Grab your skates, Mancs, you’ve pulled! (A date with the ice rink, that is). Popping up all over the city for the festive season, guests can glide their way towards December 25th to the tune of Wizzard’s I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday while enjoying a hot mug of mulled wine, with plenty of new and wintery scenes to skate around. Here’s our guide to the best ice skating rinks in Manchester this winter.
1. Skate Manchester
Situated right in the midst of the Christmas market fun, Skate Manchester offers a family-friendly skating experience for all to enjoy, with festive lighting, the buzz of the surrounding stalls to enjoy, and, of course, everyone’s favourite Christmas tunes. This year’s ice skating rink is massive, meaning there’s more room than ever before for the people of Manchester to glide across, and, of course, plenty of festive spirit to go around.
📍Skate Manchester, Cathedral Gardens, M4 3BG.
2. TinselTown
Found at the Trafford Centre’s TinselTown outside the Great Hall, this ice skating rink is ideally located for Mancs to enjoy – with the Christmas shopping haven of Manchester residing just metres away. Glide away under a sky full of twinkling lights whilst festive music transports skaters to a whimsical, festive haven. Non-skaters will be able to enjoy a warming hot chocolate or mulled wine from the centre’s festive bar complete with towering Christmas tree.
📍The Trafford Centre, Trafford Park, Stretford, M17 8EH.
3. Winter Funland
Coming to the BEC this Christmas, Winter Funland Manchester will house a magical ice skating rink in the centre of its many festivities, with tons of Christmas shenanigans to get involved in. Meet Father Christmas, skate to your heart’s content, chow down on festive grub and sweet treats such as candy floss, enjoy a huge array of family-friendly rides, or attend a fun circus-style show packed full of tricks and magical treats.
📍BEC Manchester, Longbridge Rd, Trafford Park, Stretford, M17 1SN.
4. Planet Ice
While Planet Ice may be open all year round, there’s something particularly great about skating in the wintertime. Open all winter long, guests can borrow a pair of skates before having a festive glide around the ice, with penguins available for the less experienced among us (always a fun part of the day!).
📍Planet Ice, Oakfield Rd, Altrincham, WA15 8EW.
5. St John’s Winter Assembly
The bougie tennis and basketball destination, Courts Club, has undergone a winter wonderland makeover, with its courts transforming into the city’s newest, fully independent ice rink, from On Ice who previously operated the Spinningfields ice rink. The rink forms part of St John’s Winter Assembly and is described as “a premium alternative” to other ice skating spots in Manchester with food and drink operators slinging festive food including winter gyros from Lucky Gyros, festive grilled cheeses, boozy hot chocolate, German BBQ specials and more.
📍St John’s Winter Assembly, Courts Club, Goods Yard St, M3 3BG.