Whether you love Christmas markets, storm watching, or wild and wonderful walks, winter is one of the best times to visit Cornwall. And while the milder climate does mean that snow visits infrequently, you can still enjoy everyone’s favourite wintry pastime of ice skating!

Home of tropical, Mediterranean, and winter wonderlands, Cornwall’s Eden Project is a powerhouse of festive fun, with their annual ice skating rink taking centre stage.

Get your skates on…

From toddlers to the young at heart, absolute beginners to speedy pros, ice skating is the kind of activity everyone can take part in. It’s all about having a go, and honing your skills if you’re not a first timer. Manual wheelchairs are welcome on the ice too, Eden even has their own collection for hire on a first come first serve basis if yours is electric. Carers skate for free when pushing, too.

If you have little ones with you, Eden’s penguin skating aids are ideal, helping young skaters gain confidence on the ice as they waddle around the rink to their hearts’ content, while the snowmen aids provide confidence for taller skaters.

For toddlers who aren’t ready to whizz around in circles, there are special non-skating ice-play sessions with plenty of fun toys scattered across the ice. One adult can take up to two children and go free, making it a great stop-off for any families with young children. For the slightly older skaters (12 and under), Eden also offers family fun skates, 40-minute sessions with free use of the skating aids – perfect for boosting courage on the ice.

If you’re looking to up your skating skills to the next level, you can book yourself onto some skating lessons, which take place on select mornings and evenings throughout the skating season. Alongside your lessons, you’ll get a ‘Lesson Skater Pass’, which offers half price skating and entry into the Eden Project while the ice rink is there.

Refresh and refuel

The Ice Rink Café is the perfect place to sit back and watch the thrills and spills, whether you’re looking for a refuel after your session or a comfy place to watch your loved ones skate around. The café serves up steamy hot chocolates, festive mulled wines and all manner of hearty feasts, including burgers, fries and mouth-watering cakes. Of course, the Eden Project boasts many great eateries alongside the Ice Rink Café, giving you plenty of choice of where to fill your belly.

Admission FAQs

Sessions run for 40 minutes and are best booked in advance alongside your admission to Eden. Adult, child, and family tickets are available for general skating sessions, and adult and child tickets can be purchased for the family fun skates. Skating aids can be hired on the day, and all tickets can be purchased with a 10% discount for members.

Open from Saturday 14 October 2022 until February 2024, you can view the full timetable and pre-book online with the Eden Project.

So, wrap up warm, with thick socks (tickets include skate hire) and cosy gloves to ensure your hands are warm and protected, and get out on the ice for a truly festive experience. Book your cosy cottage in Cornwall and prepare for a very merry stay indeed.

Tags: Christmas | Eden Project | Winter |