Best UK Christmas Ice Skating Winter 2023
Image Credit: noorda
Visiting an Christmas ice skating rink is fast becoming part of the Christmas festivities - the popularity of Christmas skating just seems to keep growing every year.
This winter there are more temporary Christmas ice rinks than ever. You can skate next to some of the UK's most historic buildings, glide by an iconic landmark, salchow in a shopping centre or even pivot by a Pavillion.
But many if these pop up ice skating rinks offer much, much more than just ice. They offer lots of other fun things to go with the skating - many of the outdoor ice rinks include a Christmas Market as well as cafes, bars and restaurants.
You can warm up after your session on the ice with a snack, a meal, a hot drink or maybe something stronger...
Here are the best feative skating rinks around the UK. There is bound to be one of these temporary skating rinks near you. So wrap up warm and get your skates on!
Christmas Ice Rinks In England 2023
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
- Winter Funland Manchester
- Skate Manchester
Manchester Cathedral Gardens hosts Skate Manchester. Glide through the ice path and admire the glorious Christmas tree right on the rink.
The covered ice rink allows you to enjoy your skating experience whatever the weather, so you can skate without the (distinct) possibility of getting soaked!
- Winter Funland Midlands
- Glide at Battersea Power Station London
- The Royal Pavillion Brighton Ice Rink East Sussex
- Canary Wharf London
- Bath on Ice
- Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
- Cathedral Quarter Ice Rink Derby
- Somerset House London
- Windsor Ice Rink Alexandra Gardens Berkshire
- Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland York
- The Eden Project Cornwall
- Reading Winter Wonderland
- Hampton Court Palace East Molesey Surrey
- Ice Skate Birmingham
- Bolesworth Cheshire
As part of it's Christmas Village, Bolesworth has a 240sqm real ice skating rink – a new centrepiece attraction for 2023. It also features a Christmas lights trail, Santa's grotto and fairground along with food and drink and a chance to meet Santa's reindeer.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland boasts the UK’s largest outdoor ice rink in the heart of London’s Hyde Park, set under a picturesque canopy of twinkly lights and built around the iconic Victorian bandstand.
You can also visit the magical Ice Kingdom, see a Zippos circus, have a go on the fairground, shop in the Christmas market, and more.
Winter Funland at Manchester's BEC Arena in Trafford Park includes funfair rides, traditional carousels, helter skelters, a circus show, Santa's Grotto and plenty of places to get food and drinks.and not forgetting the ever popular Dodgems.
The ice skating rink is enormous, Penguin skate aids are available for younger kids and skate instructors are around to advise.
Winter Funland Midlands can be found at Birmingham's NEC and includes funfair rides, traditional carousels, helter skelters, a circus show, Santa's Grotto. Plus there are some more adventurous rides than at the sister site im Manchester. and plenty of places to get food and drinks - and not forgetting the ever popular Dodgems.
The is ice skating rink of course, with Penguin skate aids for younger kids and skate instructors are around to advise.
Glide at Battersea Power Station is returning this year after it's successful visit last Christmas. At this iconic London building you can enjoy unrivalled views of the Thames as you glide around three interconnecting rinks surrounded by twinkling lights and a spectacular 30ft Christmas tree.
When you've finished skating you can watch live entertainment, hop on a vintage funfair ride, enjoy a mulled wine or grab something to eat.
The Royal Pavilion Ice Rink once again hosts it's popular Ice Rink for 2023 in the grounds of Brighton's magnificent pavillion. Penguin Skate Aids are available for kids under 1.3m and skate hire is included.
Romantic and child-friendly, when you have finished skating you can visit the rinkside Bar & Kitchen for beautiful food and drinks whether you want a snack, lunch or dinner. This year powered entirely by Green Energy so it is better for the environment too.
Canary Wharf Ice Rink is back again in it's fabulous Canada Square Park location for 2023. Surrounded by shops, bars and restaurants, Canary Wharf Ice Rink is a unique skating experience, surrounded by stunning architecture and enchanting greenery.
Skate hire is included, and early birds who arrive for the first session of the day can skate at a discounted price.
Head down to Royal Pavilion, Royal Victoria Park for Bath on Ice. Non-skaters can play Glow Golf or visit the Moguls bar which will be serving delicious food, spicy mulled wine and hot chocolate.
With wintery music, a cosy bar, and seasonal drinks, you can enjoy this outdoor rink day or night.
As part of Christmas at Warwick Castle, the castle's majestic east front transforms into a magical skating rink for the ultimate festive experience on the ice.
Glide around underneath the majestic Guy’s Tower and as you skate, you can enjoy the sound of your favourite Christmas classics.
Right in the centre of Derby is the Cathedral Quarter Ice Rink where you can skate in a covered real ice rink. Skate aids are available.
There will be a host of themed sessions with music from the 80s, 90s and 00s and afterwards you can grab a hot chocolate or a mulled wine.
Somerset House Ice Rink lets you skate beneath the stars as Somerset House ice rink returns in November 2023. Choose from open sessions, kids specials, club nights or learn the basics at Skate School. Or shop at Fortum's Arcade then eat at Fortnum's Lodge.
Last year's popular Skate Lates are returning this Christmas, with a specially curated programme of music nights throughout the season - the perfect start to your weekend.
The hugely popular Windsor Ice Rink returns to the historic Alexandra Gardens next to the river Thames this year.
A host of family festive attractions including the UK's biggest Dodgems. With a large main covered rink and a smaller open air rink there is something for skaters of all levels of experience, along with fairground rides, bar and cafe, all within site of Windsor's historic castle.
While you are in Windsor you could make a day of it with these 11 Free Things To Do In Windsor - some of them are right next door to the ice rink!
York Ice Rink - The Ice Factor returns this year to York Designer Outlet. The ice rink is just the centre piece of Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland surrounded by a festive market and traditional fair rides.
With its 975 sq m of real ice and 30ft high sparkling Christmas tree as its centrepiece, the rink is Yorkshire's largest outdoor ice rink and there is a bar and cafe where you can warm up after you have skated.
The Eden Project's Christmas ice skating rink is the only indoor rink in Cornwall and returns to the magnificent location next to the biomes in Cornwall this year.
There are a range of sessions for different standards of skater including parent and toddlers, junior sessions and school groups, so start badgering the head teacher now!
They also allow wheelchair users on the ice, children's skating aids are available for hire, and you can book a course of skating lessons too!
Reading Winter Wonderland can be found at Hills Meadow in Reading. As well as a covered ice rink you can visit the Apres Ski bar, Santa’s grotto and try a wide variety of festive food and drinks to keep you full of festive joy.
Plus there is a fairground for all the family and The Bavarian Slide - an exciting slide where you ride down in a rubber ring!
At the historic Hampton Court Palace you can skate against a backdrop of one of the greatest palaces on earth – Henry VIII's home, Hampton Court Palace which boasts one of the longest established open-air ice rinks.
The rink epitomises the very best in festive fun with skate aids available and a cafe bar on site too. Be transported to one of the country's most scenic skating settings, with spectacular views of the Thames-side Tudor palace.
Ice Skate Birmingham is located in central Birmingham at Centenary Square. This undercover rink is next door to The Ice Lounge which offers a range of festive food and drinks to skaters and spectators.
Christmas Ice Rinks In Scotland 2023
There are no Christmas Ice Rinks listed for Scotland at present.
Elfingrove at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has been cancelled for 2023.
Christmas Ice Rinks In Wales 2023
- Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland
Cardiff Castle hosts Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland with an Ice Rink and Ice Walk, set within the beautiful grounds of the Castle against the backdrop of the Norman Keep.
There will be lots of fun penguin skate aids for the kids with festive food options when you've finished skating.
- Barry Island Pleasure Park
Winter Wonderland at Barry Island Pleasure Park will open for bookings in October 2023.
- S K A T E at ICC Wales
Newport South Wales is the home of S K A T E, and indoor, synthetic ice rink. Then you can eat, drink and be merry at the festive food and drink stalls.
Looking for the perfect gift? Look no further than the Christmas gift stalls which will have a wide variety of unique and festive items.
- The Meadows Farm Village
The Meadows Farm Village in Groeswen, Cardiff offers ice skating as part of it's Christmas at The Meadows event.
You can also meet Santa and his reindeer as well as seeing all the farm animals and petting the guinea pigs, rabbits, goats and pigs.
- Swansea Waterfront Winterland
You don't just get the chance to ice skate at the Swansea Waterfront Winterland!
There are also fun fair attractions, and the Alpine Village food and drink area are making a return. There are special accessible sessions available and lots of skate aids for the little ones.
Christmas Ice Rinks In Northern Ireland 2023
- Share Village on Ice, Co. Fermanagh
After another successful run last year, Share Village on Ice returns to Co. Fermanagh as the the only temporary Christmas ice rink in Northern Ireland. You can skate under a canopy of twinkling lights, plus off the ice there is a bouncy castle too.
After your skate you can enjoy seasonal drinks and snacks too
Last updated 20th October 2023
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