Oxford Ice Rink
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Oxford
What it’s like
Public skating sessions all week, plus penguin-assisted wobbles for the very new, on a proper indoor rink.
Skating is skating, but the details here make the day. Sessions run for all ages and abilities, so a confident ten-year-old doing laps and a first-timer clinging to the barrier can be on the ice at the same time. If your child (or you) has never been upright on blades before, the penguins come into it, more on that below, and there's a weekly Skate School course if someone wants to get properly good rather than just survive an hour.
Hours shift a lot through the week, which is worth knowing before you plan around it. Monday runs late morning to early evening, Tuesday stretches to 10pm, Wednesday is a short one finishing at 3pm, and weekends are shorter still, Saturday 11 to 4 and Sunday 11 to 2.15. Monday afternoon from 1.30 to 2.45 is flagged as the quiet slot, which is the one to pick if you want space to actually practise rather than dodge other skaters.
Birthday parties get their own hour with a private skate session built in, plus three penguins for the smaller guests to hold onto instead of you. There's a café on site doing food and proper coffee, so you're not relying on vending machines between sessions.
It suits a wide age spread precisely because the sessions aren't split by ability. A toddler with a penguin and a teenager racing their mates can both call it a good afternoon, though the shorter weekend hours mean you'll want to turn up nearer opening if you're set on a longer stint.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- All ages and abilities, with penguins on hand for first-time skaters
- Food
- Café with food and drinks, coffee from Rijo42 machine
- Parties
- Two birthday party packages: Option 1 (£180 for up to 10 children, includes Party Room 1 hour, 30-min private skate session
- Opening hours change every day of the week, so check which slot you're aiming for before you set off
- Monday 1.30 to 2.45pm is the named quiet session
- Party packages include skate hire and three penguins for younger guests
- Weekend sessions are shorter than weekdays, Saturday 11 to 4 and Sunday 11 to 2.15
Plan your visit
What are the opening hours?
They vary by day. Monday 10am to 7.15pm, Tuesday 10am to 10pm, Wednesday 10am to 3pm, Thursday 10am to 7pm, Friday 10am to 8.45pm, Saturday 11am to 4pm, Sunday 11am to 2.15pm.
Is it OK for a young child who has never skated?
There are penguins on the ice to hold onto, which helps first-timers stay upright. Sessions are open to all ages and abilities rather than split by skill level.
When's the quietest time to go?
Monday afternoons from 1.30pm to 2.45pm are flagged as the quiet slot, good if you want more space on the ice.
Can you do a birthday party there?
Two packages are available. One is £180 for up to 10 children with a party room, a 30-minute private skate and a 45-minute public skate; the other is £157.50 for the same skate time without the extra room hour. Extra children are £15 each and skate hire plus three penguins are included.
Is there anywhere to eat?
There's a café on site serving food and drinks, with coffee from a Rijo42 machine.
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