Ice rinks opening in Kent this Christmas: Dates, opening times and ticket prices
Is there anything more fun and festive than whizzing round an outdoor ice rink wearing a bobble hat and gloves, twinkling fairy lights overhead?
Whether you're five, 15 or 50, ice skating is a popular Christmas activity for all the family to enjoy.
There are plenty of rinks popping up in Kent this winter - check them out below.
Canterbury
Canterbury on Ice - Dane John Gardens
The firm behind ITV's hit programme Dancing on Ice will be delivering a rink in Canterbury this winter.
With room for 140 skaters, the enclosed ice rink will be set up in the Dane John Gardens.
Dubbed Canterbury on Ice, the project looks set to fare better than the previous attempt in 2017, which hit the skids before opening because of financial pressures.
iSkate, one of the UK’s leading companies in the industry, will be installing this year's rink.
The rink will be complemented by a variety of food and drink outlets.
Dates open
From Friday, November 29, it will be open every day - except Christmas Day - until Wednesday, January 1.
Opening times will vary, but you can get your skates on from 10am until 9pm on weekends and during the school holidays.
Tickets
Tickets are £12.50 per adult, £9 per child, or £38 per family, for a 45-minute session.
Wheelchair users will be able to enjoy the rink and may be accompanied on the ice by a guest, who will be entitled to one free ticket.
You can book your tickets here.
Dartford
Skate at Bluewater shopping centre
An outdoor ice rink will once again be coming to Bluewater this festive season.
Accompanied by a grotto, the rink will be next to the lakes at The Village, with a huge Christmas tree in the centre.
A clear roof will enable visitors to enjoy the attraction whatever the weather and skating aids, bob skates and lessons will be available for the less experienced.
There are also sessions set aside for school visits, birthday parties, and baby and toddler mornings.
Alongside the rink, special events will be held by kmfm and refreshments will be available.
Dates open
The first session will be held on Thursday, November 14, with the last planned for Sunday, January 5.
Times will vary each day but range from 10am to 10pm.
Tickets
Tickets will be £11 for adults and £9 for children during off-peak periods.
Prices will be bumped up to £14 for adults and £11.50 for children at 'prime' times.
Family tickets are £34, £39.50 and £41 for off-peak, peak and prime sessions.
This will give you an hour on the rink.
Click here to book your tickets
Tunbridge Wells
Skate in Calverley Grounds
There won't just be one ice rink in Tunbridge Wells this year, but two.
Skate in Calverley Gardens will have one main outdoor ice rink as well as a second Tiny Tots rink for two to four-year-olds.
The grounds' amphitheatre will be decorated with twinkling, festive lights and there will be live music events in conjunction with The Forum, local choirs performing on Sundays and wreath making workshops.
Skate will also have food and drink from the Polar Bar, Apple and Cor, and pop-ups serving pizza, crepes, doughnuts, sweets and mulled wine.
Dates open
Both rinks will be open from Friday, November 15 to Sunday, January 5.
Tiny Tots will welcome guests between 10am to 5pm daily with main skating sessions taking place from 10am until 8pm.
On Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day the last skating session will be at 6pm.
The rink will be closed on Christmas Day.
Tickets
Skate tickets are now on sale costing £12.50 for adults and £8 for children between four and 15-years-old, or £39 for a family of four, for saver sessions.
For standard sessions nearer Christmas Day, it will be £15 for adults, £10 for children, or £45 for a family ticket.
Wheelchair users can enjoy the rink in their own wheelchair but must be accompanied by an assisting companion.
You can get tickets online or buy them at the venue on the day.
Ashford
Christmas at Eastwell Manor
Set within the grounds of the idyllic Eastwell Manor hotel and spa, this outdoor ice rink is set to be a popular skate spot.
Mulled wine and mince pies will be sold at the venue beside the rink, which will be covered so you can enjoy a skate come wind or rain.
Dates open
The manor will welcome skaters from Friday, November 29 until Thursday, January 2.
It will be open from 2pm to 8pm between Monday and Thursday, and midday and 6pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets
For a 50-minute skate session, it will cost £14.50 per adult and £9.50 for under 12s.
To book, call 0843 224 1700 or email events@eastwellmanor.co.uk
Dover
White Cliffs Christmas
White Cliffs Christmas is back at Cruise Terminal One at Dover Western Docks for the fourth year.
Father Christmas and his friendly elves will be making a welcome return, and a Christmas Market will run every Saturday and Sunday from Sunday, December 1.
The undercover ice rink has been made even bigger this year, now spanning 440m², allowing 146 skaters to enjoy the ice at any one time.
Dates open
White Cliffs Christmas will be open for a month between Sunday, December 1 and Wednesday, January 1, excluding Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
On Thursday evenings, the rink will be open from 5pm until 8pm, Friday from 5pm to 9pm, Saturdays from 10am until 9pm and Sundays from 10am until 7pm.
Then from December 19 to Christmas Eve, it will open daily from 10am.
Between December 27 and New Year's Day it will be open from 10am to 6pm.
Tickets
It will cost children £8.00 and adults £10 to skate on the rink. Alternatively, a family ticket is £30.
Tickets will be available from the website soon.
Gillingham
Planet Ice
The county's sole permanent ice rink Planet Ice is an indoor venue with seating for more than 1,000 people.
It will be open as usual throughout the Christmas period and for those who love skating but are a bit wobbly on the ice themselves, there is a Christmas show.
Sleeping Beauty will be performed by local and professional skaters at the rink.
Dates open
The show will be performed on Wednesday, December 4, with a matinee at 1pm and another at 7pm.
The rink itself will remain open as usual throughout the festival holidays.
Tickets
Sleeping Beauty on Ice will cost between £11 and £13.50 for an adult and £8 and £13.50 for a child.
You can get tickets here.
A skate session at the rink will cost between £5 and £10.80 depending on the type of session and time of day.
Just pay for your skate upon arrival.
- For more suggestions of things to do with the kids in Kent please click here.
