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…

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 enjoy their festive menu, featuring classic Christmas flavours with a signature Coppa twist. From roast turkey with all the trimmings to pan-roasted sea bass and indulgent winter desserts, it’s the perfect way to celebrate the season in style.

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

Secret Garden

Perched under the shadow 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. Enjoy 2 drinks and 3 canapés for £35 per person.

where: 100 Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 4ER
website:londonsecretgarden.co.uk

1864 Rooftop Bar & Kitchen

Step into a winter wonderland high above Oxford Street at 1864 Rooftop Bar & Kitchen. Their festive igloos offer a magical setting for groups, with a private new igloo this season accommodating up to 40 standing or 20 seated guests, ideal for celebrations and intimate gatherings.

The Igloo Festive Feasting Menu (£75 lunch / £85 dinner per person) brings together 1864’s most-loved dishes and bold seasonal creations, designed for sharing. Highlights include crispy fried chicken with fermented chilli, lamb skewers with jalapeño cream, slow-cooked Jacob’s ladder, and indulgent desserts like sticky toffee pudding and dark chocolate crème brûlée. Drink packages and private dining options are also available for larger parties.

Where: John Lewis, 300 Oxford Street, London W1C 1DX
Website: 1864rooftopbar.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


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