Best Snowdome Indoor Ski Centres In The UK
Image Credit: Karsten Winegeart
The British love to complain about the weather, and if you love to ski, let's face it you do rather have the issue that most of the UK is too warm for skiing, most of the time.
In fact Scotland is the the only part of the UK which combines being both cold enough for any length of time, and mountainous enough to do any serious skiing.
But of course, there is a solution; in the UK there are 6 snowdomes - indoor ski centres where you can ski and snowboard on real (created) snow. Of course to keep the snow from melting, they also give you the real experience of snowing in the cold, with temperatures in the domes kept at around the -2°Centigrade mark.
These snowdomes give the the chance to try out skiing on real snow, even if you can't go abroad to the ski slopes of Europe or the USA. Snowdomes offer ski classes for beginners and more advanced skiers, you can hire the full set of equipment if you are just trying out skiing for the first time. This is particularly good if you want to go skiing with kids. Your long awaited faily skiing holiday will go a bit more smoothly if the kids have had the chance to try skiing before you land at a ski resort.
If you are a bit more confident in skis you can take the opportunity to try out snowboarding, or have a go at tubing, Ringo slide, tobogganing and they even have a ski lift for the full skiing experience.
So let's wrap up warm and head off to the snow!
Indoor Snowdome Skiing Centres in the UK
- The Snow Centre Hemel Hempstead
- Snozone at Xscape Milton Keynes
- SnowDome
- Chill Factore Manchester
- Snozone Yorkshire
- Snow Factor Glasgow
Image Credit: Urban Sanden
The Snow Centre in Hertfordshire is the nearest snowdome to London, and has the UK's huge 160m Main Slope as well as the UKs largest indoor lesson slope.
With party options for kids and adults, team building exercises for businesses and and lessons for children and adults at all different levels there is something for everyone, including fun Ringo slide sessions and snowboarding too.
Less than 30 miles from Hemel Hempstead is Snozone Milton Keynes which offers a wide range of activities for all the family and for all levels of ability from complete beginners to freestyle pros.
Whether you're looking to learn to ski or snowboard, want to get some time on the slopes or want to have some fun in the snow, such as sledging or a party.
Once you have learnt the basics youc an purchase a ski pass and ski on your own on the main slope without a coach.
Image Credit: Cade Prior
Tamworth's Snowdome Snow Ice & Leisure offers so much more than just skiing; it was the first real snow indoor skiing venue in the UK, and it also has a skating rink, swimming pool, gym, spa, climbing walls and also hosts fun events such as a Santa's Winter Wonderland at Christmas.
With lessons for kids and adults, with both groups and individual lesson options for skiers of all levels plus snowboarding, along with toboggoning and snowballing in the snow fun park, there is something for everyone.
Chill Factore, located in Manchester's Trafford Park offers a snow school for kids aged 3-16, skiing and snowboarding lessons for all abilities, or you can sledge to the delights of the Downhill Donuts in the Snow Park.
You can also tackle the twists and turns of the ice slide or Sledge 'n’ Slide - race your pals to the bottom of the real snow slope.
Image Credit: Jake Heidecker
Further north in Castleford is Snozone Yorkshire, located at Xscape Centre. They offer skiing and snowboarding on real snow, whether it's your first time on skis or you're an experienced snowboarder.
Snozone has a range of indoor activities to suit all ages and abilities including sledging, holiday camps, disability snowsports and lessons to get you going. Pluse group events and parties too.
Breahead's Snow Factor boasts the longest indoor real snow slope in the UK, and offers ski and snowboard lessons for beginners and more advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Come Christmas you can also visit Santa, combined with a sledging session. Have a go at ice climbing on the indoor ice wall or go sledging. There are also snow camps and after-school clubs for the kids.
There is a 7th Snowdome planned for the UK - in Swindon, run by the owners of Hemel Hempstead's Snow Centre and based at Swindon’s North Star Leisure Complex.
Originally planned to open in 2020, building work is still in progress and an opening date has not yet been announced.
More Articles About Skiing With Kids
- How To Plan A Skiing Holiday With Young Children
- Children's Skiwear To Buy Or Hire
- Skiing With Teens
About eParenting: eParenting was started by Jacqui O'Brien in 2004. At the time her kids were 1 and 4 and kept her nice and busy. Now they are teenagers and still keeping her pretty busy!
