Get your skates on!

The Royal Botanic Gardens opens its first seasonal ice rink this week in a Christmas-card setting. Hour-long sessions run daily except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Book early.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond (0870 400 0797). Sat 27 Nov-Thur 2 Dec, 10am-10pm, ends Sun 9 Jan, £9, child £7, family ticket £28.