In the heart of Cheltenham town centre in Imperial Gardens, GL50 1QA, just off the Promenade, at the rear of Cheltenham Town Hall.

Open daily Friday 21 November 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026, excluding Christmas Day.

Sunday – Thursday: First session 10am – 11am, last session 8pm - 9pm

*Plus an extra late night session 9.15pm – 10.15pm from Sunday 21 – Wednesday 24 December

Friday & Saturday: First session 10am – 11am, last session (adults only) 9.15pm – 10.15pm

Tickets now on sale here. Prices are for a one-hour skate, including skate hire. 

Peak pricing applies to all Saturdays in December and Sunday 21 - Wednesday 24 December 2025.  

Gift vouchers: Give the gift of a magical skate. Contact the box office on 01242 384805 or by email [email protected] to order.

Personal assistants: Free of charge.  There is no need to book a personal assistant ticket. To receive a complimentary carer’s ticket, please present appropriate proof of eligibility – such as a Carer’s Allowance letter, a disability benefit letter, or similar documentation – to our box office staff when you arrive.

Concessions - Book your session in advance and show proof of eligibility to rink staff when you arrive for your session.

Yes, save 10% for parties of 20 or more paying skaters.  Offer, available on standard and peak tickets.  To qualify for the discount, group bookings must be made with the Box Office by phone 01242 384805 or email at [email protected]

We expect morning sessions and weekday term-time sessions to be quieter, and they are recommended for anyone wishing to skate in a more relaxed environment, including wheelchair users (who are welcome to use the rink at any time).

We have also created some dedicated Relaxed Glide for SEN visitors. The atmosphere during these sessions will be more sensory friendly with fewer tickets sold, no disco lights and quieter music.  Standard prices apply.

If you’d like to learn more about what to expect at the rink, please watch this video, created by a local student. 

These will take place:

Sunday 23 November 10am-11am

Monday 1 December 4.45pm – 5.45pm

Tuesday 9 December 7pm – 8pm

Wednesday 17 December 10am – 11am

Sunday 28 December 12.15pm-1.15pm

Friday 2 January 5.45pm-6.45pm

These sessions can be booked here.

Yes!  College and university students are invited to join us on the ice for lively, fun sessions exclusively for students on Wednesday evenings during term time.  (26 November, 3 December, 10 December 8pm-9pm). 

Cost for a one-hour skate: Just £12.15 for totem card holders plus £1 off entry at Gloucestershire's biggest student night at MooMoo and Popworld and a free shot or draught soft drink.

Book  your ice rink tickets in advance and show your TOTUM card, or other proof of student status at the rink.  For discounted night club entrance, & shot/or soft drink, show your ice skating ticket, at MooMoo's entrance. 

Students can take advantage of concession rates during any open session. 

Book as normal!  Regular ticket prices apply.  

Every Friday from 7pm-8pm throughout the skating season we will be hosting a fun themed session. Fancy dress is encouraged!

Friday 21 November: Movie Magic

Friday 28 November: Abba

Friday 5 December: 80s

Friday 12 December: Northern Soul

Friday 19 December: Taylor Swift

Friday 26 December: Disco

Friday 2 January: 90s

 

We also have children’s character sessions: 

Saturday 13 December: 10am-11am – Elsa and Spidey (Princess & Superhero)

Saturday 13 December: 11am-12pm – The Grinch and Cindy-Lou (Christmas Characters)

Wednesday 31 December: 10am-11am – Elsa and Anna (Princesses)

Wednesday 31 December: 11am-12pm – Spidey & Wonder Woman (Superheroes)

 

We expect these to sell out so book early to avoid disappointment.

Yes we do!  Grown-up Glide sessions run every Friday and Saturday night, 9.15pm-10.15pm.  These exclusive late-night ice skating sessions for adults only. 

It’s all about gliding freely – no little ones, no skate aids, just pure skating fun! Regular prices apply. 

Yes, we invite schools to bring students along to experience this magical winter activity and enjoy some fun exercise during a one-hour skating session.

We offer special rates for school bookings.  Tickets cost just £5 per pupil (up to 16 years) with one free adult admitted per five paying pupils.  All additional adults pay usual price. Eligible Monday-Friday, 10am-2.15pm from Friday 21 November – Friday 19 December.

Exclusive rink hire is also available.  Book the whole rink for an hour (up to 140 skaters) for just £700.  You can even choose your very own music!

All school bookings must be booked with the Box Office by phone 01242 384805 or email at [email protected]

All bookings to be paid at time of booking or within 7 days of making the booking.

Yes, Cheltenham Ice Rink offers the perfect festive celebration for friends, family, or colleagues to get together and enjoy a magical evening.

We offer 10% group discount on bookings of 20+ paying skaters, or you can push the boat out and hire the whole rink for your exclusive use.

To qualify for the group discount, bookings must be made directly with the Box Office.

Exclusive hire is available during standard sessions only for £1,000 excluding VAT.  Each one-hour session can accommodate up to 155 skaters.

If you’re planning a special celebration, we can also offer advice on festive dining and accommodation in Cheltenham.  Please call 01242 384805 or email [email protected] with your preferred date, time, and party size to discuss availability.

All bookings to be paid at time of booking or within 7 days of making the booking.

We appreciate the interest from home educating families, but Cheltenham Ice Rink will not be offering a discount for home educated children this season.

Children must be at least 3 years old.  All children aged 3 to 7 years old must be accompanied onto the ice by someone 18+ years in skates, with a maximum of five children per adult.  Children aged 8 to 11 must be accompanied by an adult, although the adult need not be skating.

If you are pregnant, have a heart condition or any serious illness we recommend you seek medical advice on whether you can participate.  Cheltenham Ice Rink takes no responsibility or liability for those who do skate against guidance.

While anyone ice skating will need a ticket, Cheltenham Ice Rink welcomes everyone.  Whether you are with a group who is skating or not, you are welcome to spectate at no additional cost.  Please note - the viewing area is not heated so you will need to wrap up warm!

No, Cheltenham Ice Rink is not offering season tickets this season.

Each ice-skating session lasts for one hour, 15 minutes longer than most other seasonal ice rinks around the UK.

Please arrive at the Box Office at least 30 minutes before your session to allow ample time to put your skates on, put your belongings in a locker and get ready to skate.

To ensure the best experience for visitors we’ve reduced the maximum number of skate aids on the ice at any one time.

Ticket availability is indicated by shading against the timeslots on the booking page.  The darker the shading, the more skaters you can expect on the ice.  Typically, the quietest sessions are in the early morning, late afternoon, and evening.

Yes, the rink is accessible to both manual and electric wheelchairs.  Wheelchair users are welcome for all open sessions but must be accompanied onto the ice by a personal assistant.  Personal assistants accompanying a wheelchair user are admitted free of charge.  To receive a complimentary carer’s ticket, please present appropriate proof of eligibility – such as a Carer’s Allowance letter, a disability benefit letter, or similar documentation – to our box office staff when you arrive.

Upon arrival at the Ice Rink, our staff will assist you and your companion onto the ice via ramped access.  Please note - The ramps are permanent features and skate marshals will accompany all wheelchair users onto the ice for the first time to ensure everyone is comfortable.

Imperial Gardens is conveniently located in the centre of town and is easy to reach on foot, by bike or scooter.  We encourage all visitors to choose sustainable transport methods.  Full details on how to get to Cheltenham can be found on the here.

By train

Cheltenham Spa train station is one mile from the Ice Rink with signposted walking routes and regular buses or taxis from the station concourse.

By bus

Cheltenham Ice Rink is a short walk from Royal Well bus station.  For details of bus timetables see here. Cheltenham also has a new Park and Ride facility at Arle Court.

By car

Car parks are located throughout the town centre and full details of council-run car parks can be found here.  All council-run car parks have designated disabled parking bays.  If no disabled parking bays are available, blue badge holders may park in any other car park bay.  There are also a small number of roadside disabled parking bays near to the ice rink for blue badge holders.

For users of electric vehicles, details of town centre electric charging points can be found here.

Beverages and a range of snacks and treats will be available to purchase rink-side from a local vendor.  Limited seating will also be available rink-side.  There are many local cafes, restaurants, hotels, and bars all within a short walk of the ice rink.

We encourage visitors to enjoy a festive day out in Cheltenham and take advantage of the wide ranges of eateries our town centre has to offer, from cosy cafes to award-winning restaurants. See our guide to places to eat in Cheltenham.

Save 10% on tickets by booking in advance online.  We strongly recommend that you pre-book your session online here to avoid disappointment and avoid queues on site during busy periods.

If you have a smart phone there’s no need to print your ticket, we’ll scan the QR code from the screen.  Please download your ticket before you arrive.  Tickets for future sessions can be purchased at the Box Office, located at the Ice Rink or online.

All ice-skating tickets are non-refundable.  No refunds will be made unless the management has found it necessary to close Cheltenham Ice Rink due to health & safety or technical concerns.

If you know you will be unable to attend your pre-booked session and need to change it, please email [email protected] at least 48 hours before your session and the team will endeavour to move your tickets to an equivalent session. Please be advised movement of tickets are discretionary and subject to availability.  View our full terms & conditions.

A limited number of lockers are available on a first come first served basis.  We suggest you just bring with you what you can skate in, unless you have someone spectating who can look after your belongings for you.

Yes, ice skates are included in the price of your ticket.  We suggest you bring some thick socks for your comfort.

Our skate sizes go from a child size 9 through to an adult size 12.  Please note skates do not come in half sizes.  A limited supply of over the shoe, two bladed children’s ‘bob skates’ are available for our younger skaters and are available on a first come first served basis.  Please ask at the Skate Exchange and be sure to arrive in good time.

Yes, we have a limited number of skate aids available for hire for £6.50 per session and we strongly recommend booking these in advance at the same time as you book your skating tickets.  For 2025/26, following customer feedback, we have reduced the number of skate aids available during each session to improve the skating experience.

Pre-booked skate aids will be handed to you when stepping on the ice.  There may be skate aids available to hire on the day of your skate but please note that this is subject to availability. Skate aids are only permitted for children (up to 14 years old).

Yes, figure skates and hockey skates are allowed, but the organisers reserve the right not to allow skates deemed to be unsafe.  Please be aware that there is no change to the pricing if you bring your own skates.

Public toilets are located approximately 200m from the ice rink, adjacent to the Town Hall. They are accessible via a paved pathway and will be open daily until 3pm.

From Friday 19th December to Sunday 4th January, additional toilet facilities will be available and will remain open until the ice rink closes each day.

Yes, the Cheltenham ice rink uses real ice to give you an authentic winter experience.  To ensure a high-quality and safe experience for everyone, the ice is resurfaced after every other session.

The ice rink is under cover so unless the weather poses a safety risk, sessions will continue as normal.

By its nature, the ice rink environment is cold so please ensure you dress appropriately.  We recommend that you wear thick socks and gloves (to keep you comfortable, warm and protect your fingers).

It’s usually best to wear several thin layers that can be easily removed rather than one thick layer as skating can be hot work!

Phones / cameras are not allowed on the ice due to distraction and risk of falling.  Please leave your phone / camera in a locker or with a spectator.

Yes, our Ice Skate Marshals are on the Ice Rink to monitor safe skating and will assist, when possible, if you are a novice.

We respectfully ask all skaters to listen to any instructions given by our Skate Marshals – they are there for everyone’s safety.  Rude or abusive behaviour directed towards them may result in you being asked to leave the ice and no refund will be provided

Yes, a first aider will be available to assist as required.  There is also a dedicated area for anyone who may require first aid.  In the event you or a member of your party should need first aid treatment, please alert a member of staff.

No, unfortunately we are not able to provide skating lessons.

New for 2025/26, we are introducing Patch Sessions on Tuesday evenings from 8pm-9pm.  These sessions are specifically for more advanced skaters who wish to skate with fewer people on the ice.

The rink is not for professional use.  Skating at high-speed, skating backwards and tricks will not be permitted as they may endanger not only yourself but other rink users as well.  However, new for 2025/26, we are introducing dedicated Patch Sessions for more advanced skaters who wish to skate with fewer people on the ice, Tuesday evenings from 8pm-9pm.

Please note when you book tickets for the ice rink you will automatically be subscribed to the Visit Cheltenham free fortnightly newsletter, which promotes local events and places to eat, drink, shop and stay in the area.  You may unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time.

Please contact us via [email protected] or call us on 01242 384805.

Please note, the Cheltenham Ice Rink Instagram account and other social media channels are great to keep up to date with the latest Cheltenham ice rink news and giveaways, however all ticketing enquiries must be dealt with over phone/email and not via social media.