Free Christmas ‘skating rink’ and family rides return to Bury St Edmunds

A free-to-use synthetic skating rink will return to Bury St Edmunds town centre this Christmas, giving families and visitors another reason to enjoy the town during the festive holidays.

The rink is brought to the town by Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID) with funding from Bury St Edmunds Town Council and will once again be located at the Arc Shopping Centre.

Following the success of the rink in 2025, this year’s attraction will again offer free 30-minute skating sessions, with no booking required. Around 40 people will be able to skate at any one time.

The skating rink is free to use, although donations to the My WiSH Charity will be welcomed from those who would like to support the charity. My WiSH is the Arc’s chosen charity for the year.

The rink will welcome its first skaters at 11am on Tuesday, December 22, when the Mayor of Bury St Edmunds, Donna Higgins, will officially open the attraction.

Chief Executive of Our Bury St Edmunds BID, Mark Cordell, said: “The skating rink was a real highlight last year, with families and friends enjoying a fun, free activity while spending time in the town centre and supporting local businesses.

“We’re delighted to be bringing it back this Christmas, giving even more people the chance to have a go for free. It’s a great addition to the Christmas in Bury St Edmunds offer and we’re very grateful to Bury St Edmunds Town Council for its support in making it possible.”

The synthetic rink also provides an opportunity to enjoy skating without the high energy requirements associated with maintaining a traditional frozen ice rink.

Kirsty Pollard, centre manager at the Arc said, “We are thrilled to see the Christmas ice rink returning to Arc once again this year, thanks to Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID) and Bury St Edmunds Town Council.

“It’s always a delight to see families enjoying their festivities in Bury St Edmunds and we look forward to welcoming them to arc for their Christmas experience.”

The skating rink will form part of the Christmas in Bury St Edmunds programme, a partnership bringing together a range of organisations to create a programme of festive events and activities in the town.

There will also be free family rides in the Abbey Gardens this Christmas, with children able to enjoy the Caterpillar Coaster, Dodgem Rings and Chair rides.

The rides are being brought to the town by Our Bury St Edmunds BID, Bury St Edmunds Town Council and West Suffolk Council, as part of the Christmas in Bury St Edmunds programme.

The rides will be available from 11am to 4pm on selected dates between November 25 and December 23, with no booking required.

Both the skating rink and Abbey Gardens rides are free to use.

Town Mayor Donna Higgins said: “I am so delighted that the partnership between the BID and the Town Council has once again resulted in a fabulous offer for families this Christmas.

“Last year I spoke to people at the no charge rides in Abbey Gardens to find that families were so relieved to find something engaging and fun, that was not a drain on the family purse at a time when family budgets are stretched.

“Many arranged for one adult could do that important ‘shopping to help Santa’ while another enjoyed watching those excited grins as the Caterpillar or the swing chairs entertained the kids.

“The Ice Rink started later and filled that ‘what now?’ gap between Christmas and new year.

“I took my granddaughter several times, she got skilled, but I was still rather wobbly. The beauty of this activity is that it engages a broader range of ages and all free at the point of fun.”

Skating rink opening times

Tuesday, December 22: 11am to 5pm – official opening by the Mayor of Bury St Edmunds, Donna Higgins, at 11am.

Wednesday, December 23: 11am to 5pm.

Christmas Eve: 10am to 4pm.

Christmas Day: CLOSED.

Boxing Day to Monday, January 4: 11am to 5pm daily.

Sessions are 30 minutes, including time to put on and take off skates.

Terms and conditions relating to use of the rink will be displayed at the attraction and users must observe and adhere to them. All activities are subject to weather conditions.

Full details of the skating rink, Abbey Gardens rides and other festive events and activities will be available at www.christmasinburystedmunds.co.uk