When it snows in London, the whole city is paralyzed: public transport stops running, planes stop flying, schools close and residents prefer to work from home. But that doesn’t mean the British don’t love snow and winter holidays. Quite the opposite. We’ve already told you about seasonal ice rinks and year-round ice hockey and figure skating rinks. In this review, the London Playbill talks about ski spots near the capital that are open even in the summer.
For practicing your skills, these are great places close by.
In fact, you can practice your skiing without spending money on resorts any time of year. There are many ski centers scattered throughout the country, both with “dry” slopes and those covered with real snow. Most are outside the capital, but you can find options in and around London, too.
What is a “dry” track? It’s when there is a slide with a certain plastic coating in a small enclosed room. It is electric and completely mimics your technical exit on a real mountain. The tape of the slide moves in a closed circle (like the tape of an escalator) and you can go down endlessly.
The Snow Centre.
One of the biggest ski centers, The Snow Centre, is at Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire and is often run by professional skiers and instructors accredited by the British Winter Sports Association. Getting there is easy: trains run regularly from Euston station. The main course here is 30 meters wide and 160 meters long. You can also take snowboarding lessons here. Ticket options are many – you can, for example, buy a package for the whole family. Two hours with an instructor for one adult will cost 45-50 pounds.
Snozone
An hour and a half drive from London in Milton Keynes is another ski center Snozone with pistes of real snow. Here you can take lessons at any skill level, from beginner to advanced, and there are snowboarding classes as well. A private lesson for adults will cost £40. But there are plenty of options you can save on, including a very favorable membership (includes many discounts and 50% off lessons from May through September).
Chel Ski.
Chel Ski, which is right in London, doesn’t have real trails as such, but it does have special equipment – a mechanical trail,
where you can also perfectly train your technique. In addition, here they teach Fit Ski – a kind of variation of fitness, built on the exercises involved in the technique of skiing. The cost per session for an adult is £40, and the first two Fit Ski lessons are £20 each.
Sandown Sports.
The closest outdoor ski center to London, Sandown Sports, is on Esher Hill in Sarrey. There’s artificial turf with no snow, but it’s also geared for training for beginners and more advanced skiers alike. The advantage is certainly the fresh air. There are beautiful views of Sandown Park from the top of the hill. Although the center has training for adults, it is primarily designed for children and even offers birthday parties.
Brentwood Park.
You can also practice your skiing before the winter season at Brentwood Park. It’s also an artificial or so-called “dry” open-air track. They offer skiing and snowboarding lessons for all levels and ages (one session costs £50), and a year-round activity for kids – a downhill inflatable ice skater.
Have a great run!
