A York ice rink is finally back in the city centre this winter, after a 16-year gap. York gets a Christmas market every year, a big wheel some winters, and a run of festive lights along the main shopping streets, but nowhere to actually skate without leaving town, until now. THOR’S on ICE changes that. A new covered outdoor rink is opening in York Museum Gardens this November, tucked behind York Art Gallery among the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, and it runs straight through to the new year.
York gets a Christmas market every winter, a big wheel some years, and a run of festive lights along the main shopping streets. What it has not had for 16 years is anywhere to actually skate without leaving the centre. THOR’S on ICE changes that. A new covered outdoor rink is opening in York Museum Gardens this November, tucked behind York Art Gallery among the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, and it runs straight through to the new year.
Region: York, North Yorkshire
Best for: Family days out, festive city breaks, first-time skaters
Getting there: About a ten-minute walk from York railway station, five minutes from Parliament Street
Time needed: A 45-minute skating session, or a couple of hours with food and drink either side
York ice rink: What is it?
THOR’S on ICE is a new outdoor ice rink built on a platform at the back of York Art Gallery, run by the team behind THOR’S tipi, the Nordic-inspired festive bar that has operated in the Museum Gardens since 2023. York Museums Trust approached THOR’S director Amanda Monaghan directly about bringing an ice rink into the gardens, and the rink marks the return of city-centre ice skating to York after 16 years. The previous city-centre rink, run under the name Ice Factor, operated on the Eye of York before relocating to York Designer Outlet, where York’s skating has been based ever since.
What happens
The rink itself sits beside the city walls, with the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey and the Multangular Tower forming the backdrop, reached through the gates to the right of the art gallery. It is covered by a clear canopy, so sessions go ahead whatever the Yorkshire weather does, powered by an under-rink freezer that keeps the ice usable even on milder days. Skate aids shaped like penguins are available for anyone unsteady on their feet, marshals are on the ice throughout each session, and anyone who would rather watch than skate can do so from the veranda at the back of the art gallery. Once you are off the ice, the Alpine Terrace serves mulled wine, hot Aperols and German hot chocolate; food chalets sell salt-and-pepper chicken spice bags and sugar-coated churros; and THOR’S tipi itself, with its log fires and cocktails, sits about a three-minute walk away.
When and where
THOR’S on ICE runs from Friday 13 November 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, open seven days a week, in York Museum Gardens behind York Art Gallery. This is not the same rink as the one at York Designer Outlet, so check that you are booking the city-centre location if that matters to your plans. Sessions run for 45 minutes each, with the official booking page listing slots from 10:15am through to 9pm, though exact availability should be confirmed on the day, since times can shift closer to busy periods.
Getting there
The rink sits about ten minutes’ walk from York railway station and around five minutes from Parliament Street, in the heart of the city’s shopping streets, so there is no need for a car if you are already in York for the day. Step-free access is provided to both the rink and THOR’S tipi.
Where to Stay
The Grand, York, Station Rise. York’s only five-star hotel, set in the former North Eastern Railway Company headquarters and built into the city walls, close enough to Museum Gardens to walk there in a few minutes without needing to cross the river.
Worth Knowing
The gap being closed here is specific: it has been 16 years since a rink operated in York’s city centre, at the Eye of York, before it moved to the Designer Outlet and has stayed there. THOR’S on ICE is not simply another rink joining an already crowded field. It is the first time in 16 years that skating and the city centre have gone back together.
Practical Tips
- Book ahead for weekends and the run-up to Christmas, since 45-minute sessions have a fixed capacity and popular slots sell out first.
- Under-13s must skate with an adult, and skate aids are first-come, first-served, so arrive a little early if a child needs one.
- Ticket prices start at £12 for adults, £11 for children, and £10 for concession and student tickets, with family tickets from £31.50. These are starting prices and may change, so check the live booking page before you go.
- Combine a skate with a stop at THOR’S tipi afterwards, a three-minute walk away, for something warm to drink.
- Use the AllTrails app if you want to walk a stretch of the York city walls before or after your session, since the rink sits right beside them.
Responsible Visiting
This is a working attraction inside a historic public garden next to ruined abbey walls and a working art gallery, so keep to the marked paths and platform areas rather than wandering into the abbey ruins themselves.
Reader Q&A
Is THOR’S on ICE the same as the Designer Outlet rink?
No. THOR’S on ICE is a new, separate rink in York Museum Gardens, behind York Art Gallery in the city centre. It is not connected to the rink at York Designer Outlet.
How long has it been since York had a city-centre ice rink?
16 years. The previous city-centre rink, Ice Factor, operated on the Eye of York before relocating to the Designer Outlet.
How long are the skating sessions?
45 minutes per session, with slots running from 10:15am to 9pm on the official booking page. Confirm live availability before booking.
How much do tickets cost?
From £12 for adults, £11 for children, and £10 for concession and student tickets, with family tickets from £31.50. These are starting prices and may change.
Is there an age limit?
Skaters must be aged 3 or over, and under-13s must skate with an adult.
Is the rink covered?
Yes. It has a clear covering so sessions go ahead in rain or snow, and it is powered by an under-rink freezer to keep the ice usable in milder weather.
York has had its Christmas market back for years. This winter, for the first time since 2010, it gets its ice back in the middle of the city too.
