Opening date for Leicester's Christmas ice rink

The real ice rink in Leicester's Jubilee Square will be returning on Thursday, December 5. And this year it will also have a games arcade for people to have fun off the ice.

Leicester City Council said that in a first for the UK, the city's ice rink will be lit up from below with more than 40,000 lights installed under the ice to "add to the magical, festive experience as people enjoy their skating."

Tickets are on sale now to skate from December 5 onwards. There will be skating every day except for Christmas Day (Wednesday, December 25) and the final day will be on Wednesday, January 5.

READ MORE: Christmas lights switch-ons and festive events in Leicestershire 2024

The games arcade will open two days after the ice rink. The city council said in a statement: "From December 7 an exciting new games arcade will be available including an air hockey table, basketball, boxing and loads of other fun activities."

Leicester's Christmas lights were switched on earlier this week and the 35m Wheel of Light is back in Jubilee Square, while the city's Christmas market on Gallowtree Gate is open daily from 10am to 7pm until December 29.