Virgin Atlantic brings festive glamour to Somerset House ice rink

Virgin Atlantic has returned to Somerset House with SKATE, bringing a distinctly refined spin to London’s winter social calendar. Against the neoclassical backdrop of the Strand’s most imposing facade, a sprawling ice rink opens from 11 November through 10 January, dressed with an outsized Christmas tree adorned in deep crimson and gold. The installation carries the airline’s signature red throughout, from the branded boarding area to the warming pavilions that frame the ice.

The partnership positions the rink as more than a seasonal leisure venue. Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse menu offerings appear throughout the experience, allowing guests to move seamlessly from skating to refreshment without abandoning the festive atmosphere. The airline has styled the entire affair with a particular eye towards elegance: the setting demands proper winter dress, the kind of tailored wool coat and polished skate that transforms a simple afternoon into an occasion. Guests glide past one another in carefully chosen colours, their movements reflected across immaculate ice beneath the steady gaze of Somerset House’s stone windows.

The collaboration speaks to a broader shift in luxury hospitality beyond the terminal. Airlines have increasingly recognised that their brand experience extends into the city itself, creating moments of travel before travel begins. Virgin Atlantic’s approach here is deliberately sophisticated: there are no gimmicks, simply an elegant venue, considered design and the particular charm of skating at the heart of London as the city dresses for winter.

The rink operates daily throughout the period, with tickets available through Somerset House’s website. The experience captures that rare quality of London winter socialising where movement, architecture, tradition and carefully curated luxury converge on ice.

Imagery courtesy of Virgin Atlantic (@virginatlantic).