Planet Ice Gillingham

An ice rink in the middle of Kent might not sound like much, but Planet Ice Gillingham pulls in families and serious skaters from across the region. It's basically your standard leisure rink - decent-sized skating area, bright and warm inside, which matters more than you'd think when it's February and grey outside. You can hire skates if you haven't got your own, and they do proper lessons for kids who want to learn rather than just flail about on the ice.

The place works best for families with younger children or anyone keen to get some skating practice in without driving all the way to London. It's not a destination attraction in itself - you're not going to make a half-day of it unless you're genuinely into the sport. An hour, maybe ninety minutes if you factor in rentals and getting everyone comfortable on the ice.

Geographically it slots nicely into a wider Maidstone area visit. Kits Coty Glamping and Oak View Holiday Park are both within five miles, so if you're staying at either, Planet Ice works as a rainy-day filler or an evening activity rather than the main event. Check their website for session times and whether you need to book - it gets busy during school holidays. Bring socks. Seriously, proper skating socks make the difference between enjoyable and your feet being absolutely miserable.