Take advantage of the festive season and the myriad of ice skating rinks around the world. Here are five of the best. By Sharron Livingston.
It may be chilly outside, but don't get too comfy on your sofas just yet. What better way to celebrate the seasonal changes than by drawing figures of eight on the ice? So dig out your earmuffs, a sturdy pair of gloves and get your skates on.
It may be chilly outside, but don't get too comfy on your sofas just yet. What better way to celebrate the seasonal changes than by drawing figures of eight on the ice? So dig out your earmuffs, a sturdy pair of gloves and get your skates on.
1/ Rideau Canal Skateway, OTTAWA, Canada
January and February 2014
The Winterlude is an annual event that lasts for three weeks. Ice sculptures pop up, triathlons and hockey matches take place as well as some devilishly good skating demos.
This is the world's largest naturally frozen rink. It stretches 7.8 kilometers and runs through the heart of the city on the Rideau Canal — a UNESCO world heritage site. It's a scenic route that begins by the Parliament buildings and ends at Dows Lake. Along the way are rest areas with places to eat and drink. For the kids there is a snow playground and the Snowflake castle.
2/ GUM Skating Rink, Red Square, MOSCOW
December 1 to March 10
GUM (Gosudarstvennyi Universalnyi Magazin) is a legacy of the austere Soviet Union Days. It translates as State Department Store and there are several of them throughout Russia.
There is nothing austere about it now, and it's no longer just a store, it's almost a district. This one is in the Kitai-gorod region facing Red Square and is a pirouette away from the Kremlin. Its architecture is opulent and there are more than 200 stores, including well-known global brands; Cartier, Hermès, De Beers, Escada, Louis Vuitton and Max Mara.
The ice skating rink in front of it is the most famous in Moscow. But be warned Moscow is known for its chill factor, so wrap up warm.
3/ Patinoire de L'Hôtel de Ville, PARIS
December 21 to March 2
Parisiens love their rink and so there are always queues of those itching to get their skates on. This huge open-air rink in front of the town hall has become something of an icon. Especially so after sundown when the handsome 19th-century civic building is lit up against the dark, chilly sky.
It's free to skate (though it's 5 euros to hire a pair of skates) and trained instructors are available to help with your skating technique. The 1,365-square-metre rink includes a smaller area for children and beginners.
4/ Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, LONDON
November 23 to January 5
This annual event lasts for six weeks of winter festivities and it's all free to access. The Magical Ice Kingdom is double last year's size and offers snow and ice sculptures galore. It also comprises the UK's largest outdoor rink, stretching over 1,600m2 and is located around the picturesque Victorian Bandstand, illuminated with with over 100,000 lights and where live music is played all day and night. Entry is £10.50 for adults and £8.50 for kids and includes skate hire. And if that is not heady enough, you can gaze at the action from above from the iconic Giant Observation Wheel that illuminates the skyline.
5/ Rockefeller Ice Rink, NEW YORK
Permanent
This ice rink is a major feature of the Rockefeller center, but it wasn't always ice. The Sunken Plaza, as the area was originally called, was lushly landscaped and with high-end shops and restaurants. But not many bothered to go down the stairs leading from the Channel Gardens.
So to get attention, in the winter of 1936, they contracted an engineer from Cleveland to build a temporary rink. It was an instant hit and so became a permanent fixture.
Only 150 skaters can fit on at any one time (it's only 122 feet and 50 feet wide), but skating by Fifth Avenue while the high rises loom over you and the fact that you are in the Big Apple is compensation enough.
Do you ice skate? Which is your favorite skating rink?
January and February 2014
The Winterlude is an annual event that lasts for three weeks. Ice sculptures pop up, triathlons and hockey matches take place as well as some devilishly good skating demos.
This is the world's largest naturally frozen rink. It stretches 7.8 kilometers and runs through the heart of the city on the Rideau Canal — a UNESCO world heritage site. It's a scenic route that begins by the Parliament buildings and ends at Dows Lake. Along the way are rest areas with places to eat and drink. For the kids there is a snow playground and the Snowflake castle.
December 1 to March 10
GUM (Gosudarstvennyi Universalnyi Magazin) is a legacy of the austere Soviet Union Days. It translates as State Department Store and there are several of them throughout Russia.
There is nothing austere about it now, and it's no longer just a store, it's almost a district. This one is in the Kitai-gorod region facing Red Square and is a pirouette away from the Kremlin. Its architecture is opulent and there are more than 200 stores, including well-known global brands; Cartier, Hermès, De Beers, Escada, Louis Vuitton and Max Mara.
The ice skating rink in front of it is the most famous in Moscow. But be warned Moscow is known for its chill factor, so wrap up warm.
December 21 to March 2
Parisiens love their rink and so there are always queues of those itching to get their skates on. This huge open-air rink in front of the town hall has become something of an icon. Especially so after sundown when the handsome 19th-century civic building is lit up against the dark, chilly sky.
It's free to skate (though it's 5 euros to hire a pair of skates) and trained instructors are available to help with your skating technique. The 1,365-square-metre rink includes a smaller area for children and beginners.
November 23 to January 5
This annual event lasts for six weeks of winter festivities and it's all free to access. The Magical Ice Kingdom is double last year's size and offers snow and ice sculptures galore. It also comprises the UK's largest outdoor rink, stretching over 1,600m2 and is located around the picturesque Victorian Bandstand, illuminated with with over 100,000 lights and where live music is played all day and night. Entry is £10.50 for adults and £8.50 for kids and includes skate hire. And if that is not heady enough, you can gaze at the action from above from the iconic Giant Observation Wheel that illuminates the skyline.
Permanent
This ice rink is a major feature of the Rockefeller center, but it wasn't always ice. The Sunken Plaza, as the area was originally called, was lushly landscaped and with high-end shops and restaurants. But not many bothered to go down the stairs leading from the Channel Gardens.
So to get attention, in the winter of 1936, they contracted an engineer from Cleveland to build a temporary rink. It was an instant hit and so became a permanent fixture.
Only 150 skaters can fit on at any one time (it's only 122 feet and 50 feet wide), but skating by Fifth Avenue while the high rises loom over you and the fact that you are in the Big Apple is compensation enough.
Do you ice skate? Which is your favorite skating rink?
