COVID-19
London-Middlesex is in the Red/Control category of the Provincial Keeping Ontario Safe and Open framework. A number of City facilities have reopened to the public for in-person programs and services.
The official website for the City of London, Ontario
All City-run arenas will reopen for public skating on Monday, February 22, with registration required in advance online at Play Your Way online or by calling 519 661-5575. Registration will open on February 18 at 9:30 a.m.
London has 11 indoor ice pads and two outdoor ice pads. Most indoor ice pads are available for rent throughout the year.
All rinks have free parking. Check our cancellations page to make sure the ice pads are operating as usual.
London has 11 indoor ice pads. Most are available for rent throughout the year.
All rinks have free parking. The City’s arenas do not accept debit or credit for admission, so please bring cash. Check the cancellations page to make sure the ice pads are operating as usual.
Winter rentals are available from September to the end of March for recreational skating, skating lessons, figure skating, ringette and hockey.
Summer use of the concrete floor surfaces may include ball hockey, lacrosse and other team sports. Dry pad rentals are available from April to August at a number of arenas.
Most arenas feature snack bars, offering a limited selection of hot and cold food and beverage items. Earl Nichols Recreation Centre, Bostwick Community Centre, Stronach Community Recreation Centre, Medway Community Centre, Kinsmen Recreation Centre and Lambeth Community Centre arenas have multipurpose activity rooms that are suitable for small receptions and tournament meeting areas. All arenas are equipped with a sound system.
Staff at individual arenas are not able to book ice time or receive payment for any rentals. Please call 519-661-5575 during regular business hours to discuss ice hours and book a rental.
Indoor rinks are located at the following community centres and arenas:
The City of London offers a variety of learn to skate opportunities.
It's never too late to skate! This program teaches basic skating fundamentals while enhancing a healthy and active lifestyle. Participants advance at their own pace in a relaxed atmosphere with a fully certified coach.
*CSA approved helmets are mandatory. Visit our registration page for information related to financial assistance.
London's Community Service Department offers a wonderful children’s ‘Learn to Skate’ program, which is designed to offer children 4 years of age and older the opportunity to learn to skate in a fun learning environment. This program will give your child the opportunity to learn through interactive learning strategies that will teach basic skating techniques. Lesson length is 45 minutes. There are three levels with the skate program.
*CSA approved helmets are mandatory. Please indicate your child’s badge level on the registration form. Visit the registration page for information related to financial assistance.
Free to adults (18 or older) to spend quality time with pre-schoolers, 5 and under, in a safe, quiet environment.
A preschool program designed to teach young skaters from 3 to 5 years of age how to skate without the assistance of a parent or caregiver. This interactive program will teach your young tot to skate by participating in creative themed activities while focusing on fun and continuous movement. Colouring sheets and incentive stickers are awarded each week for skater's efforts. Parents must be present.
*CSA approved helmets for both child and adult are mandatory. Class is limited to 15 participants. Visit our registration page for information related to financial assistance.
The City of London offers a variety of public skating opportunities. Children 5 and under must wear a CSA approved helmet for all public skating programs and a full-face cage is recommended. Skates are required for all programs. One sledge is available at all arenas for public use.
Skating programs will be limited to 12 skaters on each rink to allow for physical distancing. Participants can register for a program up to seven days in advance of the program date. While masks or face coverings are not required while on the ice, they must be worn throughout the building. Skaters and spectators must also maintain two-metre physical distancing from others outside of their household. Dressing rooms will be open, but skaters are encouraged to arrive dressed to skate. Access to the arena and dressing rooms will be allowed 15 minutes prior to skate times. Use of the player benches is restricted to the skaters only – while maintaining physical distancing.
Each participant registered for a public skating session is required to complete the City of London Health Assessment prior to entering the arena. Please print off the assessment form and bring it with you to the arena for your session.
COVID-19 Health Assessment Form
Adults can bring their stick and puck to improve their shot and stickhandling.
This is an unstructured ice time. No private programs are permitted. Organized hockey games, slap shots and structured practices are not permitted. No aggressive play is permitted.
All participants are required to wear a full-caged CSA approved helmet. The maximum number of participants on the ice is 30 people.
Parents can come out with their children to practice stickhandling and improve their shots. An adult must accompany children on the ice.
This is an unstructured ice time. No private programs are permitted. Organized hockey games, slap shots and structured practices are not permitted. No aggressive play is permitted.
All participants are required to wear a full-caged CSA approved helmet.
Excellent opportunity for families to have fun and exercise together. Children and youth must be accompanied by adults and vice versa. Skating assists, including strollers and pylons, that are deemed safe are permitted.
Free for adults (18 or older) to spend quality time with pre-schoolers, 5 and under, in a safe, quiet environment. CSA approved, full caged helmet required. This program has no ice cruisers.
Adults aged 55 and up are invited to enjoy music and exercise while they skate. There will be a flood of the ice halfway through the skate. Skating around the ice is the only activity permitted. No routines or skating as partners.
Please remember that there are skaters of all abilities. Beginner skaters are asked to move to the centre of the ice surface with more experienced skaters closer to the boards. Please judge your skating speed based on the number of people on the ice.
Participants with and without mobility challenges can use their sticks and pucks on the ice while seated in an accessibility/mobility device called a "sledge". CSA approved, full caged helmets and hockey gloves are required, and participants must provide their own sledge.
Skating fees (taxes included)
Adult (18-54) | $4.25 |
Children (12 and under) | $3.25 |
Youth (13-17) | $3.50 |
Family (with up to 2 adults) | $8.00 |
Seniors (55+) | $3.50 |
Female shinny, introductory hockey and adult shinny hockey | $8.00 each |
PT skating shinny hockey | Free |
Youth stick and puck | $8.00/family |
Adult stick and puck | $4.25/person |
Skating passes (taxes included)
Adult | $69.21 |
Children | $49.44 |
Youth | $54.24 |
Family | $108.48 |
Senior | $54.24 |
For those unable to meet recreation program costs, financial assistance may be available. Call 519-661-5575 for more information.
These facilities are independently owned and operated.
Sharpening's cost $6.00. Sharpening hours follow as:
Wednesday, Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sharpening's cost $5.00. Sharpening hours follow as:
Monday to Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sharpening's and rental's cost $6.00. Sharpening hours follow as:
Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
There is no skate sharpening available.
Sharpening's cost $6.00. Sharpening hours follow as:
There is no skate sharpening available.
There is no skate sharpening available.
There is no skate sharpening available.
There is no skate sharpening available.
Sharpening's cost $5.00. Sharpening hours follow as:
Monday to Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Weather permitted, sharpening's cost $6.00 and rental's cost $7.00. Hours follow as:
Monday to Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
To ensure a safe enjoyable environment for public skating all users are required to observe the following rules:
General Rules
Safety
For reasons of safety, the following are not permitted during general public skate sessions:
Assumption of risk
Skaters and spectators are deemed to have knowledge of and assume the inherent risks including, but not limited to:
The ice surface maximum skating capacity is 160 participants.
Outdoor skating at Victoria Park and Covent Garden Market will reopen on February 18 with a reduced capacity of 25 people on each rink at any time.
Each morning, starting at 10 a.m., City staff will hand out wristbands at the Victoria Park bandshell for Londoners to skate for a 45-minute time slot at the Victoria Park rink the following day. These will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Wristbands will be given out to a maximum of five people per family, and only one skater per day.
On the day of their skate, skaters will enter the enclosed area at the start of the hour and will be allowed to skate for 45 minutes. At that time, skaters will be asked to leave the ice, allowing the next group to use ice on the hour. No dressing rooms will be available.
We ask that skaters come to Victoria Park skating rink no earlier than 15 minutes prior to each designated skate time. Patrons will be required to wear a mask while they wait for their skate session.
To check wristband availability or to see if Victoria Park rink is open, please call 519-661- 5768.
The City maintains two outdoor rinks for residents to enjoy free skating over the winter season. Outdoor rinks are located at Victoria Park and the Covent Garden Market. Outdoor ice skating is typically available between early-December to mid-March, weather permitting.
The City also maintains the Storybook Gardens skating trail. Please visit Storybook Gardens’ website for more information.
The rink will be open, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
The rink will be open, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.