EUROPE’S BEST DESTINATIONS FOR R OLLER SKATING

A rollerskating renaissance is well underway across Europe, fuelled by people spending more time outdoors, taking up new sports and avoiding public transport during the pandemic. Words: Sarah Richie

Pre-pandemic, one of London’s oldest skate shops, Skate Attack, converted five pairs of ice skates into rollerskates every day. Now, that’s jumped to 50. Roller Nation, a rink in north London, reports a similar explosion of interest. In 2020, 10% of visitors owned their own skates — that’s since rocketed to 70%. The rink now opens on Mondays and Sunday afternoons to keep up with the influx of new participants.

Instructor Nele Van Bogaert, who founded London’s Isle of Skating school, explains, “Social media definitely sparked the trend. Instagram and TikTok are full of skating content.” The trend is booming across Europe, too. Marja Zilcher, founder of Rebel Rollers Helsinki, says, “We’ve seen a huge increase in skaters — and it’s an international trend according to the online skating groups I’m in.” From skating along a disused railway in Helsinki to pirouetting around Berlin’s old airport, we take a tour of the best European cities for rollerskating.

READ THE TOP FIVE DESTINATIONS ONLINE