Strawberry Hill House Ice Rink

Following the very successful ice rink at Christmas and the New Year on the tennis courts at York House in Twickenham, it was decided to move the ice rink to the gardens of Horace Walpole’s Gothic house in Strawberry Hill where Walpole wrote the first Gothic novel, the Castle of Otranto in 1764. As its backdrop the rink will have the newly restored Strawberry Hill House, a pure white and turreted Grade 1 listed building. A more spectacular spot would be very difficult to find.

Skating next to Strawberry Hill House will be a truly magical experience which would be very hard to beat. From dusk the House will be lit from within highlighting its unique collection of renaissance stained glass windows. The House will have special opening times with tours for skaters.

A percentage of all ticket sales at the rink will go to Strawberry Hill House to provide additional funding for its on-going restoration and educational programmes

Strawberry Hill House has a lovely café which can host children’s parties and its lavishly refurbished rooms are available for private parties and corporate events.

Additionally, the rink will be visited by Star Wars White Knights (Storm Troopers) which are based just down the road on Twickenham Green where their creator, Andrew Ainsworth, has his workshop. The twinning of the magnificent fairy castle at Strawberry Hill and the White Knights will make a fabulous treat for children from miles around and will be one that is hard to beat.

Strawberry Hill is easy to get to as it has its own train station just a few minutes’ walk from the House and buses stop close by. It is only a short walk from Twickenham town centre and very close to Teddington.

Twickenham Alive’s Richmond Rink was a great community success last year opening its doors to thousands of local residents and school children. The rink staff were said to be the friendliest and most helpful staff ever encountered and the ice was second to none. On days when other rinks closed due to rain Twickenham Alive’s rink was the only rink open in the London area – the ice was so well maintained.