Get your skates on!

Get your skates on. London has iced over for the festive season and there are plenty of places where you can impress, amaze and humiliate yourself with your moves.

HAMPTON COURT PALACE ICE RINK

Ok, so maybe it won't be cold enough this Christmas for a traditional Tudor Frost Fayre on the Thames. At Hampton Court this year though, there will be an ice-rink at the West Front of Henry VIII's red brick palace in Surrey. Get your skates on and take to the ice, and chill out afterwards at the Frost Fayre cafe. There are 10 one-hour sessions every day and you can book your slot in advance on the net. Hampton Court Palace East Molesey, Surrey (0870 060 1778). Sat 20-Wed 24 Dec, Fri 26 Dec-Sun 18 Jan, 10am, 11am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.30pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6.15pm, 7.30pm, 8.45pm, £8.50, child £6.50, concs £7.50, family £26. www.hamptoncourticerink.co.uk.

SOMERSET HOUSE ICE RINK

They boast it's London's loveliest ice rink, and who could argue with that? Set amid the 18th century splendour of one of

London's grandest facades, the ice rink in the courtyard at Somerset House is a must for families. There are even lessons on offer and skate guides for the less experienced. In the evening, flaming torches add to the magic of the place. It's only open for a few weeks so get your skates on. Somerset House Courtyard The Strand, WC2 (0870 166 0423). Fri 19-Tue 23 & Sat 27-Tue 30 Dec, Fri 2-Sun 25 Jan, 10am-10pm, Wed 24 & Wed 31 Dec, 10am-4pm, Fri 26 Dec, Thur 1 Jan, noon-10pm, booking essential, £9.50-£10.50, under-12s £6, family £27. www.somerset-house.org.uk.

BROADGATE ICE

Enjoy a stylish open-air skate in the heart of the Square Mile. There's a good selection of sandwich bars and restaurants in the area to take time out and warm up with a spot of aprés skate. From Monday to Wednesday, you can just come down and watch a game of broomball which is lots of slippery, sliding fun. Broadgate Circle Exchange Square, EC2 (020-7505 4068). Mon-Thur noon-2.30pm, 3.30pm-6pm, Fri noon-2.30pm, 3.30pm-6pm, 7pm-10pm, Sat 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm, 5pm-8.30pm, Sun 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm, 5pm-7pm, (closed Thur 25 & Fri 26 Dec, Thur 1 Jan), ends Apr 30, £5, child £3, skate hire, £2, child £1. 5+