With the Christmas holidays coming so late this year (my girls didn’t break up until the 22nd), a lot of our festive school holiday activities have been enjoyed AFTER Christmas. Despite the weather and the fact that Father Christmas had already been and gone, we had a lovely time embracing everything that Christmas at the Castle at Warwick Castle had to offer. In addition to the Warwick Castle Christmas Light Trail, we also paid to visit Warwick Castle’s outdoor ice rink and experience the magic of an outdoor ice rink as the sun went down. With the ice rink set to return year after year, I thought it would be helpful to share our full review of the Warwick Castle Ice Skating experience in an unsponsored real mum’s review.
When is the Warwick Castle Ice Rink open?
The Warwick Castle Ice Skating is an additional extra to a trip to Warwick Castle. You can add it on to a normal day visit (experiencing everything the castle has to offer including Zogs playground, Horrible Histories Maze, Dungeons, Trebuchet and Faklconer’s quest bird show or alternatively, buy as a stand alone experience for skating only. You may also want to buy tickets to the Warwick Castle Light Trail which also runs in the evenings until 7th January 2024.
In 2023, the ice rink was open from late November until 7th January 2024, and I will update this post when the dates are released for 2024.
How big is it?
The Warwick Castle ice rink is one of the biggest open air rice rinks we’e been on as a family and it was not over crowded at all – with plenty of room for everyone to get around without bumping into each other. There is also a signposted direction of travel. which I am pleased to say everyone seemed to naturally adhere too.
How much does it cost?
Ice skating can be added on to the cost of your day ticket, or can be purchased separately at a cost of £11 per person – carers are free (but may need to provide evidence of this).
The experience lasts 45 minutes and skate hire is included. My youngest had a choice of actual skates or the type that clip on to her actual shoes. We opted for actual skates but for younger children, they may prefer the comfort and familiarity of their own shoes.
It’s worth mentioning that there are some additional costs which I hadn’t fully expected (this was clearly outlined on the information on the website I just hadn’t spotted it). First up is that there are no bags allowed on the ice and therefore possessions need to be stashed in the cloakroom. There is a £2 charge for this, which whilst only small, is something to bear in mind. If you have a family member that isn’t going on the ice, you may prefer to leave bags with them as this would avoid the cost.
Secondly. skating aids are hired at a cost of £5 each, so if you have two children you may easily find yourself spending another £10, particularly if they are young.
Are there skating aids at Warwick Castle Ice Rink?
There is a choice of two skating aids at Warwick Castle – a penguin and a whale. A Marshall advised us that the whale is best for two children to share as one child can sit on while the other pushes, but initially, my youngest really wanted a penguin. She quickly changed her mind (of course she did) and the Marshall very kindly let us swap this to the whale without any fuss.
The girls found the whale skate aid incredibly helpful, so I would definitely say it’s worth paying the extra if you want an enjoyable experience. Neve (7) tried a bit skating on her own but preferred the fun of being pushed around by myself or Erin (10)
What if you fall over?
We did – ALL OF US! The girls lost their footing and slipped onto their bottoms and although they didn’t hurt themselves at all, they did get a little bit wet on their bottoms – particularly as we’d had some heavy rain so the rink was wetter than normal. I slipped over whilst trying to film the girls (multi-tasking clearly isn’t my forte!) and even managed to capture my epic fall on camera. The good news is again, I wasn’t hurt at all and thankfully there are Marshalls on the ice to help you get back up. The Marshalls were really good, and very responsive to come to people’s aid if they needed assistance.
Is there a spectator area?
Yes – if you’re visiting with someone who doesn’t want to skate but would like to watch, there is quite a large spectator area to the one side, with a selection of tables and chairs. A great spot to watch, shout encouragement or snap a photograph or two.
Are there toilets?
Yes there are toilets just outside the ice rink, and I recommend that you take kids before you go on the ice – as you can guarantee they’ll need it as soon as you get on the rink otherwise.
Can you get food and drink at Warwick Castle Ice Skating?
Yes, there are a selection of food and drink stalls just outside the rink including marshmallows for toasting, fries, hot chocolate, mulled wine and a bar. We really enjoyed toasting marshmallows (£5 for a stick of three) and the trays of fries were £3.50 for a decent sized portion that we were able to share.
Our Hints and tips for Ice Skating at Warwick Castle
- Be early – Get there around 15 minutes before your time slot – this allows plenty of time for you to get your skates, pack any items away in the cloakroom and make sure your skates are tight enough (they dont have laces but those pull fasteners which can be a bit tricky so your children are likely to need assistance).
- Wear thick socks – the skates aren’t the most comfortable things (they never are) so the thicker the socks you have on the better.
- Take a change of clothes – Especially if it’s been raining. The surface of the ice was incredibly wet when we visited due to heavy rainfall, which meant that falling over resulted in not just a cold landing but a damp one too. I was really glad that Id bought a change of bottoms for the girls, otherwise they’d have been cold and grumpy during the light trail.
- Use the whale – Even if your child is obsessed with penguins (like Neve!) try and encourage the use of the Whale, which not only means two children can share, but also allows younger children to sit down and still enjoy the experience.
I hope this is helpful if you’re planning a visit – you can see more of our Warwick Castle reviews and experiences below.
Lucy
