Nestled amongst the trees in Parker’s Piece Park, Cambridge’s very own winter wonderland is completely free to enter and has everything you need to start feeling festive!
The return of the popular clear span roof offers skaters a truly magical skating experience without having to worry about the weather.
After your skating session, refuel at the Alpine Cabin Bar which will be serving delicious bratwursts, steaming cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows, and mulled wine or cider. The bar also offers an extensive selection of local ale, craft beers, and different types of gins for those after something slightly stronger.
From thrilling fairground rides and ice skating to delicious festive refreshments, join in the seasonal fun at The North Pole, Cambridge. Please note the Alpine Cabin Bar, Food Stalls and Rides are cash only.
Skate aids for children are available to pre-book online and on arrival you will either receive a penguin or a banana skate aid.
Please note children’s skate aids, penguins or bananas, are only available in limited numbers per session.
Penguin and Banana skate aids are available to pre-book here. Please note penguin skate aids are 78cm tall. Banana skate aids can be sat on or pushed along in a similar way to the penguin skate aids.
We do not have any skate aids suitable to support adults.
We are open daily from 16th November to 5th January excluding Christmas Day
16th November – 18th December
11:00 – 21:00 weekdays
10:00 – 21:00 weekends
19th December – 5th January
10:00 – 21:00
Skating sessions start on the hour and last for 45 minutes. The ticket price includes skate hire. We recommend that you arrive 30 minutes before your session to get ready to take to the ice!
Please note that the last skating session is 20:00-21:00
Purchase your tickets online now or at the Box Office located at Parker’s Piece, open 16th November. Please note the Alpine Cabin Bar, Food Stalls and Rides are cash only.
13 years and over
3-12 years old
1 Adult + 3 Children or 2 Adults + 2 Children
Skate any day and any session. Must supply a passport size photo when purchasing
Limited skate aids are available per session and must be booked in advance
Groups of 10 or more are entitled to 10% discount (applied automatically on check out)
The North Pole Cambridge is serving a seasonal array of food and drinks to enjoy, hot chocolate & marshmallows, mulled wine, warming cider and festive cocktails to name a few. Enjoy the Authentic German Swing Grill, traditional German Bratwurst, speciality gourmet burgers, crepes and vegetarian burgers. Please note the Alpine Cabin Bar, Food Stalls and Rides are cash only.
16th November 2019 – 5th January 2020
Monday – Sunday 10:30am – 9:30pm
Closed Christmas Day, all other days operating as normal.
We offer exclusive private hire for those customers wanting something extra special. Offering complete privacy in a magical, festive setting. We can serve drinks and canapés, organise branding and DJ’s/entertainers. Whether it’s a brand activation, corporate event or a private party, we can tailor an event package to meet your needs.
Choose from Tower of London Ice Rink, Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink, Liverpool Christmas Ice Festival or The North Pole Cambridge for your private hire venue. Contact hello@thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk for more information.
The North Pole Cambridge is home to a wide selection of fun entertainment. There’s family funfair rides, extreme rides and a separate children’s zone. Why not enjoy the merry mix of traditional fairground rides sure to bring out the big kid in all of us!
Check out the Dodgems, Rolla Coaster, Daredevil, Waltzer, Super Bob, Fun House, Giant Slide, Twister, Dumbos and more, plus a multitude of games. There will be a host of other stalls and attractions so make the most of the festive season with all that’s on offer.
How do I book?
Rides start from £2.00 per person, there’s no need to book your rides in advance, have a look and decide on the day! Please note the Alpine Cabin Bar, Food Stalls and Rides are cash only.
If you have further questions that have not been answered here, please email our customer services who will be happy to assist you:
hello@thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk
How do I buy tickets?
Book your skating session online through our website.
From the 16th November you will be able to book in person at our box office at The North Pole Cambridge.
I have booked online… what next?
You will receive a confirmation email with your unique barcode which will be scanned by a member of staff on arrival. You can bring this email as confirmation on your phone, tablet or printed.
Can I change my booking?
Once booked, tickets are non-transferable and are unable to be rescheduled or cancelled. Please check your tickets carefully prior to checking out, as mistakes cannot always be rectified.
I haven’t received my ticket?
Please check your spam mailbox as our email may have gone there. Not there? Please email our customer service team on hello@thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk and we will assist you.
How long is the session on the ice for?
Sessions last for 45min on the ice and 15min for skate exchange and session change. Please arrive at the Skate Exchange at least 30 minutes before your session time to allow ample time to put your skates on and store belongings.
When should I arrive?
Please arrive at the Skate Exchange 30 minutes before your session time to get ready to take to the ice and store belongings.
Should I pre-book a session or can I turn up on the day?
We recommend that all sessions are pre-booked online to avoid disappointment and avoid queues on site at busy periods. Tickets can be printed at home from the online system. This will guarantee your selected session time. The Box Office on site is open daily, although will have varying lengths of queue at peak times. Tickets can be purchased for future sessions at the box office in addition to the website.
Can I book a Skate aid?
Yes, they are £5 each to hire and are available online here or at the ticket office. Please note skate aids are only for children.
If I cannot make it to my booked session, will I get a refund?
Unfortunately, we cannot offer any refunds for non-attendance. Where it is possible, we will try to accommodate you in another session, with advance notice, this will be subject to availability and ticket category and is not guaranteed.
Is skate hire included?
Skate hire is included.
Can I bring my own skates?
Skate hire is included in the ticket price. You are able to provide your own skates if preferred. Arena Group is not responsible for your skates, shoes or property when skating at our rinks. There is no reduction in price if you bring your own skates. Rink staff reserve the right not to allow a person to use their own skates if they decide that they are not suitable.
What are your skate sizes?
Our skate sizes go from size J8 to size 14.
What should I wear?
We recommend wrapping up in warm outdoor clothing and please wear gloves. On all outdoor ice rinks there is a risk of getting wet as there is surface water or if you fall over and have any contact with the surface of the ice rink.
Is there a transaction fee?
There is a transaction fee of £1.20 per ticket when buying tickets online. Tickets can also be purchased in person from the box office from 16th of November, for the same day or future dates. Tickets purchased at the box office for same day or future dates do not incur a booking fee. (All tickets subject to availability).
Can I bring my bag on the ice?
Bags of any description are NOT permitted on the ice, so we advise to only bring essentials with you. All bags must be placed in the lockers provided. Lockers cost £2.00 and are non-refundable. Please do not bring large baggage or valuable items to the ice rink as they will not fit into a locker.
Is there a spectator area?
Yes, we have an adjoining spectator decked area and viewing platform at our ice rinks. This is not a covered area so please wrap up warm.
Do I have to pay to be a spectator?
It is FREE! Spectators do not have to pay to access the decked viewing areas. Our rink is located close to hot drink, hot food and bar outlets.
Can I park at the Ice Rink?
There is no car park near the rink but there is limited parking available in roads nearby and the nearby Queen Anne Terrace Car Park. Parker’s Piece is served by main bus routes and is close to Cambridge mainline station. Please check out our location details on the ‘Find Us’ tab which have maps and advise on recommended transport links.
Is there somewhere to buy food and drinks at the rink before or after skating?
Yes, we have a wide selection of food and drinks available.
Is there wheelchair access?
Yes, the ice rink is fully accessible for wheelchair users. It’s also free for a carer to accompany you on the rink. If you have already paid for the carer to skate don’t worry! Just email hello@thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk and we’ll issue you a refund.
Are there toilets at the ice rink?
Yes there are toilets available nearby
Where can I store my luggage whilst I skate?
We will have lockers to store bags and shopping whilst you skate at £2 per Locker (non-refundable). NB 1 x £2 coin is required.
What if the ice is wet?
The rink is prepared for changing weather conditions. It is still safe to skate on the ice during rain and snow, this does not affect the ability to skate on the rink.
Will I get wet when skating on the rink?
On all outdoor ice rinks there is a risk of getting wet, if you fall over and have any contact with the surface of the ice rink. s also a possibility so please wrap up warm in appropriate outdoor clothing, with hats, gloves and scarves. It is still safe to skate on the ice during rain and snow and this does not affect the ability to skate on the rink.
If the weather is very poor, will I be able to skate?
Outdoor ice rinks are subject to the elements and due to rain, unseasonably warm weather, high winds or a combination of these weather conditions, the surface of the ice rink can develop a layer of water. It is not unsafe to skate on a wet rink, just more uncomfortable if you fall and get wet. It can be more slippery to hands when getting up, which is why we advise wearing gloves – not only to help with the cold, but also to aid traction on the ice
As soon as there is some water on the surface, the wind agitates it and it generally takes longer to refreeze until we have lower temperatures and the wind drops off. Removing the water from the surface is counter-productive as it removes the layer of cold water that is insulating the ice below it exposing the ice to further melting and thus affects the ice depth. All rinks with surface water and the correct thickness of ice are safe to skate on and our priority is to keep the ice safe for all skaters. This is an unavoidable occurrence with outdoor ice rinks and all outdoor ice rinks in the country will experience the same challenges.
As our terms & conditions of purchase state, all of our tickets are non-refundable, however if you have chosen to not skate in these extreme conditions, as an exception, we would be glad to welcome you back to the rink to skate at another time that is convenient to you and hopefully when the rink surface has improved. Please head to the box office where staff will be able to process a new ticket for you for another time and date, whilst the rink is open.
How old do you have to be to Skate on the Rink?
To skate on our rinks you have to be at least 3 years old. Skaters aged between 3 and 9 inclusive must be accompanied by an adult (18+) on the ice. Children between 10-12 years of age must be accompanied at the site with adults who are watching at all times. A ratio of 1 adult to 5 children will be accepted. You can skate on our rink up to any age, although you are responsible for skating safely and it is not recommended for anyone with serious illness, heart conditions or pregnant mothers to be.
Do you have skate marshalls?
Our Ice Skate Marshalls are on the ice rink to monitor safe skating and will assist when possible if you are a novice.
When is the best time for me to skate?
Monday – Friday: Sessions between 12pm – 7pm are recommended for all skill levels.
Saturday – Sunday:Sessions between 11am – 7pm are recommended for all skill levels
The 8pm session are recommended for adults. No skate aids will be allowed on these sessions.
Please note: From Monday 17th December the rink will be open from 11am Monday – Sunday. The 11am sessions would be recommended for anyone wishing to skate during a quieter period.
When should I arrive?
Please arrive at the Skate Exchange 30 minutes before your session time to get ready to take to the ice and store belongings.
Where are you?
The North Pole is in the centre of Parker’s Piece, Parkside, Cambridge, CB2 1AA. Please see the map on our website.
Can I skate on Christmas Day?
Unfortunately, we are closed on Christmas Day but we are open all other days shown on our website.
Do you offer discounts for group bookings?
Yes. We have an automatic discount of 10% off if you have over 10 people (excludes family tickets).
I would like to celebrate a special occasion at The North Pole, do you cater for parties?
Unfortunately we do not cater for parties, however should you want to go all out and take over the entire rink for a group please contact hello@thenorthpolecambridge.co.uk (private hire is for hire of the ice rink only).
If you’re coming into Cambridge travelling to and from The North Pole couldn’t be easier. Cambridge Railway Station provides great links to and from Cambridge, the surrounding areas and is easily connected to London.
The North Pole is in the centre of Parker’s Piece, Parkside, Cambridge, CB2 1AA
Public parking available at Queen Anne Terrace.
Cambridge Railway Station (CBG) is located roughly 10 to 15 mins walk away and is signposted clearly.
All park and ride and city buses end in the city centre of Cambridge, 5-8 minutes from Parker’s Piece.
If you fancy something a little different, once in Cambridge take the scenic route travelling to The North Pole by cycle hire
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