From triple salchow to triple sec at Queens Skating Rink
Hidden beneath the bustling streets of Queensway and a stone’s throw from elegant Hyde Park, lies one of London’s biggest secrets: a year-round real-ice rink.
Expect a friendly greeting and a warm atmosphere as you descend from the noise of London into the super-cool complex of spins and ploughs. With the delicious smells from London’s favourite burger-maker, MEATliquor, drifting in the air and the slick, skate-up Sin Bin bar offering tantalising premium standard drinks, this feels special.
Getting ready for the ice is straightforward with helpful staff and plenty of perches making swapping your sneakers for blades super easy. You can also hire a penguin for little ones at the skate-booth – we wondered if we might rent one too until we realised that you can hire your own skating coach to get you whizzing around the rink in no time.
And then, it’s time to hit the rink! This is real ice: large, bathed in bright light with a brisk, cool air that transports you to the best days of winter. Skilled skaters whisk past while novices totter along under the watchful eye of the coaches from the centre of the rink. By carefully managing numbers, it never feels overcrowded or busy – just right if you’re confident enough to sprint or simply enjoying finding your feet.
A session will leave you pink-cheeked and ready for a legendary MEATliquor burger or hot dog (veggie, vegan and halal options available) and something refreshing from the Sin Bin. And possibly with a hankering for more. If that’s the case, you can invest in lessons with your own coach, join in with ice hockey or, what else, take part in curling; described as bowling’s weird cousin, Queens’ Skating holds weekly curling tournaments on a Thursday and Friday evening.
Booking is essential but easy to do. Children are brilliantly catered for, both on and off the ice. There are after school clubs, skating lessons, ice hockey training and a rather tasty and well-priced children’s menu at MEATliquor.
Our Top Tip: While the bar and restaurant are warm, the ice is cold, so wrap up warm. That said, if you’ve forgotten your gloves, don’t worry – you can buy those at the skate booth too.