London winter events 2026: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and skating at Somerset House

Two London winter events worth planning around

London has a long list of winter things to do, but two of them are easy to plan around because the organisers publish clear dates: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and Skate at Somerset House. Both run for weeks, both have a social, evening feel, and both are the kind of outing where you can meet someone new with a built-in activity.

This page sets out what each organiser's own website says, which we read on 11 November 2026. We give dates, times and prices as they state them, and we say what is not stated. We could not read every London winter event page, so this is a focused guide to two events, not a full list.

Prices and sessions change, and popular slots sell out, so use the links to confirm before you book.

The two events at a glance

Source: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and Somerset House websites, read on 11 November 2026. Check each site for current times, availability and offers.

Official pages with tickets and details

• Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Hyde Park, London

  Official website, tickets and opening details

  Official site
• Skate at Somerset House Somerset House, Strand, London

  Official page, sessions and tickets

  Official site
• Skate Lates at Somerset House Somerset House, Strand, London

  Evening skating sessions, check the Somerset House site

  Official site

How to choose, and how to go with someone new

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is the big one. It is open every day for six weeks, which gives you plenty of choice about when to go. The cheapest time looks to be Monday to Thursday in November, when the organisers list £1 off-peak entry. A quieter weekday also makes it easier to talk, which matters if you are meeting someone for the first time.

The organiser says that booking online in advance saves up to 25 per cent, and that spending £25 or more in one online booking gives free entry. Read the terms on the official site before you rely on either offer, because conditions apply.

Skate at Somerset House is a more compact outing. It is set in a historic courtyard under a 40-foot Christmas tree, and the organiser lists adult tickets from £13 to £28.50, which suggests the price changes with the time and the day. A £1.50 booking fee applies to each ticket.

For meeting people, the Skate Lates evening sessions, which start at 8pm from 12 November, are the best fit. Evening sessions have a social atmosphere, and skating gives you something to do together instead of just sitting across a table. The Somerset House page also mentions a K-pop party at 7pm on 23 November, and extended daytime sessions on a few dates in November, so check the page for what suits you.

Whichever you pick, agree on a meeting point away from the busiest entrance, share your plans with a friend, and book tickets for the same time slot. Both are popular, and arriving separately to different queues is the easiest way to lose each other.

A simple plan

1. Pick an event and open its official page to check the day, time and tickets.
2. Book the same slot and agree a meeting point near the entrance.
3. Wrap up warm, and give yourselves time to queue and collect tickets.
4. Plan a hot drink or a bite afterwards so the evening has a natural second half.

Pubs and bars in central London for afterwards

Place names come from map data contributors. Opening times and quality vary, so check before you go.

Keep going

• Meet new people in London
• A central London first date
• Events near you