Lee Valley Ice Centre

From Torvill and Dean to a £30 Million Rebuild

Lee Valley Ice Centre first opened its doors in 1984, built by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority on the banks of the River Lea in East London. Olympic ice dance champions Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean cut the ribbon, fresh from their gold medal triumph at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics. For nearly four decades, the single-rink venue served as one of London's few public ice skating facilities, attracting around 279,000 visitors a year.

By 2018, the ageing building needed more than a refurbishment. A £30 million project was approved to demolish the original centre and build an entirely new facility on the same site. Construction began in August 2021, with Waltham Forest Council contributing £1 million. The new Lee Valley Ice Centre opened on 17 June 2023, designed with sustainability at its core — it became the UK's only all-electric ice facility, fitted with air-source heat pumps and over 300 solar panels.

What to Expect on the Ice

The centrepiece is a pair of Olympic-sized rinks, each measuring 60 by 30 metres. One serves as the performance pad with seating for 800 spectators, while the other handles public skating, lessons and training. Public sessions run throughout the week, and the centre offers structured learn-to-skate courses for all ages, from toddlers gripping penguin aids to adults mastering crossovers.

Beyond recreational skating, Lee Valley is home to the Lee Valley Lions ice hockey team, who compete in the National Ice Hockey League, and the Lee Valley London Skating Club for figure skating and synchronised skating. The centre also hosts ice disco evenings, curling sessions and birthday parties. An 80-station gym with Technogym equipment and fitness studios offering yoga, Pilates and circuit training round out the facilities.

Visiting and Nearby Attractions

Lea Bridge station on the London Overground is a 10-minute walk away, making the centre straightforward to reach from central London. Drivers can use the 155-space car park, which includes 31 electric vehicle charging bays and offers three hours of free parking with centre use. A cafe on site serves hot and cold food.

The centre sits within the wider Lee Valley Regional Park, close to the Lea Bridge Road entrance. The neighbouring Lee Valley Riding Centre and Waterworks Nature Reserve are both within walking distance. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a short journey south along the river, offering further attractions including the London Stadium, the Aquatics Centre and the ArcelorMittal Orbit.