The London Igloos Are Back – These Are The Best Ones To Book
Winter igloos are back! Back in situ, back in our lives and back on our cold-weather bucket lists.
If you’re new to the concept then… rather than sitting in a well-heated, expertly designed restaurant, in close proximity to the kitchen, you’re out in the garden in a perspex igloo. And, weirdly, it’s really quite cool. The igloos are generally heated and well-appointed with fleecy things to cover yourself in and prettily decorated with seasonal bits. But best of all they’re your own personal space, where you can be seen enjoying yourself by all passersby from within your little cocoon. A bit like Instagram. So here are some of our favourites that are taking bookings now – if you want to up the winter factor, book one of these light shows to visit first…
Wagtail
As the colder months descend upon the city, there is a new way to embrace the magic of the season, as London’s luxury rooftop bar and restaurant Wagtail has announced the launch of their enchanting Nordic Nights Winter Terraces and Igloos, in partnership with Grey Goose Vodka.
Open now, guests can escape to a winter-inspired wonderland with cosy igloos and enchanted roof terraces, all while indulging in bespoke Grey Goose cocktails and delectable bites. You can reserve your own private heated igloos which seat up to 12 people at both locations, the perfect winter retreat providing a warm and intimate setting to enjoy with friends and loved ones.
where: 68 King William St, London EC4N 7HR
website: wwww.wagtaillondon.com
Coppa Club
The two signs that winter’s coming are the swallows flying south and Thames-side restaurant Coppa Club launching their famous igloos. But unlike their auspicious feathered partners, the igloos do stick around for the summer. Coppa Club launched the igloos just a few years ago and yet they’ve become an institution, capturing the imaginations of Londoners with their beautifully half-timbered aesthetic and their view, overlooking Tower Bridge and The Shard. They also have another outlet in Putney.
Diners enjoy table service from Coppa Club but in their own private pod, decked with foliage and protected from the elements. You can now order from their two or three-course festive menu, from parmesan croquettes and homemade tortellini to the classic Christmas pudding. Blankets are provided, but do wrap up on particularly chilly days.
Where: 3 Three Quays Walk, Lower Thames Street, The City, EC3R 6AH
Website: www.coppaclub.co.uk
Aviary
In our entirely subjective opinion, the prettiest igloos in London, Aviary match the solid build of their pods with a brilliant view of The City and they’re finished like your front room for maximum comfort. The tenth-storey igloos, high above Finsbury Square, come complete with sheep pelts and blankets. They make their return this month, with bookings open now
Where: 10th Floor of the Montcalm Royal London House Hotel, 22-25 Finsbury Square, EC2A 1DX
Website: www.aviarylondon.com
Fire & Fromage at Jimmy’s Pop Up
Jimmy Garcia’s South Bank lodges are returning! The king of pop-ups is back with his ‘snow globes’ – the unanswered question, though, is if you turn them upside down and shake them do they really turn into a blizzard?
You’ll need to pony up at least £100 a head on runny cheese…
This year’s instalment is running from November 2nd until December 31st, and features unlimited raclette and toast-your-own marshmallows, cosy snow globes and fire pits.
Where: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, Southbank, SE1 8XX
Website: www.jimmyspopup.co.uk
Secret Garden
Perched under the Shadaow of a 19th-century church sits the most clandestine of igloo options. London Secret Garden operates five domes spread across a one-acre Garden, and each dome is fully air-conditioned (and warmed) and exclusive to you, so rest assured only you and your friends will have complete privacy in your dome.
where: 100 Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 4ER
website:londonsecretgarden.co.uk
The Sipping Room
Three igloos adorn the winter terrace at The Sipping Room by Drake & Morgan, with a gorgeous waterside view at Canary Wharf. Each igloo seats up to 10 guests, and festive evergreen decor and twinkling lights put you in a cosy winter mood. Festive dishes, treats and drinks await you in these heated private igloos, so you can stay warm as you enjoy great company and delicious food.
Where: West India Quay, 16 Hertsmere Rd, London E14 4AX
Website: www.drakeandmorgan.co.uk
