For a festive treat, taking a spin on an outdoor ice rink is a magical experience for the whole family. Gone are the days when outdoor skating was something you only looked at longingly on US films; now skating rinks pop up every winter across the UK offering thrills for everyone - and occasional comedy spills too. As a parent, it’s a joy to see your children learning to skate, cheeks flushed with exertion and pride as they leave the grab rail behind and gather confidence and pick up speed with every circuit of the rink.
If you can, book a late afternoon trip so your kids can enjoy the experience of skating as night falls, surrounded by magical, twinkling fairy lights. Don’t forget to wrap up warmly with winter gloves and thick socks. Afterwards, reward yourselves with hot chocolates and mince pies, while you relive your best moments on ice.

Club Rinkidinks, from 10-11am, is when children under five can skate for free when accompanied by paying adults.
Adult tickets £10- £13 ; £7-£8.50 for children under 12. Each session lasts one hour. For opening times and to book tickets, visit royalpavilionicerink.co.uk.

Penguin aids are available for £5 on a first come, first served basis. Bob skates for younger children are also available. Penguin Skate Club runs lessons for children aged five to eight on Saturday mornings at a cost of £8.50 a child.
Adult tickets from £12.65; children under 12 from £8.80. Each session lasts 50 minutes. For opening times and to book tickets, visit nhm.ac.uk.

Penguin aids are available to hire, but the minimum skating age is three. Skate sessions last one hour.
Adults £9.50; kids aged eight to 16 £7.50; three to seven £3.50. To book tickets and check times, go to cardiffswinterwonderland.com.

The funfair alongside offers a helter-skelter, traditional carousels, dodgems and Santa's Grotto.
Penguin and snowmen skating aids are for hire for £2, subject to availability.
Adults £10.45; children aged 16 and under £9.45 for one hour skate sessions. For opening times and to book tickets, go to yorkshireswinterwonderland.com.

Bob skates with twin blades are available for younger children, as are a limited number of penguin skate aids for £5. You can hire an 'ice guide' for £35, an experienced skater to help up to 15 of you gain confidence.
Adults from £9.50, children from £9.50. Prices increase at peak times. To book tickets and check times, go to hydeparkwinterwonderland.com.

You can pre-book hot drinks and cakes at the Ice Rink Café Bar for an after-skate energy boost. For tickets and times, go to winchester-cathedral.org.uk.

Sessions last for 45 minutes. There's no charge for penguin and seal skating aids, but it's first come first served for children under eight. Family-focused sessions are in the morning when ice marshals can provide hands-on assistance and skating tips.
Adult tickets are £10.95; kids aged eight to 18 are £8.95; aged three to seven, £6.50. For exact times and tickets, go to manchestericerink.co.uk.

Penguin and seal skating aids are pre-bookable online for £5 and bob skates for younger skates are available. You can pre-book your own ice marshal for £30 for the one hour skating session.
Adults from £8.75; children under 16 from £7.25. For opening times and to book tickets, go to bathonice.com.

Penguin aids cost £4 for under-12s on a first come, first served basis. Children under four are not allowed on the ice.
Adults £9.50; under 15s £8.50; under 12s £7.50. For times and to book tickets, go to nottinghamwinterwonderland.co.uk.

Tickets from £5. For more information and to book tickets, go to edinburghschristmas.com. You can also book tickets for the Big Wheel to take in Edinburgh's amazing scenery, Santa's Grotto, a Christmas tree maze and a host of other kid-friendly treats.