only valid for the date and session time booked. Tickets are not transferable or refundable if you arrive during or after your session
 

All bags regardless of size, and bulky or loose items such as large cameras, are not allowed on the rink or in the skate hire area. These need to be left in the cloakroom where the first item is free and there is a subsequent charge of £2 per item.

Please note that items are left in the cloakroom at the owner’s risk.

Skaters may use their own skates. Somerset House reserves the right not to allow a person to use their own skates if they  are not suitable. We do not sharpen personal ice skates.

Skate aids are stabilisers available for children aged age 8 or under. There are a limited number of skate aids that will be available on a first-come-first-served basis and cannot be pre-booked. If availability allows and there are skaters aged over 8 who would benefit from the Skate aids, we may be able to accommodate.

Skate Mates are dedicated ice marshals that can be pre-booked for £35 per session to provide additional assistance for groups of 4-15 people.

Skate Mates must be booked by telephone by calling 0343 208 1497 either at the same time, or after booking your Skate tickets and at least 48 hours in advance of your Skate session.

Please note: a limited number of Skate Mates are available per session.

NB: If a Skate Mate is booked, children 12 and under must still be accompanied on the ice by a supervising adult.  Skate Mates can be pre-booked to provide additional assistance on the ice.  These are not lessons and they cannot act as a guardian for children aged 12 and under.

The ice rink is open-air and skating continues come rain or shine.

Remember to dress warmly and wear something waterproof if you are worried it might rain. You could also bring a change of clothes and spare socks if the weather forecast predicts rain.

Tickets are not transferable or refundable.

If Skate is cancelled you will be notified and will receive a full refund. Somerset House is a charity so please consider donating the cost of your ticket.

No food or drinks are allowed into the skate hire area or on the ice. Glass is not permitted on the viewing platforms or in the courtyard.

Personal food and drink items can be brought to Somerset House, but we kindly ask that this is not consumed within the bars or restaurants on site.

Spectators are welcomed at the ice rink free of charge.

They can watch from the viewing platform or from the warmth of the Skate Lounge by Whispering Angel, which has a fantastic rink-side view.

There are a range of toilet facilities at Somerset House. Directly off the courtyard, down a set of stairs are a large number of gender neutral cubicle toilets. There are accessible toilets in the East Wing, South Wing and New Wing. Please ask any member of the friendly Visitor Experience team for directions. 

This year we also have a RevoLOO on site on Sunday 05 Jan. This is a mobile Changing Places toilet and changing facility, with an adult-sized hoist, larger floor plan and is staffed by a highly trained attendant to assist you. This service is available to people for whom standard accessible toilets are not suitable. 

For all phone enquiries please call 0343 208 1497 between 09.00 - 20.00 - Mon-Fri, 10.00-20.00 - Sat, 10.00 - 18.00 Sun and Bank Holidays, Closed on Christmas Day

09 Nov – 11 Nov: 12.00 – 18.00

12 Nov: 12.00 – 16.00 
(Please note that between 8 -12 November the Ticket Office is for advance booking only. Skate opens to the public on Wednesday 13 November)

On Skate School mornings, the ticket office opens at 08.00
On Early Skates the ticket office opens at 08.15
On Late Evening sessions/ Skate Lates the ticket office closes 15 minutes after the last session of the day begins

Seasonal Openings: 
24 December; Early closure at 17.15
25 December: Closed
26 December: Late opening at 11.30
31 December: Early closure at 16.15
01 January: Late opening at 11.30
 

Ice skating is a sport with inherent risks. Visitors skate at their own risk.

Tickets are non-refundable.

We reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone who we believe to be intoxicated. This is for your safety and the safety of others.

We reserve the right to refuse entry to and/or ask people to leave the event in reasonable circumstances including without limitation for health and safety or licensing reasons; if you behave in a manner which has or is likely to affect the enjoyment of other persons at the event; if you use threatening, abusive or insulting words or mannerisms; if, in our reasonable opinion, you are acting under the influence of alcohol or drugs; if you are unable, when required, to produce proof of identity or age; if you don’t listen to our staff; if you breach these terms; or if your ticket is void.