The Lee Valley Ice Centre on Lea Bridge Road in Leyton is one of the largest ice skating venues in the south of England — a state-of-the-art facility with two full Olympic-sized rinks under one roof. Whether you fancy a family skate, a Friday night ice disco or watching some fast-paced ice hockey, this is East London’s home of all things ice.
A Brand New Centre with Skating Heritage
The original Lee Valley Ice Centre opened in 1984 — with none other than Torvill and Dean doing the honours — and became one of the most popular rinks in the country. After nearly four decades of service it was completely rebuilt, reopening in 2023 as a £30 million state-of-the-art venue with double the capacity. It’s also the most sustainable ice centre in the UK, running entirely on electricity, with melted ice filtered through reed beds to create new wetland habitats on the neighbouring marshes. Dancing on Ice rehearsals are even filmed here from time to time.
Skating Sessions & Lessons
Public skating sessions run daily and suit all ages and abilities, with skate hire available from child size 7 right up to adult size 15. Little ones under 120cm can take a polar bear skate aid onto the ice with them — though these are popular, so grab one early at peak times.
Friday and Saturday evenings bring the hugely popular disco sessions, with dazzling lights and great music from 7.30pm. There are Learn to Skate courses for all ages, and even a weekly “coffee skate” — a coached morning session followed by a hot drink in the café, which is a lovely relaxed way for adults to build confidence on the ice.
Ice Hockey & Figure Skating
The centre is the home rink of the Lee Valley Lions ice hockey club and the Lee Valley Vampires, who joined the Women’s National Ice Hockey League in 2024, as well as the Lee Valley London Skating Club — all keen to welcome new members. With one rink set up for events with spectator seating, scoreboards and screens, it’s a great place to catch a game.
Visiting Lee Valley Ice Centre
There’s more here than just ice — the centre has a modern 80-station gym, fitness studios and the Brew Street café, and it sits right on the edge of the beautiful Lee Valley Regional Park, so you can combine a skate with a riverside walk across the marshes. Visitors to the ice centre can claim up to 4 hours of free parking. It’s an easy venue to reach from East London, Essex and Hertfordshire.
Book sessions online in advance, especially for weekend and school holiday visits, and check the centre’s website for current session times.
Book Your Skating Session
Public skating, disco sessions, lessons and ice hockey can all be booked through the official Lee Valley Ice Centre website, operated by Better.
Visit Lee Valley Ice Centre WebsiteMore ice skating: Ice Skating in the UK • Alexandra Palace Ice Rink
More to explore: Things to do in London • UK City Breaks • Hotels