Festive ice skating in Manchester, Liverpool and beyond

Alderford Lake is the perfect day out all year round. It’s an idyllic location but you won’t be able to sit still and enjoy the birdsong or take in the view; there’s far too much going on.

Another Place, The Lake is a Lake District spa hotel that makes full use of its picture-perfect location on the shores of Ullswater. 

Ideal for outdoor types who prefer home comforts to roughing it in a tent, it’s a boutique hotel with a gorgeous spa and a range of lake-based activities to try. There’s paddleboarding, open water swimming, kayaking, and sailing, plus stargazing, skiing and skating in the winter months.

It’s a transplant from that-there London but at least Boxpark Liverpool is full of local food names. This food hall meets events space is home to eight or so vendors including, at the time of writing, Rose Street Falafel (from the founders of Maray), Madre Burrito, Pukht and Yoki Social Table and Yumcha. There’s also Shake, Crazy Pedros, Simply Salt and Pepper and Stateside Grill. Choosing between them is not easy.  

Christmas by the Sea is Blackpool’s annual festive extravaganza, just in front of Blackpool Tower. The tower gets a literal glow up and there are other light installations along the Tower Festival Headland. This is all just part of the festive village transformation which also includes free ice skating and a funfair.

There’s a free skating rink with free skate hire too.

Lancaster On Ice is the big one when it comes to seasonal skating. This award-winning venue has had glowing reviews in a number of broadsheets, and now, the icing on the Christmas cake, it has the thumbs up from Confidential Guides too.

On Ice is a rather tasteful undercover ice rink with wreaths and twinkling lights. What sets it apart from others is the firepit for toasting marshmallows. Pair it with a hot chocolate and it might be one of the ultimate festive experiences.

Planet Ice is not just for Christmas. Enjoy year-round indoor skating sessions for a reasonable price.

Skate Manchester in Cathedral Gardens will have you skating around the Christmas tree. As it’s partly covered, you can enjoy this traditional winter activity no matter what the winter weather – though there are refunds or re-booking if another storm hits.

Tinsel Town forms part of the Trafford Centre’s Christmas offering with a festive fairground lighting up the winter nights. There’s also an ice rink set under shimmering winter lights.