Hotels near Cathedral Gardens and Skate Manchester

Cathedral Gardens, the green space between Manchester Cathedral, Chetham's and the National Football Museum, hosts Skate Manchester, a covered ice rink surrounded by market stalls. Because the rink is under cover, it works in the rain, which matters in a Manchester December. Like Albert Square, the site stays open until 3 January 2027.

The stalls around the rink sell food, hot drinks and gifts, and the medieval cathedral and the glass walls of the National Football Museum make an unusual backdrop. Skating is ticketed separately from the free market.

Cathedral Gardens sits right next to Victoria station, so it is the first site many visitors reach when they arrive by train from Leeds, Liverpool or the north.

Pro Tip: Book a skating slot online in advance for weekends and school holidays. After skating, step into Manchester Cathedral, which is free to enter, to warm up and see the carved medieval choir stalls.