Lee Valley Ice Centre – a new world-class sports venue in Leyton, east London – has opened its doors to the public. Costing £30m to build, it features two Olympic-sized ice rinks plus a gym, dance studios, community spaces and café. 

With two ice rinks, it means the centre can remain open while providing professional athletes, synchronised skating teams and ice hockey clubs a place to train. One of the rinks has a spectator viewing area, disco lighting and sound system, while the other will be used for ice events and includes a spectator seating area, digital scoreboards and screens.

A welcome addition to sport and leisure facilities in the southeast region of the UK, the new Lee Valley Ice Centre is expected to boost the local economy by as much as £1.5m annually and attract half a million visitors a year, double that of the old Lee Valley Ice Centre. It will also provide future Olympic stars with facilities for training. 

Skate UK 

British Ice Skating – the sport’s national governing body – is launching its “Skate UK” learn to skate programme at Lee Valley Ice Centre. Designed for all ages, and delivered by British Ice Skating qualified coaches, Skate UK will teach everything from basic ice skating skills, speed skating, ice dancing and synchro. 

Robin Cousins, an Olympic gold medallist and president of British Ice Skating, launched the opening of the new ice centre. “I skated at the opening gala of the old Lee Valley Ice Centre in 1984,” he said. “It’s fantastic to see that journey continue with this stunning new state of the art space – the perfect place to launch Skate UK, our new national learn to skate programme. 

“Having these two Olympic size rinks in London is a game changer and I’m sure they will attract thousands of people of all ages and abilities, from world level competitors, community groups and families, to the first timers, who will experience the joy of ice skating and all it has to offer.” 

World-class facilities

Lee Valley is also home to a velo park, white water centre, and a hockey and tennis centre which were used as host venues for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Other facilities at Lee Valley include an athletics centre and riding centre. 

Shaun Dawson, chief executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, said: “The stunning new Lee Valley Ice Centre replaces our much loved old venue which had, for 37 years, provided a wonderful place for people of all ages, especially young people, to meet, socialise and stay active. 

“At a time when many sport and leisure facilities across the country are at risk of closure, I’m so proud that we have gone beyond simply protecting the old centre, to have instead more than doubled the capacity and created a truly inspirational venue that is at the cutting edge of leisure with world-class facilities that will support physical and mental wellbeing for generations to come.” 

Images: Greenwich Leisure Limited/Lee Valley Ice Centre