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Get your skates on, the ice rinks are back
By Katharine Barney, Evening Standard 13.12.06
Skaters at the Natural History Museum's ice rink last year
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It's the season of red noses, mulled wine and bumped knees as Londoners gets their skates on across the capital.
The ice rink at the Natural History Museum is in its second year. Last year, it attracted Orlando Bloom, Elle MacPherson, Jose Mourinho and Jonathan Ross, while across London more than a million people visited rinks in historic settings, including Hampton Court Palace.
Broadgate has had a winter rink for a number of years, then in 2000 Somerset House kicked off the current wave with its spectacular rink.
Since then the number and size of temporary rinks has grown and some are now accompaniedby Christmas marketsand cafés for spectators.
This year, Somerset House has introduced a 40ft "Golden tree of wishes" in aid of Save the Children. There will be DJ nights and skating lessons available.
The rinks are created by spraying the areas with water from fire hydrants over a number of days. The water is frozen and underfloor chillers ensure the ice remains at the correct temperature.
London PWR Events, which organises six rinks, said: "People are simulating what used to happen when the Thames froze and people would go skating."
Where and when you can go, what it costs
CANARY WHARF
Open: 18 November-18 February
Tickets: Adults £10, children £7
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Open: 9 November-21 January
Tickets: Adults £10.50 to £12, children £7.50
www.nhmskating.com
CARDINAL PLACE, VICTORIA
Open: 12 December-19 February
Tickets: Adults £9.50, children £7
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
TOWER OF LONDON
Open: 25 November-14 January
Tickets: Adults £10, children £7.50
www.londonicerinks.com
WINDSOR ICE RINK, ALEXANDRA GARDENS
Open: 2 December-7 January.
Tickets: Adults £9.50, children £7
www.londonicerinks.com
KEW GARDENS
Open: 25 November-7 January
Tickets: Adults £10, children £7.50
www.londonicerinks.com
HAMPTON COURT
Open: 2 December-14 January
Tickets: Adults £9.50, children £7.50
www.londonicerinks.com
GREENWICH ICE RINK AT THE OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE
Open: 2 December-14 January
Tickets: Adults £9, children £7
www.londonicerinks.com
SOMERSET HOUSE
Open: 22 November-28 January
Tickets: Adults £10, children £7
www.somersethouseicerink.org.uk
PARLIAMENT HILL FIELDS
Open: 2 December-14 January
Tickets: Adults £9, children £7
www.londonicerinks.com
