There are an impressive number of ice skates sold throughout the year; there’s something magical about the bite of blades on ice, and people are prepared to travel a long way to experience it.

The good news is, these days you don’t need to travel nearly as far. The UK has a large number of skating rinks (almost 20 in Scotland alone) and the National Ice Skating Association home page shows you where they all are. Just click on the map for your area, and you’re probably within travelling distance of an ice rink.

Ice skating is addictive and fun. Most novice skaters rely on hired ice skates to start with, but even if you only skate occasionally it’s still worth investing in a pair of your own. Rental skates are never as good as those you maintain yourself, and we at Skates.co.uk have a wide range to choose from, at very reasonable prices. Follow our fitting guide for sizing. Like roller blades, it’s a good idea to go a size larger and use padded insoles if your skates feel a bit “roomy” – especially if your feet are still growing.

The two main disciplines on ice are figure skating and ice hockey, and blades follow one of these two designs. To begin with, you won’t notice much difference on the ice, so it’s largely a matter of style what ice skates you buy. Generally, women gravitate towards the figure-skating area on our site, while men head for the hockey section – but there’s plenty of cross-over. The Stateside Arrow and XCess Black, for example, are stylish unisex ice skates which cover both disciplines.