ICEBAR BY ICEHOTEL

Formerly known as Below Zero, London's ICEBAR BY ICEHOTEL is where you'll find the UK's only bar that's permanently carved from ice. And it's not just any ice. It's carved from the Torne River which runs through parts of Scandinavia. There, teams of experts slice and chisel with chainsaws and hammers before the giant ice cubes are shipped over here.

ICEBAR is constantly maintained at a nippy -5˚C and, to get yourself a seat within the wintry walls, you have to book in advance - click here to do so. Sessions at the ICEBAR last forty minutes and none of your drinks are served in glasses. Yep, you drink from hollowed out ice-cubes and sit on benches that are mini icebergs, just like the tables. In fact, the only notable feature not made of ice is, sensibly, the floor.

You won't have to wear ice skates to enjoy a drink here, but, you will be given a thermal suit to keep you warm. You'll feel as cool as you look as you sip on one of the excellently-made cocktails and, should you feel inclined, why not head on to the adjacent Reindeer Lounge, Wolf Bar, or Moose Dining Room where you can choose from a classy modern European menu? From the grill or bite-sized tapas, they accommodate all appetites at ICEBAR.

You're in for a really unique experience here (that phrase is sometimes used a lot, and often in the wrong context, but ICEBAR is definitely a London one-off) and, to add to the surprise factor, the theme at ICEBAR changes rapidly and it's always something radically different. So, to escape the oftentimes sweltering humidity in London, cool off in the city's over-sized drinks chiller.

Opening times: Monday - Thursday: 14:00 - 23:00, Friday: 14:00 - 24:30, Saturday: 12:30 - 01:15, Sunday: 14:00 - 23:00