A historical visit to the Natural History Museum ice rink in South Kensington, from the original Roberts London film published on 31 October 2014.
From South Kensington to the ice rink
Our Natural History Museum ice skating 2014 visit begins in the passage at South Kensington station. It is an ordinary London arrival before the scene changes to fairy lights, a Christmas tree and skaters outside one of the city’s most striking buildings. The contrast is part of the pleasure of this little outing.
In the film, I suggest visiting an outdoor rink to get into the festive mood. You do not need to be a confident skater to enjoy the setting. For this visit, watching from the side and taking in the view are a large part of the attraction.
The start of the 2014 skating season
The original film was published on 31 October 2014. Its accompanying description records that the rink had opened on 30 October, with that season due to continue into early January. This is a look back at that particular Christmas season, when the museum’s outdoor space became a brightly lit skating rink.
A blue information board beside the rink places the visit firmly in that seasonal setting. The practical details belonged to 2014; the film’s lasting appeal is the view of the ice and the building beyond it.
A carousel beside the rink
There is more to look at here than the skating. Beside the ice stands a fairground carousel, its lights making another bright patch in the evening. The camera pauses on its decorated panels and horses before returning to the wider scene.
The carousel gives the rink surrounds a small fairground feel. Together with the snack bar mentioned in the film, it makes the space feel like somewhere to linger. You can watch people arrive, wander around the edge and enjoy the lights without making the skating itself the whole purpose of the trip.
Coffee and a mince pie in the Café Bar
We head up to the Café Bar, which was open to non-skaters during this visit. A coffee and a mince pie are a suitably simple way to settle into the Christmas atmosphere. The close view of the cup and pastry is a change of pace from the moving ice below.
In the narration, I mention tea, coffee, mulled wine and other drinks, along with cake and more substantial food. What matters most to me here is having somewhere to sit and enjoy the surroundings. The café is part of the experience in its own right.
Watching the skaters under blue light
From above, the rink becomes a changing pattern of people crossing the blue-lit ice. Some keep close to the edge while others move out into the open space. The film leaves plenty of time simply to watch them skating.
After the introduction and café commentary, much of the remaining footage is accompanied by music. That slower stretch suits the scene. Instead of moving quickly from one London stop to another, we stay with the rink and see the same setting from several different angles.
The Christmas tree at the centre
A lit Christmas tree rises from the middle of the ice, with skaters passing around it. It gives the rink a clear focal point, bringing the seasonal decorations into the centre of the activity. Behind it, the museum fills the view.
This is the combination I wanted to capture: Christmas lights, skating and a landmark backdrop in one frame. Even with very little happening beyond people circling the tree, there is plenty to look at. The tree’s warm lights stand out against the cool colour of the ice.
The museum as an evening backdrop
The Natural History Museum is the reason this rink view feels so distinctive. As the camera takes in the wider scene, the illuminated building stretches behind the skaters, while branches and strings of lights frame the foreground.
The film returns to that relationship between the building and the temporary rink several times. Close shots show individual details, but the broad views bring everything together. The museum remains still behind the constant movement on the ice, giving the evening its particular South Kensington character.
A final look from the balcony
The balcony gives us a view across the rink and the illuminated trees around it. It is a good place to finish this 2014 visit: above the activity, with time to appreciate the whole scene. For me, the warm drink and the view are enough to make the outing worthwhile.
Watch the original film below for the full sequence, from the station passage to the café and evening skating. For another setting from the same Christmas season, see our Somerset House ice skating visit in 2014.
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