The Best London Roller Skating For The Whole Family
This post is part of our archived content. While we’ve shifted focus, it still may be useful.
As a child of the 80s, I once owned a brilliant white pair of roller skates with a little rainbow on the sides.
They were heavy, tight on the toes, prone to jamming on the carpet and annoyed my mother when I wore them in the house.
But oh, what Farrah Fawcett-shaped joy they brought to me!
How I became free from all the awkwardness of being ten when I laced them to my feet!
They were the coolest roller disco pre-teen skater transport known to me, and everyone else, back then.
I think of them fondly these days as I trudge my way through London on flat footed trainers, not rolling anywhere fast.
But London, ever looking for a zeitgeisty revival, has a bit of a roller skate underground if you know where to look.
Maybe it’s time for all of us to bring out the dusty skates and gold hot pants – or, sensible leggings, helmet and elbow pads, if you are likely to crack a rib.
The best places to go roller skating in London:
The self-confessed home of roller disco, Roller Nation used to be East London’s answer to skate life when its home was in the Renaissance Rooms in Vauxhall.
It has since relocated to Bruce Grove in Tottenham.
This is London’s only purpose-built nightclub on wheels.
How retro does that even sound?
There’s a disco, of course, a DJ, bar, diner and outdoor space.
Transport links from across London are easy, so what are you waiting for?
Get on your skates!
For those of you wanting to introduce the delights of free stylin’ eight wheelin’ culture to your family, Roller Nation kindly hosts a Family Jam on Saturday afternoons from 12 to 5 pm.
It’s for families with their kids from age 5 to teenagers up to age 14.
It’s the ultimate kids Roller Disco party complete with DJs, balloons, and fancy dress.
And you can reserve a booth for a party or special occasion.
London Friday Night Skate and Sunday Stroll
The London Friday Night Skate and Sunday Stroll are free, weekly marshalled street skates in central London.
The LFNS departs from Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner every Friday at 8 pm and the Sunday Stroll departs from Serpentine Road at Hyde Park every Sunday at 2 pm.
Both are weather dependent; you’ll be notified a few hours before each scheduled start as to whether it will be going ahead.
Open to all skaters who are able to stop, turn and control their speed on hills, the Sunday Stroll is a slower pace while the LFNS is a flashier, faster and more technically demanding roll.
Open to rollerbladers and quad skaters and (accompanied) children, you can subscribe to the LFNS weekly email newsletter or find them on Facebook and Twitter.
For those of us who don’t still have original roller skates languishing somewhere in a cupboard, there’s the London Skate Centre: a specialist skate shop run by skaters for skaters.
Located in Bayswater just a few minutes away from Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens where there are miles of skate-ready paths and walkways, the store has a range of inline skates, penny boards, quad roller skates, bags, pads and helmets available to purchase.
They’ll even sharpen your inline skates on their Prosharp machine.
The team run lessons for individuals or groups (perfect for a roller skating-mad child’s birthday party) with a selection of inline skates and penny boards available for rental.
For the safety conscious parent, wrist and knee pads are provided.
Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace
Flipper’s Roller Boogie Paradise was created in partnership with R&B star Usher so you know it’s going to be awesome.
Expect a roller rink, live music, great food and a pro skate shop for the serious among us.
Zebra Skate Camps
Zebra Skate Camp is open during school holidays and has its venues in Kensington and Clapham Common, running classes for both rollerblading and skateboarding.
The skate camps are perfect for beginners as they start from scratch and begin sessions on the grass, teaching the basics of falling, getting up and proper equipment assembly.
Gear is provided free of charge.
They also offer private skating lessons in Battersea Park and Kensington Gardens.
Roller skating lessons for children and adults take place all over London depending on the time of year, type of class and availability, and include Hyde Park and Kensington Park Gardens.
There are both group and individual skating lessons available as well as dance/jam skating lessons for those who have not given up on the idea of having a disco on wheels.
You’ll learn how to moonwalk, do the crazy legs, heel and toe moves and spins.
Who knew you could find roller disco in deepest Harrow?
Sk8city Roller Disco hosts family sessions, holiday-themed specials, half term discos and evening skate nights in Byron Hall.
It’s not all for the kids – they run 18+ options for those sick of getting hit in the back of the knees by small roller skating beginners.
Roller Derby is an actual roller-skating sport, don’t ya know.
The Roller Derby Fundamentals is an amateur sports league run solely by skaters and dedicated volunteers for all women and non-binary people.
You can see them in action against other rolling teams or even join the league if you think you are hard enough.
They run a Fundamentals programme to teach other would-be sports skaters the basics of the sport and are always after volunteers to help run things.
Roll things, even.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an old pro or haven’t put on your skates in decades, East Saturday Skate is that just.
It’s easy, it’s on Saturdays (at 1030 am) and it’s free.
Meet by the Pagoda in Battersea Park for two chilled laps of Battersea Park on skates.
There’s usually a qualified instructor to help people (again for free) if they need it.
Their aim?
Have fun on your skates!
Join a group of wheelchair users and skaters every Saturday in Battersea Park.
You’ll skate three laps (five miles) around the park with the wheelchair users pushed by the skaters.
The wheelchairs set the pace making this is a great way for beginners to get to know the sport.
Experienced skaters can enjoy four hours of skating for £7.
This is not a session for beginners.
Whether you’re skating for fun, fitness or competition, you’re welcome at London Speed Skaters.
You’ll work on improving your technique, fitness and race strategy with the end goal of eventually taking part in various inline speed skating events in the UK and internationally.
If you want to learn to skate or improve your current technique, there’s a class and course for you at Roll Happy.
Adults and children are welcome at Isle of Skating with coaches on hand to teach all the skating tips and tricks you need in a fun, inclusive, and supportive environment.
Play Tone Fitness Classes (currently closed)
Play Tone was founded by performing artists and professional instructors Tinuke and Obie who believe in the power of roller skating disco to help you play, as well as tone, among many other worthy things.
Play Tone runs courses, training, workshops, tours, roller discos and skate-based fitness classes at the Africa Centre in Southwark, Roller Nation in Bruce Grove and Dalston’s Play Ground for all fitness and skill levels.
You’ll learn how to dance on skates and combine the hoop with skates for a full-body circus-themed workout.
You can also go roller skating in London at:
- Skating Heaven
- London Skate Life
- Roller Station
- RocknRoller Roller Disco
- Silver Wheels Roller Disco