Christmas ice skating near Timperley 2026

There are 12 ice rinks within 75 minutes of Timperley this Christmas. The nearest is Skate & Spot Santa at Planet Ice Altrincham (10 min, from Sat 12 Dec). Most pop-up rinks sell sessions by the hour, and weekend afternoons in December go first.

Updated Monday 26 October. We look for new ones every week and add them as they're announced.

On the doorstep 2

Skate & Spot Santa at Planet Ice Altrincham Planet Ice Altrincham, Oakfield Road · 10 min Date unconfirmed · Sat 12, Sun 13 and Fri 18 – Thu 24 Dec, public sessions£15.40 a child, adults £15.40 · £73.63 for a family of four

Christmas Day skate at Planet Ice Altrincham Planet Ice Altrincham, Oakfield Road · 10 min Fri 10am–12pm (one session)£10 a child, adults £10

Under half an hour away 2

Festive Skating at The Lambing Shed (Christmas on the Farm) The Lambing Shed, Knutsford · 25 min 1-hour sessions (45 mins skating); socks and gloves required; individual session times on booking page£12 a child, adults £15

Skate Manchester (covered ice rink in Cathedral Gardens) Cathedral Gardens, Manchester city centre · 30 min Daily 6 Nov – 3 Jan except Christmas Day: 11am–9pm to 6 Dec, then 10am–9pm; last session 8pm; 45-minute sessions; kids skate free Tue 4–6pm until 18 Dec£13.75 a child, adults £15

Under 45 minutes away 1

Christmas Day skate at Planet Ice Widnes Planet Ice Widnes · 40 min Fri 25 Dec, 10am–12pm (one public session)£10 a child, adults £10

Worth the drive 7

Oaks on Ice and Winter Village at Cheshire Oaks (ice rink, big wheel, free Christmas film screenings) Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, Ellesmere Port · 50 min Daily 23 Oct – 3 Jan; usually 10am–9pm (Sat from 9am, Sun to 7pm); Christmas Eve to 6pm; New Year's Eve and Day 10am–5pm; 45-minute sessions£9.50 a child, adults £12.50 · £36 for a family of four

Chorley Winter Wonderland (real ice rink, children's rides, festive tipis) Cleveland Street car park, Chorley · 50 min Daily 12 Dec – 3 Jan except Christmas Day; sessions on the hour, mostly from 10am (12pm on 14–18 Dec) to 7pm; Boxing Day 12–5pm; New Year's Eve 11am–5pm£8 a child, adults £8 · £25 for a family of fourQuiet session Sun 13 Dec

Christmas Day skate at Planet Ice Blackburn Planet Ice Blackburn · 50 min Fri 25 Dec, 10am–12pm (one public session)£10 a child, adults £10

IceBox ice rink at BOXPARK Liverpool (Skate with Santa 19–24 Dec) Boxpark Liverpool, Liverpool (Baltic Triangle) · 55 min Daily 16 Nov – 10 Jan; 45-minute sessions; sensory-friendly session Sundays 10am; Skate with Santa 19–24 Dec at 12pm and 1pm£8 a child, adults £10

Liverpool Christmas Wonderland at Pier Head (covered ice rink, rides, Santa's Grotto) Pier Head, Liverpool waterfront · 55 min Open daily 11am-9pm; skating sessions hourly 11am-8pm£12.50 a child, adults £15.50 · £52 for a family of four

Skate St George's St George's Hall, Liverpool · 55 min Daily 21 Nov to 3 Jan, 10am to 10pm (first skate 10.15am, last 9.15pm). Closes 6pm on Thu 24 Dec, closed 25 Dec, opens at midday on 26 Dec and 1 Jan£10–25

Preston's Christmas On Ice (real ice rink on the Flag Market) Preston Flag Market, Market Square · 60 min Daily 4 Dec – 3 Jan, 11.30am–9.30pm, last skate 8.30pm; arrive in your 30-minute window, then 45 minutes on the ice£10–25

By area 12

Nearest areas first.

In Trafford (Altrincham)

Skate & Spot Santa at Planet Ice Altrincham Altrincham · until Thu 24 Dec · 10 min
Christmas Day skate at Planet Ice Altrincham Altrincham · Fri 25 Dec · 10 min

Further afield

Festive Skating at The Lambing Shed Knutsford · until Thu 24 Dec · 25 min
Skate Manchester Manchester city centre · until Sun 3 Jan · 30 min
Christmas Day skate at Planet Ice Widnes Widnes · Fri 25 Dec · 40 min
Oaks on Ice and Winter Village at Cheshire Oaks Ellesmere Port · until Sun 3 Jan · 50 min
Chorley Winter Wonderland Chorley · until Sun 3 Jan · 50 min
Christmas Day skate at Planet Ice Blackburn Blackburn · Fri 25 Dec · 50 min
IceBox ice rink at BOXPARK Liverpool Liverpool (Baltic Triangle) · until Sun 10 Jan · 55 min
Liverpool Christmas Wonderland at Pier Head Liverpool waterfront · until Sun 3 Jan · 55 min
Skate St George's Liverpool · until Sun 3 Jan · 55 min
Preston's Christmas On Ice Preston · until Sun 3 Jan · 60 min

Every one side by side

The same list as a table, nearest first. A dash means the organiser doesn't say.

What	When	Price	Session	Indoor or outdoor	Booking
Skate & Spot Santa at Planet Ice AltrinchamPlanet Ice Altrincham · 10 min	12–24 Dec 2026	From £15.40	–	Indoor	On sale
Christmas Day skate at Planet Ice AltrinchamPlanet Ice Altrincham · 10 min	Fri 25 Dec 2026	From £10	2 hours	Indoor	On sale
Festive Skating at The Lambing ShedThe Lambing Shed · 25 min	27 Nov – 24 Dec 2026	From £12	45 minutes	Indoor	On sale
Skate ManchesterCathedral Gardens · 30 min	6 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027	From £13.75	45 minutes	Outdoor, under cover	On sale
Christmas Day skate at Planet Ice WidnesPlanet Ice Widnes · 40 min	Fri 25 Dec 2026	From £10	2 hours	Indoor	On sale
Oaks on Ice and Winter Village at Cheshire OaksCheshire Oaks Designer Outlet · 50 min	23 Oct 2026 – 3 Jan 2027	From £9.50	45 minutes	Outdoor, under cover	On sale
Chorley Winter WonderlandCleveland Street car park · 50 min	12 Dec 2026 – 3 Jan 2027	From £8	45 minutes	Outdoor, under cover	No booking needed
Christmas Day skate at Planet Ice BlackburnPlanet Ice Blackburn · 50 min	Fri 25 Dec 2026	From £10	2 hours	Indoor	On sale
IceBox ice rink at BOXPARK LiverpoolBoxpark Liverpool · 55 min	16 Nov 2026 – 10 Jan 2027	From £8	45 minutes	Outdoor, under cover	On sale
Liverpool Christmas Wonderland at Pier HeadPier Head · 55 min	20 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027	From £12.50	45 minutes	Outdoor, under cover	On sale
Skate St George'sSt George's Hall · 55 min	21 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027	From £10 a skater plus a £3 transaction fee online; skates included; peak and off-peak	45 minutes	Outdoor	On sale
Preston's Christmas On IcePreston Flag Market · 60 min	4 Dec 2026 – 3 Jan 2027	Adult £12, child £10, parent and toddler £16; carers free	45 minutes	–	On sale

Sessions at pop-up rinks last about 45 minutes to an hour on the ice, and skate hire is usually in the ticket. Penguin and polar bear skating aids help little ones stay upright; they're often a few pounds extra and limited, so book them with the session. Planet Ice Altrincham, five minutes away, is open all year and skates on Christmas Day.

Outdoor rinks keep going in the rain under a roof but they're cold, so bring gloves and a hat.

Questions parents ask

Where's the nearest Christmas ice rink to Timperley?

The nearest to Timperley are Skate & Spot Santa at Planet Ice Altrincham (Altrincham, Sat 12 Dec, 10 min), Christmas Day skate at Planet Ice Altrincham (Altrincham, Fri 25 Dec, 10 min) and Festive Skating at The Lambing Shed (Knutsford, Fri 27 Nov, 25 min).

Do you need to book ice skating?

Most rinks sell timed sessions online and weekend afternoons sell out first; a few are turn up and skate. Each listing says which, and shows the booking state from our checks.

How old do children need to be to skate?

Most rinks take children from about three, with skating aids for the youngest, and younger children skate with an adult. Each listing gives the rink's own rules.