York is getting a new ice rink this winter, and it has picked a spot that is hard to beat. THOR'S on ICE is a covered outdoor rink set up in the Museum Gardens, tucked behind York Art Gallery on Museum Street, so you are skating right alongside the edible gardens and the old city walls. It is run by the team behind the THOR'S Tipi bars, which should give you a good idea of the vibe on offer.
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The rink opens on Friday 13 November and runs right through to Sunday 3 January, seven days a week, with sessions from late morning through to the evening. The official site still has the specific opening times listed as 'TBC', so it is worth checking before you head down. The ice is real, there are skate aids and penguin helpers for the less confident, and a clear covering means you can skate under the stars whether it is raining or not.
On tickets, the rink works on timed slots, and advance online booking is strongly recommended, especially for weekend and evening peak hours when it is likely to fill up. Skate hire is built into the standard ticket price, and you can hire skate aids for younger children if they need a bit of extra support. If you have any questions before you book, the team can be reached at skate@thorsoniceyork.co.uk.
What comes after the skating is a big part of the draw. There is a Salt & Pepper Chicken Spice Bag, sugar-coated churros, mulled wine, German hot chocolates, draft beers and festive street food to choose from, plus an Alpine Terrace with hot drinks and snug seating and a THOR'S tipi bar with firepit seating and cocktails. If you are planning something bigger, there are Christmas party packages with welcome drinks, festive feast options and whole-rink hire for groups, private parties and corporate events.
Getting there is straightforward. The rink sits in the Museum Gardens on Museum Street, YO1 7FR, which is less than a ten-minute walk from York Station. If you are driving in, Marygate Car Park and Esplanade Car Park are the nearest public options, and the Park & Ride services drop you close to the city centre entrance, so it is easy to reach without a car.
It is worth taking in the surroundings while you are there. The Museum Gardens cover over ten acres of botanical gardens in the heart of the city, established in the 1830s by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, and they are free to visit, though a donation is appreciated. They open 9am to 6pm every day and stretch behind York Art Gallery, with an Edible Wood and an Artists Garden among the things to see. The gallery itself is a Grade II listed building on Exhibition Square that opened in 1879 and holds a nationally designated collection of paintings spanning more than 600 years, so it makes for an easy add-on to a winter afternoon in town.
Published Date
14 October 2026
