Hampton Court ice rink 2026–27: dates, prices and Christmas at the palace
Skate in front of Henry VIII’s palace from 20 November to 3 January. This year’s ice rink prices and sessions, plus the Winter Palace and the Festive Fayre.
Every winter an outdoor ice rink appears in front of Hampton Court Palace, and skating beneath the Tudor chimneys and turrets, lit up after dark, has become one of the classic London Christmas outings. For 2026 the rink opens on 20 November and runs until 3 January 2027, and inside the palace there’s a brand-new Christmas show, the Winter Palace. This guide covers dates, prices, how sessions work and how to make a festive day of it.
We’re an independent guide. Prices are from the rink’s official website on 10 November 2026; book through the official ice rink website.
Dates and opening times
- Open: 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, every day except Christmas Day.
- Sessions: the first starts at 10am and the last at 8pm.
- Quieter sessions: reduced-capacity sessions with static lighting and gentler music run from 10am daily, good for young children and skaters with disabilities.
Weekends, evenings and the school holidays sell out first, so book as early as you can. Watching is free: there’s a viewing platform where non-skaters can stay warm with a drink.
Ice rink prices 2026–27
| Ticket | Off-peak | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (13+) | £19.50 | £21.50 |
| Student (with ID) | £18.00 | £21.50 |
| Child (3–12) | £14.50 | £16.00 |
| Family (2 adults + 2 children, or 1 adult + 3 children) | £59.50 | £65.50 |
| Wheelchair user (one carer free) | £15.00 | £15.00 |
| Groups of 10 or more, per person | £13.50–£17.50 | £14.85–£19.35 |
Skate hire is included in every ticket. Historic Royal Palaces members save 10% or more with codes in their member newsletters. The rink ticket doesn’t include palace entry, which is sold separately; see our palace ticket guide.
How a session works
- Arrive 30 to 40 minutes early to swap your shoes for skates at the skate exchange and leave bags in the cloakroom.
- Each session lasts up to 45 minutes on the ice.
- Wear thick socks and bring gloves. The rink is outdoors; if you forget them, socks and gloves are on sale.
- No phones on the ice. Eating, drinking, phones and cameras aren’t allowed while you’re skating, so take photos from the side or the viewing platform.
- It’s cashless: bring a card or phone for the cloakroom and refreshments.
- Bad weather: the rink stays open in rain (the ice just gets wetter), but may close in extreme conditions. If a session is cancelled, you can reschedule; booking fees aren’t refunded.
- Changing your booking: you can move to another date or time, if available, at least 48 hours before your session.
Warm up afterwards with coffee, hot chocolate, mulled wine or a fresh sausage roll from the rink’s café.
Skating with children
- Children under 3 can’t go on the ice.
- Children under 13 must be on the ice with an adult aged 18 or over; one adult can supervise up to five children, and every skater needs a ticket.
- Skate aids for children up to 100cm tall can be hired on the day for £6, first come, first served; they can’t be reserved.
- Small children need to fit a bob skate size 6.5 or above.
- The quieter morning sessions are the best choice for first-timers.
Accessibility
The rink is fully accessible, with an accessible viewing platform. Wheelchair users are welcome on the ice with a companion who is comfortable skating; carers go free. Weekdays before 3pm are the quietest times.
The Winter Palace
New for 2026, the Winter Palace turns much of Hampton Court into a Christmas show called the Christmas Beast Ball. From 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, you walk through rooms dressed for Christmas, with immersive sets, music, live actors and puppets of mythical beasts, among them a winter phoenix, a unicorn foal and a sleeping dragon. It’s aimed squarely at families.
- Tickets: included in palace admission; members go free but must pre-book. See our ticket guide, or book a palace ticket with an audio guide.
- Late openings: until 7.30pm (last entry slot 5.30pm) on 9–11, 16–17 and 19–30 December.
- Prefer history? Some historic routes stay undecorated.
Details are on the official Winter Palace page.
The Festive Fayre
On 4–6 and 11–13 December 2026, more than 100 artisan producers set up stalls at the palace for the Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre, with food, gifts and live music, from 10am to 5pm. Entry is included in a palace ticket, and members go free with pre-booking.
Tips for a festive day out
- Skate after dark. The palace is floodlit and the rink is lit with fairy lights; book a late-afternoon session to skate as the sun goes down.
- Combine the rink and the palace: visit the Winter Palace in the afternoon, then skate in the evening. On late-opening days you can do both after school.
- Book the rink and the palace separately, and leave time between them for collecting skates.
- Go on a weekday for cheaper off-peak prices and smaller crowds.
- Christmas Day: the rink is closed. Check opening hours for Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year before you travel.
- Daylight: the Home Park is lovely on a frosty morning, and free.
Spending Christmas in central London too? Our sister site has a guide to Kensington Palace, a short train and Tube ride away.
Getting there
Trains run from London Waterloo to Hampton Court every 30 minutes, taking about 35 minutes, and the station is a few minutes’ walk from the palace. There is a car park beside the palace, but it gets busy at weekends in December. See how to get to Hampton Court. The address is Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU.
Questions people ask
When is the Hampton Court ice rink open?
From 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, every day except Christmas Day, with sessions from 10am to 8pm.
How much is the Hampton Court ice rink?
Adults pay £19.50 off-peak and £21.50 at peak times; children aged 3 to 12 pay £14.50 or £16. Family tickets cost £59.50 or £65.50. Skate hire is included.
Does the ice rink ticket include entry to Hampton Court Palace?
No. The rink and the palace are ticketed separately. The Winter Palace Christmas show is included in a palace ticket.
How long is a skating session?
Up to 45 minutes on the ice. Arrive 30 to 40 minutes before to collect your skates.
Can toddlers skate at Hampton Court?
Children aged 3 and over can skate with an adult. Skate aids for children up to 100cm tall can be hired on the day for £6.
Who runs the Hampton Court ice rink?
Icebox Live, in association with Historic Royal Palaces. Book through the official ice rink website.
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