Skate down the road to Watford’s outdoor festive ice rink

So don your winter woollies, hats, scarves and gloves and zoom down to Watford to enjoy the Big Skate ice rink in the events space on The Parade by the pond, near many popular bars and restaurants.

There’s also a carousel for the children and food from an authentic German market, with mulled wine on tap from a heated outdoor bar - plus lots of festive music to add to the sparkling winter wonderland atmosphere.

Elected mayor of Watford, Baroness Dorothy Thornhill, said: “We always think big in Watford, and this year we are keen to be everyone’s favourite destination.

“People who live and work in Watford or who have visited recently, already know what a fantastic place our town is.

“Now we want to encourage everyone to come and visit, especially our neighbours from further down the A41 corridor in Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring and other areas. We have a thriving town centre, with all sorts of shops, bars, restaurants, a festive ice rink, German Christmas market, and two theatres for people to visit. It’s the perfect place to go for a festive outing, either for some family fun, a date, an exciting night out, or fantastic shopping.”

Santa has his own grotto in the intu Watford shopping centre (formerly known as the Harlequin shopping centre).

The two theatres in Watford are showing fabulous festive shows, with a traditional pantomime, Dick Whittington at Watford Palace Theatre now until Wednesday, January 2, and Santa Claus and his Magical Christmas Adventure at Watford Colosseum until Christmas Eve. You can book tickets to Watford’s ice rink at www.watfordbigevents.co.uk And to find out about festive goings on in the town go to www.winterinwatford.com