Skate Lessons London UK

Where do we meet?

In most cases your lessons will be either at the Albert Memorial or the "beach".  This is not really a beach of course, but it's been called that for many years, and is on the western end of the Serpentine Road in Hyde Park.  The Albert Memorial is directly opposite the Royal Albert Hall on Kensington Gore, and is in Kensington Gardens. In general most lessons are held at the Albert Memorial since this is the quietest location and most suited to lessons.

When can I book a lesson?

During summer from the start to the end of British Summer time I'm available weekends and weekday evenings.  Winter is restricted to weekends and weekday mornings since it's dark early in the week

Group versus Private lessons

There are two main ways to take lessons - either a scheduled course in a group, or private lessons.  I would normally recommend group lessons over private ones because most people seem to learn better and have more fun in a group environment, and it's also much more cost effective.  That said, there are circumstances where private lessons are better.

Can I hire/buy skates?

You can hire skates and protective gear from a number of shops around Hyde Park.  It's actually a really good idea to do this if you haven't yet bought your own skates, because you get a chance to try out skating and learn about which type of skates you like before spending a lot of money.

Click here for skate hire at skate shops and retailers in London UK.  I would recommend Slick Willies and Club Blue Room.

Should I wear protective gear?

You need both wrist guards and knee pads, as well as a pair of skates.  Given the risk of falling (even experienced skaters fall regularly), some people also choose to wear elbow pads and/or a helmet, but this is optional and at your own judgement.

Am I too old to skate?

Perhaps surprisingly, skating isn't just for teenagers.  There's a huge range in ages to be seen everywhere in the world, from young kids to 90 year olds.  This chart from the Berlin marathon gives an indication of the wide spread in ages.  I learned to skate in my twenties, and most of the skaters in Hyde Park started in adulthood.

What about the weather?

I skate throughout the year, so it's quite possible to skate in the cold.  One thing to avoid is rain and wet skating surfaces, because you loose traction and skating can become dangerous.  Bad weather can thus cause a lesson to be postponed.  There would obviously be no lesson cancellation fee if this happens.

I need help buying skates!

Here's a buying guide on inline skates that explains the important features to consider when buying skates.  It shows different types of skates, and why you might want to buy a particular type, as well as busting all that complex jargon that you might not have heard before.

The essentials are try lots of skates to get the best fitting one, get recreational skates, and buy from one of the big three manufacturers, being K2, Rollerblade, and Salomon.

Why should I take lessons?

Taking lessons gives a great deal of benefit to most skaters.  Lessons ensure that you get taught each separate skill properly, and ensure that you're taught all the basic skills you need before progressing onto more advanced things.

Here's more detail on why inline skating lessons can be so beneficial.

I have bad balance and fell over, hurting myself.  How can you help?

Well, there will always be some element of falling with skating, but we can help you learn to fall properly, and show you some strategies to avoid falling as much.  We also recommend protective gear to avoid that nasty road rash and let you skate away from most falls with a smile (and probably a slightly bruised ego).

I'm looking for ice skating lessons.

Unfortunately I only teach inline skating (rollerblading) lessons. I do ice skate as well, but I simply  prefer skating outdoors in the sun. If you're looking for ice skating lessons, could I suggest you contact one of the following ice rinks - they all have instructors who can help you out.

Ice skating rinks and arenas in London.

Even if you're set on ice skating, I'd like to suggest at least looking at our press page, where you might get an idea of how much fun we have inline skating around London. It's really awesome - in the summer we can get upwards of 1000 skaters skating through the streets of London!