We checked 7 ice rinks near Tonbridge, from Tunbridge Wells to Bluewater and Gillingham, for 2026 dates, prices and age rules. Updated November 2026.
Seven ice rinks are within reach of Tonbridge in 2026, and this guide puts them in one place with dates, prices and age rules. The nearest is Icescape Tunbridge Wells, a direct train away. Bluewater’s covered rink opened on Thursday 5 November, and Planet Ice Gillingham skates all year.
Seasonal rinks price by day and time, so check the figure when you book. We found no rink in Tonbridge and Malling borough this Christmas, and the Tonbridge Christmas Fest site lists none.
The nearest rink
1. Icescape Tunbridge Wells
The Christmas rink in Calverley Grounds has a new name this year. Tunbridge Wells is about five miles south of Tonbridge, and the operator’s site says its station is about a five-minute walk from the rink.
Hastings line trains run there direct from Tonbridge. There is no parking in the grounds, but several town centre car parks are a short walk away.
Sessions last 45 minutes and skate hire is included. Watching is free.
Children aged 8 and under need an adult ticket holder on the ice with them, and ages 9 to 12 need an adult watching from the side. The calendar also has parent and toddler sessions, half-capacity quiet sessions with no music, adult disco nights and 2-for-1 sessions.
On Monday 30 November, Invicta Dynamos ice hockey players give a demonstration at 7.45pm, then skate with the public at 8pm.
Open 26 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, closed Christmas Day; times vary, for example 6pm to 8.45pm on 26 November and 10am to 8.45pm on Saturday 28 November
Price online a day ahead: off peak adult £15, child (12 and under) £10, family £45; peak £17, £12 and £52.50; super peak £19, £14 and £59.50; adults and children pay £2 more at the box office, families £7 more (booking system, 4 November)
Booking online at least a day ahead for the saver price, with no booking fee; skate aids £5 at the box office, for children up to 1.4m
Address Calverley Grounds, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1QY
Website icescapetunbridgewells.com
Good for parent and toddler sessions, quiet sessions, wheelchair tickets, free to watch
A drive from Tonbridge and Kings Hill
2. The Ice Rink at Bluewater
Bluewater builds its rink outside The Village under a roof canopy, so it skates whatever the weather. It is about 17 miles north of Tonbridge and 12 miles from Kings Hill, as the crow flies.
The centre’s page gives 45-minute sessions with skate hire included, and says it is open on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The booking system lists no sessions on Christmas Day.
Children aged 12 and under must be supervised, and those aged 8 and under need an adult ticket holder on the ice. The calendar has quiet sessions with half the usual numbers and no music.
Open 5 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, closed Christmas Day
Price off peak £15 adult, £13 child (12 and under), £46 family; peak £17, £15 and £56; £1.50 more per ticket bought on the day, £6 more for a family (booking system, 4 November)
Booking online, cheapest a day or more ahead
Address Bluewater, Greenhithe, DA9 9ST
Website bluewater.co.uk/en/the-ice-rink-at-bluewater
Good for covered rink, skate hire included, quiet sessions
3. Planet Ice Gillingham
A permanent indoor rink on Gillingham Business Park, and the one to use outside the Christmas season. It is about 10 miles from Kings Hill and 18 from Tonbridge, as the crow flies.
Sessions are longer than at the Christmas rinks: the booking system listed 11am to 1pm and 1pm to 4.30pm on Saturday 7 November. Planet Ice warns that a session may include a 15-minute break while the ice is resurfaced.
Under 13s must have an adult in the building, under 8s need an adult on the ice, and under 12s must wear gloves.
Open all year; public sessions most days, times vary; Christmas Day 10am to 12pm
Price adult (16 and over) £15.40, child (4 to 15) £15.40, student £10 online, under 4s £3.20; Christmas Day skate £10; skate hire extra and a 4% online booking fee (booking system, 4 November)
Booking online or at the rink; one free spectator ticket for the parent of an under 13
Address Ambley Road, Gillingham Business Park, Gillingham, ME8 0PU
Website planet-ice.co.uk
Good for all year, longer sessions, Christmas Day skate, student price
A train ride into London
Charing Cross is direct from Tonbridge, and our train times page has the normal service. Check the dates in the section below before you book.
4. Skate Leicester Square
Underbelly’s open-air rink in the middle of Leicester Square, with a Christmas market around it, and a short walk from Charing Cross. It is already open.
The booking page listed tickets “from £7.60” plus a £3 transaction fee on 4 November. That is the lowest starting price in this guide, and prices change between quieter and busier days.
Open 31 October 2026 to 3 January 2027, closed Christmas Day
Price from £7.60, plus a £3 transaction fee (booking page, 4 November)
Booking online in advance
Address Leicester Square, London, WC2H
Website skateleicestersquare.co.uk
Good for lowest start price, Christmas market, open now
5. Skate at Somerset House
The rink in Somerset House’s courtyard sits under a 40ft Christmas tree, and it is the last of these to close. Somerset House lists relaxed sessions with lower numbers and quieter music, and a Kids’ Club for ages 6 to 12. Wheelchair users are welcome at every session, and there are dedicated wheelchair sessions too.
It is a walk from Charing Cross.
Open 11 November 2026 to 10 January 2027
Price adults £13 to £28.50; children £11 to £15; plus a £1.50 fee per ticket (Somerset House, 4 November)
Booking online; by phone if booking with a wheelchair
Call 0343 208 1497
Address Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
Website somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/skate-somerset-house
Good for relaxed sessions, wheelchair sessions, Kids' Club, open to 10 January
6. The Queen’s House Ice Rink, Greenwich
An open-air rink in front of the Queen’s House in Greenwich, run for Royal Museums Greenwich. The museum’s page gives 10am to 9pm through the season.
The booking page says it is a 10-minute walk from both Greenwich and Maze Hill stations. From Tonbridge, change at London Bridge for Greenwich.
Open 18 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, 10am to 9pm
Price adult £16.80 standard, £24.64 peak, £26.88 super peak; child £11.20, £19.60 and £22.40 (booking page, 4 November)
Booking online
Address Romney Road, Greenwich, SE10 9NF
Website rmg.co.uk/queens-house/attractions/queens-house-ice-rink
Good for toddler sessions, SEND sessions, student sessions, open-air rink
7. Ice skating at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland’s rink is a Tube ride from Charing Cross. Its ticket table gives advance and on-the-day prices for three price tiers. It says every £25 spent on activities unlocks a free entry ticket to the site.
Bags go in the cloakroom at £2 an item, and phones and cameras are not allowed on the ice.
Open 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027
Price adult advance £12.65 off peak, £17.05 standard, £19.25 peak; child (3 to 12) £9.35, £11.55 and £13.75; family from £37.40; £1 to £2 more each on the day (Winter Wonderland, 4 November)
Booking online in advance
Address Hyde Park, London
Website hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/attraction/ice-skating
Good for funfair day out, family ticket, free entry with £25 of activities
Trains to check before you book
The rail closures fall on some of the busiest skating days. All of these come from National Rail’s Southeastern page, except November, which is on our story.
- 14 and 15 November: no Southeastern trains at Charing Cross, Waterloo East or Cannon Street. Tonbridge’s Dover and Ramsgate trains run to Victoria.
- Christmas Day: no trains at all.
- Boxing Day: Southeastern had not published its plan when we checked.
- 27 and 28 December, 1 to 3 January: no trains at Charing Cross, Waterloo East or Cannon Street. Tonbridge’s Hastings, Dover and Ramsgate trains run to Victoria.
How we chose
These are real-ice rinks within reach of Tonbridge by car or train, each with a 2026 season and published prices. Dates, prices and rules come from each rink’s own website or booking system, read on 4 November 2026. We left out Glide at Battersea, which publishes no flat price list.
Run a place that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@tonbridgetoday.co.uk. Taken a good photograph of any of these places? Email it to newsdesk@tonbridgetoday.co.uk and we will add it with your name as the credit.
For more on Christmas locally, see the Tonbridge Christmas market, the Christmas lights switch-on, Father Christmas in Tonbridge, the Tonbridge pantomime, Christmas dinner in Tonbridge and what’s on in Tonbridge this month. For the rest of the year, see things to do in Tonbridge.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an ice rink in Tonbridge?
We found no ice rink in Tonbridge or the wider Tonbridge and Malling borough for Christmas 2026, and the Tonbridge Christmas Fest site lists none. The nearest is Icescape Tunbridge Wells in Calverley Grounds, open 26 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 and closed on Christmas Day. Its tickets start at £10 for a child and £15 for an adult, booked online a day ahead, with skate hire included.
Which ice rink is open all year near Tonbridge?
Planet Ice Gillingham, on Gillingham Business Park, runs public sessions all year. On 4 November 2026 its booking system showed adult and child tickets at £15.40 online and students at £10. It also runs a £10 Christmas Day skate from 10am to 12pm.
Can I get to a London ice rink by train from Tonbridge at Christmas?
Usually, yes: Charing Cross is direct from Tonbridge and a short walk from Somerset House and Leicester Square. National Rail says no trains will run at Charing Cross, Waterloo East or Cannon Street on 27 and 28 December or 1 to 3 January. On those days Tonbridge’s Hastings, Dover and Ramsgate trains run to London Victoria instead. No trains run on Christmas Day.
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