Everything you need to know about the Alexandra Palace ice rink, tickets, public sessions, lessons, ice hockey, parking and insider tips from North London locals.
The setting also helps. Skating inside a 150-year-old palace, with the original Victorian ironwork above you and views across the building's historic interiors, gives the experience a character that a purpose-built rink in a retail park simply cannot match.
Public Skating Sessions
Public sessions run throughout the week, with additional slots added during school holidays and at weekends. Sessions typically last 90 minutes, and the rink is divided into zones during busier periods to keep things manageable.
Peak times to know about: - Saturday and Sunday afternoons are the busiest slots and sell out regularly - School holiday mornings fill quickly with younger skaters and families - Weekday evenings (particularly Friday) attract an older crowd and tend to be less chaotic
Booking online in advance is strongly recommended for weekend and holiday sessions. Walk-up tickets are sometimes available but cannot be guaranteed, and turning up without a booking on a busy Saturday is a gamble not worth taking.
Prices vary by session type and age group, with concessions available for under-12s and over-60s. Check the Alexandra Palace website for current pricing as it is updated seasonally. Groups of ten or more can book private sessions, which are popular for birthday parties and corporate events.
Skate Hire
Skate hire is included in the ticket price at Alexandra Palace, which makes it more straightforward than some London venues where hire is an additional charge. Blades are available in adult and children's sizes, and the hire desk staff will help with fitting.
A few tips on skate hire: - Arrive early if you are hiring, as the queue at the hire desk can add 15-20 minutes to your arrival time during busy sessions - Bring thick socks, the kind you would wear for walking boots. Thin trainer socks offer poor ankle support and make the experience uncomfortable - If you skate regularly, bringing your own boots is worth the effort; the difference in comfort and control is significant
Penguin skating aids are available to hire for younger or less confident skaters. These are the familiar yellow plastic penguins that provide a stable frame to push across the ice. They are available for an additional small charge at the hire desk and are popular with children aged 3-7.
Skating Lessons at Alexandra Palace
The rink runs a structured programme of lessons for all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to those preparing for grading examinations. Lessons are delivered by qualified coaches and follow the Learn to Skate framework used by ice rinks across the UK.
Beginner courses run across several weeks and cover the basics: stopping, turning, skating backwards and building confidence on the ice. These are popular with adults who have never skated before as much as with children.
Intermediate and advanced lessons focus on specific skills, spins, jumps, edge work and footwork sequences, and feed into the club programmes for those who want to develop further.
Private lessons are also available and can be booked directly through the rink. These are worth considering for adults who want faster progress or for children who are keen to advance but find group sessions difficult to access due to scheduling.
Ice Hockey at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is home to an active ice hockey community. The Haringey Huskies, a junior development programme, uses the rink regularly, and there are adult recreational leagues that run through the winter and spring seasons.
For anyone interested in trying ice hockey for the first time, the rink runs taster sessions that introduce the basics of stick handling, shooting and skating with a puck. Equipment hire is available for these sessions. The sport has a loyal following at Ally Pally, and the atmosphere on match nights, even at recreational level, is worth experiencing once.
Adult leagues run on weekday evenings, typically after public sessions have finished. If you are interested in joining, the rink staff can point you towards the relevant club contacts.
Alexandra Palace has a strong figure skating tradition. The Alexandra Palace Skating Club has been based here for many years and caters to recreational skaters, competitive juniors and adult ice dancers.
Club sessions operate on a membership basis, with different ice times allocated for various disciplines and age groups. The club competes at regional level, and several of its junior skaters have gone on to represent England in national competitions.
For those interested in ice dance specifically, the discipline involving pairs skating to music with a focus on interpretation and edge quality, the club runs adult ice dance sessions that welcome beginners as well as more experienced dancers.
Getting There
Alexandra Palace is in North London, roughly midway between Muswell Hill and Wood Green.
By public transport: - Alexandra Palace railway station is a 10-minute walk from the rink. Trains run from Moorgate and Finsbury Park (from King's Cross via the Hertford North line), making it accessible from central London in around 20-25 minutes - Wood Green Underground station (Piccadilly line) is about a 15-minute walk or short bus ride away. The W3 bus connects Wood Green station to the palace gates - The 144 bus from Manor House Underground station also stops near the palace
By car: - The palace has on-site parking (charged). It can fill up on busy weekend afternoons, so arriving early is advisable - Alexandra Palace is about 20 minutes from central London by car outside peak hours
Facilities at the Rink
The ice rink building includes changing facilities with lockers (small deposit required), a café selling hot drinks and snacks, and seating for spectators. The café is located at rink level, which means parents watching children can stay warm while keeping an eye on the ice.
Toilets are available in the East Court and in the main palace building. Accessible facilities are available and the rink is generally well set up for wheelchair users who are accompanying skaters rather than skating themselves.
The wider Alexandra Palace site, including the park, the pub, the Great Hall and the BBC panoramic viewpoint, is a short walk from the East Court and is worth exploring before or after a skating session, particularly in good weather.
Insider Tips
A few things that regular visitors to the Ally Pally rink tend to know that first-timers often don't:
Book the 11am session rather than midday. The 11am slot on weekends tends to be less crowded than the later sessions and fills up more slowly. If you have flexibility, it is the best time to go.
The rink surface improves after the Zamboni. The ice resurfacing machine, the Zamboni, runs between sessions and briefly at the midpoint of some longer public sessions. The ice immediately after a resurface is noticeably better: smoother, faster and more consistent. Worth timing your best efforts accordingly.
Wear layers. The rink is indoors but it is still cold, around 5-7°C at ice level. Light but warm layers are more practical than a single heavy coat, which becomes unwieldy once you are moving.
Go early in January. The post-Christmas lull means January weekday sessions are often quiet and relaxed. If you want the ice almost to yourself, mid-January on a Tuesday morning is reliably uncrowded.
Alexandra Palace Ice Rink vs Other London Rinks
How does it compare to the alternatives?
| Rink | Permanent | Indoor | Setting | Lessons |
|---|
| Alexandra Palace | Yes | Yes | Victorian palace | Yes |
| Streatham Ice & Leisure | Yes | Yes | Leisure centre | Yes |
| Lee Valley Ice Centre | Yes | Yes | Olympic venue | Yes |
| Somerset House | No | No | Courtyard | Limited |
| Natural History Museum | No | No | Museum courtyard | No |
For North London, Alexandra Palace is the obvious choice. Lee Valley Ice Centre (in Waltham Cross) is a larger Olympic-standard facility used for competitive skating, but it is further out. Streatham covers South London. The Christmas courtyard rinks are atmospheric but small, temporary and poor value for money compared to a permanent facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alexandra Palace ice rink open all year?
Yes. Unlike seasonal Christmas rinks, the Alexandra Palace ice rink operates year-round. It is one of a small number of permanent indoor ice rinks in London.
How do I book Alexandra Palace ice rink tickets?
Tickets for public sessions can be booked online via the Alexandra Palace website. Booking ahead is strongly recommended for weekend and school holiday sessions.
How much does it cost to skate at Alexandra Palace?
Prices vary by session type and age group. Skate hire is typically included in the admission price. Check the Alexandra Palace website for current pricing.
Is Alexandra Palace ice rink suitable for beginners?
Yes. The rink offers public sessions for all abilities, penguin skating aids for young or nervous beginners, and a structured Learn to Skate lesson programme for children and adults.
Can I watch ice hockey at Alexandra Palace?
Yes. The Haringey Huskies and adult recreational leagues use the rink throughout the year. Check the rink's events calendar for match schedules.
Is there parking at Alexandra Palace?
Yes, there is on-site paid parking. It fills up on busy weekend afternoons, so arriving early is advisable. The rink is also easily reached by train from central London.
Getting the Most From Your Visit
Alexandra Palace ice rink rewards a little preparation. Book ahead, arrive early enough to sort skate hire without rushing, and allow time to explore the wider palace grounds before or after your session. The Victorian building, the hilltop park and the views across London are worth more than a quick glance on the way in or out.
For families, the rink is genuinely good value compared to many London activities, particularly if you make a half-day of it. For adults visiting without children, the quieter weekday sessions offer a noticeably different experience, more space, better ice, and a more relaxed atmosphere than the weekend crowds.
It is one of North London's better facilities and one that many residents use less often than they probably should.
