There is no Imperial Gardens ice rink this Christmas: the council's contract ended. The nearest is Gloucester Quays, 20 November to 3 January, adults £15.
There is no ice rink in Cheltenham this Christmas. The rink that stood in Imperial Gardens for the last three winters will not return, Cheltenham Borough Council confirmed in September. The nearest outdoor rink is at Gloucester Quays, open from Friday 20 November to Sunday 3 January, with adult tickets at £15 and children’s at £12.
The quick answer
- Is the Cheltenham ice rink on this year? No. The council’s three-year contract has ended and it has chosen not to renew it
- Nearest rink: Gloucester Quays, 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, sessions of 45 minutes
- Prices at Gloucester: adult £15, junior (11 to 16) £13, child (3 to 10) £12, family £49
- Early bird: code EARLYBIRD15 takes 15% off sessions up to 4 December, if you book by 31 October
- Skating in Cheltenham itself: a roller rink at the Town Hall on 28, 29 and 30 December
Every detail below was read from the council’s, the rink operator’s and the Town Hall’s own pages on 8 October 2026.
Why the rink is not coming back
Cheltenham Ice Rink ran in Imperial Gardens from 21 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, a covered, wheelchair-accessible rink with a cafe, according to Cheltenham BID’s Christmas round-up last year.
In its Christmas announcement in September, the council said: “This year, the ice rink will not return to Cheltenham. The council has reached the end of a successful 3-year contract and this presented an opportunity to consider other activities and events.” Councillor Izaac Tailford, cabinet member for economic development, culture, wellbeing and public realm, said that rather than commit to another long-term contract, “especially with significant rises in costs and the changing shape of local government”, the council wanted a different festive programme (Cheltenham Borough Council).
What the council is doing instead:
- A festive film projection on the front of the Municipal Offices every evening from 3 to 16 December
- The Christmas market on the Promenade, extended to 10 to 23 December, with 40 wooden stalls
- Free parking from 3pm in town centre council car parks, except Regent Arcade, on the late-night shopping evenings of Thursday 3 and Thursday 10 December
The lights come on across the town from 21 November. See our pages on the Christmas lights and the Christmas market.
The nearest rink: Gloucester Quays
The Outdoor Ice Rink at Gloucester Quays runs from Friday 20 November to Sunday 3 January (Gloucester Quays). The rink’s booking FAQs give the opening as 19 November, and the early bird offer covers sessions from 19 November, so check the booking calendar if you are aiming for the first weekend (Christmas Ice Rinks FAQs).
It is in Orchard Square, The Docks, Gloucester GL1 2EH. The rink is outdoors but under a canopy, and runs in most weather.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £15.00 |
| Junior (11 to 16) | £13.00 |
| Student, with ID | £13.00 |
| Child (3 to 10) | £12.00 |
| Family (2 adults and 2 children, or 1 adult and 3) | £49.00 |
| Extra child or junior on a family ticket | £12.00 |
| Disabled or wheelchair user, carer included | £12.00 |
Source: Christmas Ice Rinks booking page, read 8 October 2026.
Early bird. The code EARLYBIRD15 gives 15% off tickets for sessions between 19 November and 4 December, and works until 31 October (Gloucester Quays).
How the sessions work (booking page and FAQs):
- Every session lasts 45 minutes. Arrive 20 minutes early, or 30 at weekends and in the school holidays, for check-in and skate fitting. Late arrivals do not get extra time.
- Tickets can be bought on arrival, but the operator says sessions often sell out, especially at weekends and over Christmas.
- Tickets are non-refundable. If you booked with an account you can change the date yourself up to 24 hours before; guest bookings pay a 50% fee to change.
- Children under 3 are not allowed on the ice. Children aged 3 to 6 must skate with a paying adult, with a recommended maximum of two children per adult. Ages 7 to 9 can skate alone but must be watched from the rinkside, and ages 10 to 13 need an adult on site.
- Themed sessions: toddler sessions for ages 3 to 5 with one adult, sensory-friendly sessions with reduced capacity and quieter music on Sunday mornings, student discounts on Wednesday evenings, and disco sessions on Thursday and Friday evenings.
- Skate aids (the Beluga Whale ones) are for children aged 3 to 10, from £5, and are best booked in advance. A cloakroom costs £2 for up to two items.
Getting there from Cheltenham. Gloucester Quays is off junction 12 of the M5. Its multi-storey car park has about 1,400 spaces, entered from St Ann Way (GL1 5SF), with standard charges (FAQs). Check Cheltenham roadworks and travel before you set off, and our Christmas trains and buses page if you are going by rail.
Skating in Cheltenham itself: a roller rink
The Cheltenham Trust is putting on a Regency Roller Rink in Cheltenham Town Hall on Monday 28, Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 December, with “floor filling tunes”. There are six sessions a day, starting at 10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 3pm, 4.30pm and 6pm. The listing does not yet print a price; some online bookings carry a one-off £2.50 transaction fee (The Cheltenham Trust). Cheltenham BID’s Christmas page lists it as a roller disco “between Christmas and New Year” (Cheltenham BID).
Parking in Cheltenham
If you are heading into town for the market or the projection instead, our parking in Cheltenham page has the council car parks and tariffs, including which ones are free from 3pm on 3 and 10 December.
Still to confirm
- The Town Hall roller rink’s ticket price and age rules
- Daily session times at Gloucester Quays, which are only in its booking calendar
We will check both again in November.
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