NHS workers can skate for free at some of London’s most picturesque ice rinks next week.

Skaters with NHS ID pay nothing at the Hampton Court Palace and Tower of London ice rink from Monday 10 to Wednesday 12 December.

Arena Ice want to recognise the dedication of NHS staff, who may not be fortunate enough to be able to spend Christmas Day with their loved ones due to work commitments.

Their UK and Europe marketing manager Kate Karagholi said: “The NHS is very close to my heart, and the festive season is very much a time for family and for giving back.

“As a thank you for their hard work, we are delighted to offer the nation’s nurses, doctors, porters, maintenance workers and other staff who keep our hospitals running, the opportunity to skate for free.”

Normally costing £14.50, the rinks are open every day between 11am and 8pm – except Christmas Day – until 6 January 2019.

As part of their Christmas at Court season a festive fayre will be held at the 500-year-old Hampton Court Palace from 7 to the 9 of December.

With artisan food and cookery demonstrations the palace courtyards will also play host to carols from local choirs.

A gamut of top cooks will be present, including Michelin star chef Angela Hartnett, MBE and family food writer Alex Hollywood.

Christmas ghost stories can be heard twice daily and on the 6 January children can celebrate the Twelfth Night festivity of ‘Misrule.’

There are craft weekends at the palace throughout December.

Children’s letters to Father Christmas will be burnt in the kitchen chimneys and there will be workshops to make perfumed gifts and tree-decorations.

Further along the Thames, the Tower of London ice rink sits in the dry moat of the 1,000-year-old castle where visitors can see the crown jewels and the cells where many famous prisoners where once held.

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