Ice Rinks and Advent Calendars

Skating

The team at dandelion.london have been out and about practising their toe loops as London’s open-air ice rinks get ready for the Christmas season. Sadly, this seems to have heralded the arrival of the rain. Book your holiday skating slots now and hope for cold, dry weather. We are enthusiastic about most things but persuading children that skating in a deluge is fun is a tough one! 

Skate Leicester Square to 4 Jan

The newbie in town this year is slap-bang in the middle of Leicester Square. Walk past the statue of Mary Poppins, through a fairly tacky Christmas market and in the middle, round the statute of Shakespeare, is a surprisingly welcoming rink. It is not especially big but if you go in the morning before the crowds, it would make a nice outing for a younger child who might be intimidated by a larger space. Tickets are sold in 15 minute slots, which for most children is plenty!

10.15am–9.15pm. From £14.50 adults, £9.50 child. Penguins/seals £5. 

GLIDE at Battersea Power Station to 4 Jan

Not content with three twinkling interconnecting rinks, GLIDE at Battersea Power Station has ratcheted up and now has a pretty lengthy Skate Trail too. Little ones will love the carousel and helter-skelter. Ticket prices are among the highest around but, with the river on one side and the iconic Power station behind, plus welcomingly unobtrusive sponsorship from Boots, this remains our favourite skate in town.

10am–9pm weekdays, 9am–10pm weekends. Tickets from £20.35 (13yrs+), £13.20 (ages 3–12). Skate penguins £6.

The Queen’s House Ice Rink 21 Nov–4 Jan

This magical open-air rink next to the gleaming royal mansion in Greenwich makes for a very pretty skate. Special sessions for toddlers and students.

10am–9pm. From £19 adults, £16.50 children. Skate aid £5.

Skate at Somerset House to 11 Jan

Somerset House used to be, hands-down, the most glamorous skate in London but its Virgin Atlantic sponsorship has brought it down-market. The rink-side Clubhouse, from where you can have hot chocolate and watch the skating is ‘inspired by their iconic lounge designs’, and feels like an airport. That said, the setting – in the courtyard in front of the neoclassical façade – is unbeatable. DJs, a Skate School & Kids Skate Club, plus a pre-loved Shelter boutique.

9am til late. From £15 adults, £10 child. Free skate aids.

 Ice Rink at Winter Wonderland 14 Nov-1 Jan

Love it or loathe it, Winter Wonderland roars into London on Friday. Its whopping rink in Hyde Park is the biggest open-air rink in the country. Lit with 100,000 fairy lights, wrapped around a pretty Victorian bandstand, it’s very shiny to skate here at night. The Arctic Adventure Package combines skating with a visit to the Magical Ice Kingdom and the Ice Slide.

10am–9pm. From £11.50 (age 13+), £8.50 (ages 3–12). Skate penguins £5.

 Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink 21 Nov–4 Jan

Head south west for the best historical skate, next to King Henry VIII sixteenth-century palace. 

10am 9pm. From £19 adult, £14 child. Skate aid £6. 

 Winter Funland at Kensington Olympia 12 Dec–4 Jan

This year’s new indoor option is part of Winter Funland in the Grand Hall, Olympia. Unlimited funfair rides, circus shows and skating (minimum age 4) are all included in the ticket price. Check the dandelion website so see what they think once it has opened.

11am–6.30pm. £37 adult/child. 

Advent Calendars

Advent calendars have become big business. Older teens may be clamouring for a beauty calendar (or we rather like the White Company’s 12 Days of Fragrance, a dozen candles to spread zen in the run up to Christmas, £100); but for this round up we are focussing on calendars for children.

Books

Get inspired every day of Advent with the Little People, Big Dreams Advent Calendar. Behind each door is a short story about a different historical trailblazer. 2025’s new version includes David Attenborough and Rosa Parks. £21.99.

Not new (first published in 2023), but we spotted this charming Christmas Pop Up Advent Calendar in Kew Gardens. Hang the pop-up pine tree with 25 (purists would say one too many) festive flora and fauna ornaments. Includes booklet with fun festive facts. £24.99.

Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzle supremos, Wentworth, are a dandelion favourite and their new Christmas Fair Advent Calendar, 124 pieces complete with spinning Ferris wheel and whimsy pieces, is top of our Christmas list. £45.

The clever elves at Lego have a huge selection of calendars. New this year are their Countdown to Christmas Puzzles. With 12 Days of Minifigure Advent Puzzles, this won’t get you all the way through December but you could start when your kids break up from school. A mini jigsaw puzzle is behind each of the twelve doors. Age 7+. £21.99.

 Fashion

Meri Meri charm bracelets are a lovely way to bring Christmas magic to a mini fashionista. They have collaborations again with Harrods and Liberty this year or, new for 2025, we rather love the Meri Meri x La Durée Charm Bracelet Advent Calendar. The ‘calendar’ is inside a jewellery box, in the familiar La Durée packaging. One bracelet chain and 23 pretty charms. Age 8+. £65.

Back again this year is the popular Mimi and Luna Luxe Advent Calendar, exclusive to Selfridges. Sparkly clips and velvet scrunchies for your hair, key rings to attach to your school bag, your little one will be ready for the Christmas party season. £50.

 Traditional Paper

We adore the brand new National Portrait Gallery Advent Calendar. The 3D pop-up paper calendar is a lovely picture of the forecourt of the gallery, complete with Christmas tree and black cab. Behind each door is artist’s Emily Sutton’s depiction of one of the famous faces from the gallery’s collection. £16.

If you are after a traditional paper calendar, there is nowhere better than the Medici Gallery in South Kensington. Including a great selection by Molly Brett, there are heaps of snowy scenes and silver glitter. Most come with large envelopes so you can send them to loved ones by post. Our favourites this year are Snow Fairies and Woodland Angel (both £6.99). Click here for the full online range but if you are in the area, there are many more in store. Great advent cards too.

Sweet Treats

We spotted this new Festive Mini Mince Pie Advent Calendar at Selfridges this weekend. 24 mini mince pies in every flavour you can imagine. Chocolate mince pie for breakfast anyone? £39.99.

Charbonnel & Walker are celebrating 150 years this year. Their Peter Rabbit Advent Calendar is back again for the anniversary year. The simple cardboard fold out calendar is Beatrix Potter at her charming best and the 24 white and milk chocolates, delish! £28.

Blow the budget

If you like your Christmas twinkling, the new Light Up Christmas Tree Advent Calendar from Fortnum & Mason is for you. Crafted out of wood, and delivered in its own storage box, this festive delight is one that will be unwrapped year after year. Drawers come unfilled so have fun filling them with rubbers, sweets and trinkets for your child. £190.

 For more ideas of inspiring things to do with families in London, visit dandelion.london or follow them on Insta @dandelion.london