Royal Pavilion Ice Rink
George IV’s Brighton ‘pleasure palace’ makes for an otherworldly skating setting. The open-air rink (above) is solar and wind-powered, with cockle-warming food and drink available nearby. Until Jan 19, 2020, Royal Pavilion, Brighton, royalpavilionicerink.co.uk
Eden Project
Cornwall’s only indoor rink is wheelchair-friendly and geared for family fun with penguin and snowman skating aids to help kids balance, parent and toddler ice-play sessions, relaxed family slots and skating lessons. Until February 23, 2020, Eden Project, Cornwall, edenproject.com
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
The open-air ice rink in the garden of Henry VIII’s Tudor palace, complete with its towers and turrets, has a fairytale atmosphere and hosts a Festive Fayre on December 6 with a Christmas market and entertainment all weekend long. Until Jan 5, 2020, Hampton Court Palace, hamptoncourtpalaceicerink.co.uk
Winchester Cathedral
The covered rink at Winchester’s magnificent gothic cathedral is surrounded by a Christmas market, so you can kill two seasonal birds with one stone. Until Jan 5, 2020, Winchester Cathedral, winchester-cathedral.org.uk
Skate at Somerset House
The glitzy courtyard ice rink has a roller-disco feel in the evenings with Skate Lates, where DJs include resident artist Nabihah Iqbal, Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, DJ Yoda, Manara and Hannah Faith, plus an all-night session on Dec 7, until 8am. In the day, it’s family friendly, with sessions for kids. Until Jan 12, 2020, Somerset House, London, somersethouse.org.uk
Bath On Ice
Situated in Royal Victoria Park — just below Bath’s iconic Royal Crescent — Bath On Ice offers open-air ice-skating sessions for all, yummy food and drink and glow-in-the-dark mini golf. Yes, really. Until Jan 5, 2020, Royal Victoria Park, Bath, bathonice.com
Ice Skate Birmingham
Birmingham’s revamped Centenary Square is the location for the covered rink offering dazzling light shows overhead. There’s plenty of entertainment to make an evening, afternoon or morning of it with a 40m big wheel, City Flyer Ride, Ice Lounge and Christmas market. Until Jan 12, 2020, Centenary Square, Birmingham, iceskatebirmingham.co.uk
Cardiff Alpine Ice Trail
For the first time, Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland features a 250m open-air ice trail, one of the largest in Europe, beating a path through the lawns of the grand City Hall. If you prefer your ice skating/stumbling to be circular, there’s a conventional rink, too. Until Jan 5, 2020, City Hall Lawns, Cardiff, cardiffswinterwonderland.com
Canterbury On Ice
Canterbury’s medieval walls frame the olde worlde city’s first festive pop-up ice rink, with Roman cemetery Dane John Mound offering scenic views of the roofed, open-sided rink. Especially suited to little ones. Until Jan 1, 2020, Dane John Gardens, Canterbury, canterburyonice.co.uk
Skate Manchester
The Cathedral Gardens are home to Skate Manchester, a covered, clear-roofed ice rink with lovely lights. Part of Ice Village, it has Christmas markets, fantasy ice sculptures and an ice bar to enjoy. Until Janusary 5, 2020, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, skatemanchester.com