Skate at Somerset House

Somerset house offers an affordable way to embrace the christmas spirit.

The perks of working for Roar! finally materialised in the form of press passes to Skate at Somerset House, which had the effect of reducing me and my friend to giddy five-year-olds. Indeed, Christmas is upon us, and what better way to embrace it than an invigorating skate in the scenic courtyard of Somerset House?

After indulging in yummy pastries and hot chocolate at Tom’s Skate Lounge, we hit the ice on a crisp, clear Sunday morning. We enjoyed a beautifully refreshing hour or so on the ice, providing us with a much-needed antidote to our sleep-deprived minds that had been sapped of all energy by the previous week’s essay deadlines. Contrary to my trip last year, the rink wasn’t too packed and both of us luckily managed to avoid any falls. We had particular fun making use of the new iPhone’s slo-mo video camera, the results of which give evidence of my fairly impressive skating skills. It was not enough, however, to prevent my friend from suggesting that I joined in with the children at the beginners’ Penguin Club.

All in all, whether you are an ice-skating pro or a complete amateur, Skate at Somerset House is great fun and will definitely inspire your Christmas spirit. Conveniently situated on the doorstep of the Strand campus, and with student tickets priced at just £8.50, you would be mad not to go, even if you just pop by between lectures. I certainly think that I can justify another venture to Skate before the year is out. I would also recommend following in our footsteps and checking out Ecco on Drury Lane for a post-skate pizza.

You can book tickets for Skate at the box office in the courtyard of Somerset House, through Ticketmaster, or by calling 0844 847 1520. Excluding Christmas Day, the ice rink is open every day between November 14 and January 5, with hourly sessions running from 10am until 10.15pm. If you are feeling wild, you could also attend one of the many club nights that run until 11.30pm, featuring DJs from Ministry of Sound, Horizon Festival, Ibiza Rocks, Lovebox, and Primavera Sounds, among others.

Check out tickets here for more information.