With Christmas a mere 47 days away, it’s time to dust off your festive spirit (and skating feet) for the unveiling of the annual Somerset House ice rink. The signature 40ft firs are being wheeled in (possibly) as we speak and its enticing programme offers far more than just a spin on the hard stuff. As well as the idyllic 900-square-metre outdoor rink, you can expect a Fortnum’s Lodge for warming up with mulled wine, melted cheese-based delights (think fondue and raclette) and the mince pies for fit for the Queen (quite literally). Far from a just a daytime frolic, this year includes a selection of Skate Lates, featuring ice-hot DJs from Rinse FM and Dalston Superstore. There’s even a Christmas Arcade for doing your last minute posh festive shopping: this year, the Fortnum & Mason focus is on chocolate – that’s if you can bring yourself to gift it to someone else. Genuinely good music, a foodie paradise and one of the city’s most beautiful rinks, all encapsulated within an 18th-century courtyard – we think we’ve found our favourite rink.

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