Where’s your favourite skate park? Is it a smart all-weather facility with pipes, foam-pools, changing rooms and qualified staff? Or a couple of wooden ramps daubed with graffiti and scattered with broken bottles? Most of us would say the latter. It’s not perfect, you might say. However, it’s near home, it’s free and at least it is possible to wear inline skates without the fear of upsetting the local dogs.

There are plenty of commercial skate parks that are much better. They’re fun, safe and patrolled by personnel that know everything there is to know about aggressive skates. We at Skates.co.uk know which sort we prefer.

One of the oldest skate parks in the UK is in Romford, London. Built in the late 1970s, this skate park is one of the few original concrete parks left and attracts skaters from across the country. You could trace the history of inline skates from the marks left on its ramps, half-pipe, bowl, pool and moguls. We at Skates.co.uk can see a time when it may become a listed monument.

If you live in Scotland take your inline skates to the town of Livingstone. The top-rated Livingstone skate park attracts professionals like Tony Hawk.  Built from concrete like the Rom, this 20-year old park has something for all levels, from professionals to tots with their first pair of Disney kids quad skates. What’s more, it’s all free. Indoor parks, like Skaterham in Surrey, lay on special events and even organise kids’ birthday parties. So next time you want to take your inline skates out, consider your options.