7 of the best outdoor ice rinks in the UK to visit this Christmas

Life


7 of the best outdoor ice rinks in the UK to visit this Christmas

By Stylist Team

7 years ago

It’s almost time to don your skates at one of the UK’s most festive ice rinks.

Slide. Turn. Slide. Try to stop without crashing into the barrier. Ice skating just once a year, it turns out, is not enough to have us pulling off triple axels. 

But that annual turn on the ice pulls at our nostalgia strings and allows us to see our lit-up, festive cities from new angles. Book these venues early to secure your tickets now.


The chic night out

Skate at Somerset House in London is a favourite of the Stylist team. The beautiful 18th-century setting is a huge draw, but this year’s Skate Lates programme has completely won us over, with an eclectic line-up of DJs playing rink-side. 

Open from 14 Nov; tickets from £11. 


The sky-high twist

Londoners, it seems, are happiest when their nightlife takes place on a roof, with bars, cinemas and art installations all popping up on the top of buildings. Skylight in Wapping’s Tobacco Dock has created a rooftop ice rink, with views across the City of London, a heated bar area and street food. 

Open from 1 Nov; tickets £10. 


The Instagram favourite 

Brighton’s Royal Pavilion is an OTT wedding cake of a building and will always look great in pictures. But illuminated at night and with an ice rink in front of it, it’s pure Instagram gold. 

Open from 3 Nov; tickets £14. 


The all-ice extravaganza 

Manchester has really gone all-out with the ice this year. Cathedral Gardens will be home to a whole Ice Village, featuring a rink, an ice sculpture cavern and an ice bar. Wrap up warm. 

Open from 9 Nov; skating tickets from £11. 


The loop with a view 

Edinburgh’s St Andrew’s Square is hosting a rink with a difference, being the only loop-shaped one in Britain. Loop your way around the cider lodge in the middle of the ice and take in the amazing skyline of central Edinburgh. 

Open from 16 Nov; tickets from £5. 


The Christmas market 

For Nottingham dwellers, the square is the heart of town, and one which is made all the more atmospheric by the arrival of the annual ice rink. The pop-up is surrounded by an adorable German-style market, laden with mulled wines and toasty bites as reward for zipping around on the ice. 

Open from 15 Nov; tickets £12.


The botanical spectacular 

Bournemouth’s “iconic ice destination” prides itself on being the area’s best and is set within the canopies of Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens, which have been magically brought to life for the Christmas season.

Open from 15 Nov; tickets £11.

Images: Courtesy of venues 

undefined

By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy

Thank you!

You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.