Britain's First Ice Village is Coming to Manchester this Winter

News

Yasmin Duggal

11 Sept 2018

Yes, we're already talking about Christmas

Britain's first ever ice village (yes, not just a bar, a whole village!) is coming to Manchester's Cathedral Gardens this Christmas. 

The village will include an ice cave housing a frozen toy factory and Santa's grotto, along with an ice rink and free festive activities - and there will be an ice bar. 

Cathedral Gardens is usually the home to part of the city's famous Christmas markets, and this year will be transformed into a journey of ice attractions, starting with a steam train crafted entirely from ice. 

Work has already begun on the village which opens in November, with a team of the world's best ice artists crafting ice sculptures which will be part of the immersive experience. The sculptures are set to include elves and winter animals against a backdrop celebrating Manchester's industrial history. A tribute to women's suffrage will be featured, alongside significant historical figures from different areas of Manchester's rich culture. 

The village will also have a stage with festive family entertainment and vintage fairground games will also feature. 

So get ready to get chilly and get boozy - only eight weeks stand between you, too much mulled wine and an offensively large santa looming over Albert Square.