Ice ice baby! Where to get your skates on this festive season

We don’t know about you, but we’re feeling a bit festive.

With only a few weeks until Christmas, it’s time to start ramping up the seasonal celebrations.

So from enjoying some mulled wine to maybe having our first mince pie, there are plenty of ways to start getting into the spirit of things.

And one of the best ways is with a trip to a Christmas ice skating rink. Many towns and cities install temporary rinks for the weeks leading up to the big day and it’s a great activity for families as well as making a truly romantic date night.

Here are some of the best from around the UK.

Ice Village, Manchester 

Not just an ice rink but an ice village!  

The city’s Cathedral Gardens is overtaken with stunning ice sculptures as well as a Tiki Ice Bar serving cocktails and mocktails in glasses made of ice. Make sure you wrap up for this chilled night out!

Plus there’s a Santa’s Grotto, icey activities for kids, the ice rink itself for skating and stalls selling gifts and festive food. 

Lotherton Hall’s Christmas Experience, Leeds      

A whole Christmas Experience? Yes please! 

This fabulously festive event is in the grounds of a beautiful country house and there’s so much to do you could spend the whole day. Get on the ice to hone your skating skills then head to the woodland walk where you can wander among twinkling lights themed around the 12 Days of Christmas.

Little ones will love a visit to Elf Village where they can take part in activities or listen to stories while sipping a hot chocolate. The house itself will be dressed in all its finest Christmas regalia and there’s even an Edwardian selfie studio.

Then pay a visit to the very pretty Santa’s North Pole where children can meet the man himself and make a souvenir with his helpful elves. 

Hampton Court Palace, Surrey   

Henry VIII’s palace makes for the most fantastic backdrop for a spot of seasonal skating. And you can indulge in some delicious treats at the Ice Rink Cafe Bar where you’ll find hot soup and pies alongside fully loaded hot chocolates, all served in a heated spectator area so you can watch the rink action in comfort.

And if you go on the weekend of 6th – 8th December you can also enjoy the Festive Fayre with its live music and Christmassy stalls. 

Christmas Ice Festival, Liverpool 

Liverpool puts on a fantastic festive display in the brilliant waterfront area of the city. Not only is there a covered ice rink but there’s an exhilarating Ice Slide from where you can see the whole festival while speeding along a 30 metre slide.

Still have a need for speed? Then jump on the Ice Jet ride or one of the other rollercoasters, before coming back down to earth for a walk around the Christmas market where you’ll also find a Bavarian Food Court and Alpine Bar.  

Canterbury on Ice, Kent

The Dane John Gardens will play host to the city’s first ice rink so this will no doubt become a fantastic festive hub for the rest of the year.

Book a skating session and then do a little shopping at the Christmas market and of course there are plenty of stalls where you can buy warming food as well as drinks.

Thousands flock to Canterbury to soak up the atmosphere and with over 70 cabins you’ll find candles, stocking fillers, games, toys, jewellery and Christmas decorations. 

So let’s get out there and have some festive fun.