Exeter's undercover real ice rink opens at Northernhay Gardens on Friday 20 November and runs to 3 January. Opening weekend skating £15.50 adult, £12.50 child.
Exeter’s ice rink is back for Christmas 2026. Exeter Winter Wonderland opens its undercover real ice rink in Northernhay Gardens on Friday 20 November 2026, and it runs until Sunday 3 January 2027. Tickets for the first sessions are already on sale.
The quick answer
- Where: Northernhay Gardens, EX4 3SA, two minutes’ walk from Exeter Central station.
- When: Friday 20 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, closed on Christmas Day.
- Hours: Monday to Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday to Sunday 10am to 10pm. Sessions last 45 minutes and start on the hour.
- Price: for the opening weekend, £15.50 adult (14 and over), £12.50 under-14, £10.50 student, skates included.
- Book ahead. The organiser says sessions “sell out quickly” and only a limited number of tickets may be sold on the day.
Checked against Exeter Winter Wonderland’s own pages and ticket listing on 3 October 2026.
Dates and opening times
Winter Wonderland gives one set of hours for the whole run (Exeter Winter Wonderland, ice rink):
| Days | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 11am to 9pm |
| Friday to Sunday | 10am to 10pm |
| Christmas Day | Closed |
Each skating session is 45 minutes on the ice, starting on the hour. Arrive 15 minutes early to get your skates fitted. The rink is under cover, so sessions go ahead in the rain. The Alpine Bar is under cover too (Exeter Winter Wonderland, FAQs).
Ticket prices
The ticket listing for the opening weekend, 20 and 21 November, shows these prices for every session (Exeter Winter Wonderland on Ticket Tailor):
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult skate session, ages 14 and over | £15.50 |
| Child skate session, under 14 | £12.50 |
| Student skate session, valid student ID | £10.50 |
| Skate aid hire | £5.50 |
So far only the opening weekend’s sessions are listed. The organiser has not said whether December weekend and Christmas holiday sessions will cost the same. We will check again as later dates go on sale.
Skates are included in the price, in sizes 3 to 12, and you can bring your own.
Rules for children
- Minimum age three. Children must be at least 3 years old to skate.
- Ages 3 to 7 need an adult on the ice, and that adult must be wearing skates.
- Penguin skate aids are for children under 1.2m. A limited number can be hired at the Ice Exchange Point for £5 a session, or booked online with your tickets (£5.50 in the ticket listing). The organiser’s advice: if your child will not manage without one, book it in advance.
(Exeter Winter Wonderland, ice rink)
Refunds and changes
Tickets are non-refundable. You can move to another slot through the “manage tickets” link in your confirmation email. The FAQ page gives two different cut-offs for doing this, one hour before and 24 hours before, so change early to be safe (Exeter Winter Wonderland, FAQs).
What else is at Winter Wonderland
The same site has Santa’s Grotto, a new light trail, a festive funfair where you buy tokens for rides, and food and drink stalls. Outside food and drink is not allowed, except baby food and essential dietary needs. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. The organiser says the site is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, though some areas may have uneven surfaces (Exeter Winter Wonderland, FAQs).
Grotto dates and prices are on our Santa’s grottos in Exeter page. The Cathedral Christmas Market runs from 13 November to 13 December, a short walk away: Exeter Christmas Market.
Getting there and parking
There is no parking on site. Winter Wonderland says the Guildhall car park is about five minutes’ walk away and Exeter Central station about two minutes, and it warns of traffic and limited parking at peak evening times (Exeter Winter Wonderland, find us). Car park tariffs and the park and ride sites are on our parking in Exeter page, and road closures are on Exeter roadworks and travel. For trains and buses over Christmas, see Exeter Christmas travel.
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