PAUL SAVIDENT: Press Release for The Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink announce their 2006/2007 seasons

Following the success of last year’s inaugural ice skating season at the Tower of London and the continuing success of the ice rink at Hampton Court Palace – tickets for their new seasons of ice skating are now onsale.

For the past 900 years the Tower of London – Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress on the Thames - has been the setting for some of the most significant events in British history. Now, nearly 1000 years after William the Conqueror founded the building, the Tower of London will, for the second year, be host to a magnificent real-ice rink situated in the dry moat beneath the Outer Curtain Wall of the Tower of London, whilst inside the palace Edward I and his Court will be celebrating a Medieval Christmas.

The ice rink at Hampton Court Palace returns for its fourth Christmas Season of six weeks in the grounds of the historic palace. Set in the truly splendid and traditional setting within the grounds of Hampton Court Palace the ice rink will again be located on the west front of Henry VIII’s historic famous red brick palace. Inside the palace there will be traditional offerings of costumed events and Tudor cookery in the recently represented kitchens, celebrating life in King Henry VIII’s Court.

The Ice Rink Cafés alongside the ice rink (no entrance charge) will serving warming drinks and festive snacks for those wanting to take it easy and relax after their skate or whilst watching others take to the ice.

Booking for the ice-skating sessions (hourly sessions accommodating 250 people) will open by phone (0870 602 1100 for Tower of London and 0870 060 1778 for Hampton Court Palace) and internet from Wednesday 21 June through Ticketmaster and www.londonicerinks.com or in person at the Tower of London Box Office or Hampton Court Palace Box Office.

Following previous booking patterns it is anticipated that sessions at weekends and immediately around Christmas and New Year will sell extremely quickly so advance booking is strongly recommended. Joint tickets offering skating and entry for either the Tower of London or Hampton Court Palace are also available providing an opportunity to enjoy more of the spectacular setting – please ask at the time of booking.

Ice Rink Press Passes are available for the evening of Friday 24^th November 2006 for the Tower of London Ice Rink and Friday 1^st December for Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink. For more information on either ice rink, Press Passes, imagery and information on PWR Events contact PAUL SAVIDENT on 020 8567 2089, or e-mail paul@savident.com.

For more information on the Tower of London and Christmas events please contact Natasha Woollard, PR Manager, at Historic Royal Palaces on 020 7488 5662, by fax on 020 7680 0687, by e-mail to natasha.woollard@hrp.org.uk or visit www.hrp.org.uk.

For more information on Hampton Court Palace and Christmas events please contact Vikki Wood, PR Manager, at Historic Royal Palaces on 020 7488 5662/3, by fax on 020 7680 0687, by e-mail to vikki.wood@hrp.org.uk or visit www.hrp.org.uk.

NOTES TO EDITORS

TOWER OF LONDON ICE RINK

Saturday 25^th Nov 2006 to Sunday 14^th Jan 2007

www.londonicerinks.com and

www.toweroflondonicerink.com

Tickets: 0870 602 1100 and 0871 230 5445

(booking fees apply)

TICKET PRICES per session including skate hire

Adult: £10.00

Children (under 16): £7.50

Concessions: £8.00

Family ticket (1 Adult and 3 children or 2 adults and 2 children): £30.00

Skate for Just £5: Available for sessions starting between 10am and 4pm on the following dates - Nov 27-30, Dec 1, Dec 4-8 and Jan 8-12.

Joint admission tickets are also available for the Tower of London and the Ice Rink – customers should ask at the time of booking. Joint ticket prices:

Adult: £21.00

Children (under 16) £14.50

Concessions: £17.00

Family ticket (1 Adult and 3 children or 2 adults and 2 children): £62.00

HAMPTON COURT PALACE ICE RINK

Saturday 2^nd Dec 2006 to Sunday 14^th Jan 2007

www.londonicerinks.com and

www.hamptoncourticerink.com

Tickets: 0870 060 1778 and 0871 230 5445

(booking fees apply)

TICKET PRICES per session including skate hire

Adult: £9.50

Children (under 16): £7.50

Concessions: £8.00

Family ticket (1 Adult and 3 children or 2 adults and 2 children): £30.00

Skate all day for £7.50: Skate till you drop for only £7.50 - available between 10am and 5pm on the following dates - Dec 4-8, Dec 11-15 and Jan 8-12 (ice cleaning will require skaters to leave the ice for short periods of time).

Joint admission tickets are also available for Hampton Court Palace and the Ice Rink – customers should ask at the time of booking. Joint ticket prices:

Adult: £18.50

Children (under 16) £13.50

Concessions: £15.50

Family ticket (1 Adult and 3 children or 2 adults and 2 children): £57.00

PLEASE NOTE: There is no entrance charge to the Ice Rink Cafés and the cafés are open for people who wish to view others skating and skaters alike.

TICKETS AND ADVANCE BOOKING – BOOKING NOW OPEN

In person: Tower of London Box Office and Hampton Court Palace Box Office (no booking fee)

Telephone: 0870 602 1100 (Tower of London), 0870 060 1778 (Hampton Court Palace) or

0871 230 5445 (Hotline Number) - booking fees apply on all numbers.

On-line: www.londonicerinks.com (booking fees apply) – also at www.toweroflondonicerink.com, www.hamptoncourtpalaceicerink.com or www.ticketmaster.co.uk (booking fees apply)

For School Parties and Corporate bookings call PWR Events direct on 020 8241 9818– please note there is no booking fee for group bookings.

TIMED SKATING SESSIONS

There will be 10 one hour skating session per day from 10.00am

10.00am – 11.00am • 11.00am – Noon • 12.15pm – 1.15pm • 1.30pm – 2.30pm

2.45pm – 3.45pm • 4.00pm – 5.00pm • 5.15pm – 6.15pm • 6.30pm – 7.30pm

7.45pm – 8.45pm • 9.00pm – 10.00pm

Minimum skate size: Children’s size 9 (nine) Maximum skate size: Adult size 13 (thirteen)

WEB ADDRESS: www.londonicerinks.com - also www.toweroflondonicerink.com and

www.hamptoncourtpalaceicerink.com

DIRECTIONS for Tower of London Ice Rink:

By TRAIN to Fenchurch Street or London Bridge.

By UNDERGROUND on District or Circle Line to Tower Hill.

By BUS on routes 15, 25, 42, 78, 100 and D1. The Tower is also served by all major sightseeing bus tours.

By DOCKLANDS LIGHT RAILWAY to Tower Gateway Station which is located adjacent to Tower Hill station.
By RIVERBOAT from Charing Cross, Westminster or Greenwich to Tower Pier.

DIRECTIONS for Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink:

By TRAIN from Waterloo direct to Hampton Court takes 32 minutes.

By CAR exit junctions 10 and 12 on the M25.

By UNDERGROUND District Line to Wimbledon and main line to Hampton Court.

Historic Royal Palaces

Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that looks after the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace. We help everyone explore the story of how monarchs and people have shaped society, in some of the greatest palaces ever built.

A public corporation, we receive no funding from the Government or the Crown, so we depend on the support of our visitors, members, donors, volunteers and sponsors.

These palaces are owned by The Queen on behalf of the nation, and we manage them for the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

We believe in four principles. Guardianship: giving these palaces a future as long and valuable as their past. Discovery: encouraging people to make links with their own lives and today’s world. Showmanship: doing everything with panache. Independence: having our own point of view and finding new ways to do our work.

www.hrp.org.uk

registered charity number 1068852

For INTERVIEWS, PRESS INFORMATION, and photos / IMAGES (by e-mail or post) please contact Paul Savident on 020 8567 2089, fax 0870 051 6418, e-mail paul@savident.com or view www.savident.com.