Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland
Friday 14 November, 10am - Sunday 4 January, 9pm
Skating
A magical day out awaits...
Glide gracefully on the North of England’s largest outdoor ice rink and marvel at the 30ft high sparkling Christmas tree taking centre stage on the ice. As dusk arrives, be enchanted by the illuminated trees, log cabins and reindeers as you skate under the stars!
Overlooking the ice rink, The Chalet makes the perfect spot to warm up after a skate on the ice. The cosy apres-skate cafe offers a selection of festive favourites including mulled wine and mince pies plus hot chocolate, hot dogs, toasties and an array of tempting sweet treats.
Skating Sessions
09:15 – 10:00 (only at weekends and during holidays 16 Dec-4 Jan)
10:15 – 11:00 11:15 – 12:00 12:15 – 13:00 13:15 – 14:00 14:15 - 15:00 15:15 - 16:00 16:15 – 17:00 17:15 – 18:00 18:15 – 19:00 19:15 – 20:00 20:15 - 21:00
Please arrive 20 minutes before your session to allow for skate hire and fitting. If you arrive late, you may join the session for the rest of its duration but cannot switch to another session.
The last session will be at 19.15 on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. The rink will be closed on Christmas Day. On New Year’s Eve, the last session will be at 18.15.
Santa's Grotto
No visit to Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland is complete without meeting Santa and his trusty elves. Follow the path through the snowy enchanted woodland to find his charming log cabin and receive a special gift from Santa himself.
Price is £7 per child with £1.50 family booking fee. Advance booking required.
Toy Appeal - Donate a Gift this Christmas
Share the joy of giving with local children living in need.
All gifts received will be donated to a number of local charities including Spirit of Christmas (Charity reg number: 1185011).
Help us to spread some Christmas love across York & Selby this festive season by donating brand-new unwrapped toys to our Toy Appeal. Find our donation station within the Winter Woodland, located outside the South Entrance.
We’re collecting gifts for children up to 16 years. Inspiration for great gifts: books, puzzles, stuffed toys, and arts and crafts. Toy drop-off is available between 14 November 2025 & 4 January 2026.
Fun Fair
The funfair has something for everyone – a Waltzer, Twist and Miami for the speedsters and thrill-seekers, vintage Dodgems for all the family, and there’s plenty to enthral younger visitors with children’s rides and game stalls offering a prize every time.
Height Restrictions
For safety reasons, height restrictions apply to some rides:
Waltzer - 1.0m minimum height requirement. 1.2m height requirement to ride alone. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Dodgems – 1.2m height requirement to ride alone, under 1.2m need to be accompanied by an adult.
Elf Run
Run for festive fun and support St Leonard's Hospice!
Get ready for a fun-filled morning as we celebrate the festive season with a run around the Centre in support of St Leonard's Hospice. The run is perfect for all ages, where the whole family can join in the fun. Every participant will receive a free elf hat, along with plenty of other exciting perks.
We’ll kick off the run with fantastic entertainment and a warm-up session led by Thomas "Christmas" Clubbercise and our friends at York Mix. After that, get ready for a festive snow party and lots of entertainment along the clearly marked route. We'll also be offering glitter face-painting for donations! Keep an eye out for Santa, who may join us to cheer you on as you start your run.
Event Details:
- Distance: The route is 1 km per lap, clearly marked. You can run as many laps as you like. Consider challenging yourself to complete 5 km (5 laps) or 10 km (10 laps)! Participants will receive certificates at the end.
- Check-in and entertainment: From 8.30am in front of the North Entrance, where you can pick up your free elf hat.
- Snow party: 9.15am.
- Run Start: 9.30am.
- Refreshments: We’ll provide water and sweets at the finish line. Each participant will receive a voucher for a free hot drink and pastry to enjoy after the run. You’ll also get discounted ice skating tickets for Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland (terms and conditions apply).
- Ticket price: £10 adults, £5 children (under 16)