Hampton Court Ice Skating 2026: Our Family Review & Guide
Ice skating at Hampton Court Palace has to be one of the most festive places to skate near Surrey. With the rink set against the backdrop of the palace, it’s a lovely one to add to the Christmas calendar – particularly if you book a session as it starts to get dark.
We were invited to try Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink as a family when the boys were younger, and it turned out to be a brilliant afternoon out. M was skating for the first time, while E had been on the ice before, so we had a good mix of abilities between us.
A lot has changed since our visit, so I’ve updated this guide with the information you need for Hampton Court ice skating in 2026, alongside our original experience and some of the things we learnt from taking younger children.
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink 2026 dates
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink returns for Christmas 2026 from:
- 20 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
- The rink is closed on Christmas Day (25 December).
- Sessions are bookable throughout the day, although opening times vary depending on the date.
Hampton Court ice skating opening times
There are sessions throughout the day, with earlier slots available at weekends and during the Christmas school holidays.
- Weekdays in November and term-time December: sessions from 10am to 8pm
- Saturdays and Sundays: sessions from 9am to 8pm
- School Christmas holidays: sessions from 9am to 8pm
- Christmas Day: closed
- New Year’s Eve: sessions from 9am to 7pm
- 1–3 January 2027: sessions from 9am to 8pm
Sessions start on the hour. Each booking slot is one hour, which gives you 45 minutes of skating time.
You can check availability and book Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink tickets online.
Our experience of ice skating at Hampton Court Palace
We visited for a 2pm session on a Saturday afternoon and arrived early so we had plenty of time before going onto the ice.
M had never been ice skating before and, as predicted, absolutely loved it. He has always been the child with very little fear, and a few minor tumbles didn’t put him off in the slightest. Before long, he was attempting to go as fast as possible!
E had first tried skating when he was around five or six and had been much less confident. On this visit, though, he did brilliantly and happily made his way around the rink with the help of a skating aid.
The boys didn’t want to leave at the end of our session, which probably says more about it than anything else.
One thing I would do differently next time is choose a later afternoon or early evening session. Skating in daylight was lovely, but seeing Hampton Court Palace illuminated behind the rink as it gets dark would make it feel even more Christmassy.
How long are the skating sessions?
Each booking slot is an hour, with 45 minutes actually spent on the ice.
I’d definitely arrive with plenty of time to spare, especially if you’re taking children. You’ll need to collect your skates, leave your shoes and bags in the cloakroom and get everyone ready before heading onto the ice – which always seems to take longer than you think!
Skate hire at Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
Skate hire is included in your ticket, so you don’t need to pay anything extra. You’ll collect your skates from the Skate Exchange, although you can bring your own if you’d prefer.
The rink recommends wearing thick socks, both for comfort and to help your skates fit properly.
When we visited, both Mr H and I initially found our skates too tight and had to change them shortly after getting onto the ice. It’s definitely worth making sure yours feel comfortable before your session begins!
Are skating aids available?
Yes. Children’s skate aids cost £6 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day.
You can’t reserve one in advance and numbers are limited, so it’s worth bearing that in mind if you know your child will need one.
When we visited, E found having a skate aid really useful while he built up his confidence.
Food and drink at Hampton Court ice rink
For 2026, Department of Coffee & Social Affairs is providing the food and drink at the rink.
There’s a mix of croissants, sandwiches, sausage rolls and sweet treats, as well as coffee and hot chocolate. For the grown-ups, there are festive drinks too, including mulled wine, hot toddies and cocktails.
On our original visit, we arrived early and grabbed something to eat before our session, which worked really well with younger children.
The rink is completely cashless, so make sure you’ve got a card or mobile payment method with you.
These photos are from our original visit, so the current food and drink offering may be different.
Is Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink accessible?
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink is fully accessible and there’s also a fully accessible viewing platform. Spectating is free, so family and friends who don’t fancy skating can still come along and watch.
Wheelchair users are welcome on the ice but need to be accompanied by a carer who’s comfortable on the ice, as rink staff aren’t able to provide dedicated support.
Wheelchair tickets cost £15 for both peak and off-peak sessions, with one carer able to attend free with each wheelchair skater. You’ll need to add the free carer ticket when booking, and proof of disability is required as part of the booking process.
If you’d prefer a quieter session, the rink recommends booking a weekday before 3pm.
Getting to Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink
Hampton Court Palace is easily accessible from Surrey and south-west London, which is one of the reasons this has always been a handy festive day out for us.
Travelling by train
Hampton Court station is only around a five-minute walk from the palace, so getting there by train is pretty easy.
Trains from London Waterloo run every 30 minutes, stopping at stations including Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Wimbledon, Surbiton and Thames Ditton.
Hampton Court is in Zone 6 and you can use Oyster on the route.
That’s particularly handy if you’re coming from our side of Surrey, and with parking at the palace limited, travelling by train is definitely worth considering at busy times.
Parking at Hampton Court Palace
There is parking at Hampton Court Palace, but spaces are limited and it’s first come, first served.
The palace car park costs £1.80 per hour and payment is by card. There are also 10 Blue Badge spaces, although the usual parking charges still apply.
If the palace car park is full, Hampton Court Green car park is around 500 metres away and also costs £1.80 per hour.
There are other places to park a little further away too. Hampton Court can get really busy over Christmas though, so I’d definitely allow plenty of time if you’re driving.
Can you visit Hampton Court Palace at the same time?
You could definitely turn your skating trip into a bigger festive day out and visit Hampton Court Palace at the same time.
Just bear in mind that your ice skating ticket doesn’t include admission to the palace.
You don’t need a palace ticket to go skating – the ice rink is separately ticketed. But if you want to explore the palace while you’re there, you’ll need to buy admission separately.
Is there somewhere to leave bags and shoes?
Yes. There’s a cloakroom where you can leave your shoes and bags while you’re skating.
The rink is completely cashless, so make sure you’ve got a card or mobile payment method with you.
Can I change my Hampton Court ice skating booking?
If your plans change, you can move your booking to another available date or time, but you’ll need to contact customer services at least 48 hours before your session.
Booking fees aren’t refundable, although they can be put towards your new date.
It’s also worth knowing that the rink stays open in pretty much all weather. So if it’s raining and you decide not to go, or you leave your session early, you won’t normally get a refund.
If the rink itself cancels or cuts a session short and you’ve had less than 25 minutes of skating time, you’ll be offered another session, subject to availability.
You can also add optional ticket protection when you book, which may give you a refund if you can’t attend for one of the reasons covered by the policy.
Our tips for ice skating at Hampton Court Palace with children
Based on our own visit, I’d suggest arriving with plenty of time to spare. Getting several pairs of skates on inevitably seems to take longer than you expect, and it’s much nicer starting your session without everyone feeling rushed.
Wear warm clothes and decent socks, and make sure everyone’s skates are comfortable before heading onto the rink. If you’re visiting with a nervous or first-time skater, bear in mind that skating aids are limited and can’t be reserved in advance.
And if I were booking again? I’d probably go for a session around dusk. We loved our afternoon visit, but skating with the palace lit up behind you would make the setting even more special.
Is Hampton Court ice skating worth it?
We had a genuinely lovely afternoon when we visited Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink. The boys enjoyed it so much that they didn’t want their session to end, and M’s first experience of ice skating was a definite success.
The location is the thing that makes it particularly special. There are plenty of places to go ice skating around London and Surrey, but you don’t often get a backdrop quite like Hampton Court Palace.
It’s somewhere I’d happily return to, especially now the boys are older and rather more capable of staying upright!
If you’re planning more festive days out, have a look at my guide to Christmas light trails in Surrey and nearby too.
And for more ideas throughout the year, you’ll find plenty in my Surrey Days Out guide.
Hampton Court Ice Skating 2026 FAQs
When does Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink open in 2026?
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink is scheduled to run from 20 November 2026 until 3 January 2027. It is closed on Christmas Day.
What time does Hampton Court ice skating open?
Sessions generally begin at 10am on weekdays and 9am at weekends, with earlier 9am sessions also available during the Christmas school holidays. Most days have sessions running into the evening. Check your chosen date when booking as times vary.
Can wheelchair users go ice skating at Hampton Court?
Yes. Wheelchair users are welcome on the ice but need to be accompanied by a carer who is comfortable on the ice. One carer can accompany each wheelchair skater free of charge. Proof of disability is required during booking.
Can you watch without ice skating?
Yes. The rink states that spectating is free, and there is an accessible viewing platform.
Is skate hire included?
Yes. Skate hire is included in your ice rink ticket, although you’re also welcome to bring and use your own skates.
Do you need a Hampton Court Palace ticket to go ice skating?
No. You only need an ice rink ticket to go skating at Hampton Court Palace. Entry to the palace itself isn’t included, so you’ll need to buy a separate palace admission ticket if you want to visit the palace during your trip.
Disclosure: We were gifted entrance to Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink for our original visit. All opinions, words and images are my own.
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