Planet Ice Altrincham

Planet Ice Altrincham is a full-size ice rink in the heart of Altrincham, right next to the Metrolink tram stop, making it easy to get to without a car. It covers all the bases: public skating sessions, ice skating lessons for all ages and abilities, ice hockey, and dedicated Patch sessions for figure skaters working on their routines. It's also home to the Manchester Storm ice hockey team, so if you fancy watching live hockey rather than skating yourself, that's very much on the table.

For younger children, there are penguin and polar bear skating aids available to hire (at £7.50 for an hour), though these can run out so it's worth sorting them in advance. Booking online ahead of your visit is a good idea generally, especially at weekends when it gets busy. Take a couple of pairs of socks, because wearing two pairs makes the hired skates much more comfortable.

There's a café on site with hot food including stone-baked pizzas, and seating both downstairs and upstairs if you need more space. Lockers are available but charged separately, so bear that in mind when budgeting. Skate hire is on top of the entry price, so costs can add up for a larger group.

The rink has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and accessible viewing areas, and the venue runs sessions and courses for a wide range of ages. If your kids are keen to progress, there are structured lesson programmes and even a Show and Skate class that performs in the annual Christmas ice show.