Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
Nottingham Winter Wonderland
An ice rink, a skating path, an observation wheel and a market, all in front of the Council House — and free to walk into.
- Dates
- 12 Nov – 24 Dec 2026
- Opening hours
- Market — Nov: Sun–Thu 10am–6pm, Fri–Sat 10am–8pm; Dec: Sun–Thu 10am–8.30pm, Fri–Sat 10am–9pm. Rink and wheel open later, and continue after Christmas
- Admission
- Free entry; rink, wheel and rides are charged
- Address
- Old Market Square, Nottingham NG1 2DT
Dates last checked 26 September 2026 · source · Always confirm with the organiser before travelling.
Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland takes over Old Market Square, the largest public square in England outside London, with the domed Council House presiding over one end. It is a festival rather than a pure market: the stalls are there, but the draw for most visitors is the ice.
The ice is the headline
There is a main ice rink, the Sky Skate ice path that winds around the square, and a separate rink for younger children, which matters more than it sounds — small children and confident adult skaters on the same ice is nobody’s idea of fun. An observation wheel stands over the square, and for 2026 there is a new Ice Bar alongside the festive bars.
Walking in costs nothing. The rink, the wheel and the rides are all charged separately, so budget for those if you are bringing children.
The market
Stalls selling gifts, food and seasonal treats run around the square. It is a smaller market than Manchester’s or Birmingham’s, and the ice and the wheel are why people come, but the stalls make it a good place to pick something up while the children skate.
Hours change in December
Market stalls open 10am daily, closing at 6pm Sunday to Thursday in November and 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays. From December they run later: until 8.30pm Sunday to Thursday and 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The market stalls finish on Christmas Eve.
The rink and the wheel keep going after the market has packed up, with published hours for Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve — so this is one of the few Midlands options for skating between Christmas and New Year. Check the official site for the rink’s final date.
Getting there
Nottingham station is about ten minutes’ walk from Old Market Square. The tram stops right at the square, and the city centre is compact enough that parking and walking in makes little sense in December.
Make a day of it
Nottingham Castle is a short walk uphill, the Lace Market quarter has some of the city’s best independent shops and restaurants, and Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, built into the castle rock and one of several pubs claiming to be England’s oldest inn, is a warming stop after an hour on the ice.
Official website View on the map
More photographs
