The ice rink will be open as usual but at the slightly later time of 12 noon in honour of Remembrance Sunday on November 9th, 2025. The restaurant will be open from 9.30am.

The UK’s most beautiful Christmas ice rink is back from October 25th 2025 to 4th January 2026 at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion, powered by wind, wave and solar energy.

With its unrivalled setting in front of Brighton’s iconic Royal Pavilion, and ice like glass, the rink has been welcoming visitors since 2010. It’s still the UK’s only Christmas ice rink powered exclusively by solar, wind and wave energy.

“UK outdoor rinks are energy hungry so it’s really important that Christmas rinks like ours are powered by renewable energy”, said Shella  Parkin of Laine Ltd, which puts on the rink every year”.

The Royal Pavilion Ice Rink is beautifully lit at night for a truly magical Christmas skate, and located within Brighton’s bustling North Laine district, packed with independent shops perfect for Christmas shopping. 

The huge main rink offers plenty of space for more confident skaters and the separate beginners’ rink provides a safe area for younger skaters to build confidence with penguin skate aids. For those looking to just sit back and soak up the festive atmosphere, there’s no charge for spectating from the rink-side bar & kitchen over a delicious warming hot chocolate or mulled wine and a full menu offering tasty treats.

Tickets cost from £15 for full price tickets (aged 12 and over), £12 for juniors (under 12) and the 45 minute skate times run from 10am to 9.45pm daily. The box office is open from 9.30am and visitors are strongly advised to book tickets in advance to be sure of their skating slot.

This winter, Brighton’s most dazzling landmark will be at the heart of the city’s festive celebrations. The Royal Pavilion is opening its doors to a season filled with music, feasting, storytelling and sparkle, offering visitors the chance to step into a Christmas straight out of a period drama.

From 22 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, the palace will be dressed for A Very Austen Christmas, where the spirit of Jane Austen meets the splendour of George IV. Glittering trees, scented garlands, carols and playful costumed characters will bring the Royal Pavilion alive with the charm of a Regency Christmas. Families can follow a festive trail through the palace and soak up the atmosphere of an Austen-inspired celebration.

For those in search of a grand occasion, the Royal Pavilion’s Christmas Banquets return on 12, 13, 19 and 20 December. The evening begins with canapés in the Great Kitchen, continues with music in the gilded Music Room, and culminates in a three-course dinner with wine beneath the glittering chandeliers of the Banqueting Room.

Music lovers can look forward to the Christmas Carol Concert on 17 December, when the Royal Pavilion’s opulent Music Room provides the setting for two of Sussex’s finest choirs. Guests will be treated to soaring seasonal harmonies, with wine and mince pies served during the interval in the palace’s Banqueting Room.

Children will find plenty of festive magic too. New for 2025, Storytime with Father Christmas invites families into the cosy Red Drawing Room on selected dates from 6 to 24 December. There, Father Christmas will share an enchanting interactive tale, written especially for the occasion, before posing for photos and presenting every child with a small keepsake.

For a more traditional experience, Father Christmas at the Royal Pavilion offers private audiences in the Adelaide Suite on dates from 29 November to 24 December. Families can enjoy time with Father Christmas, capture the moment with a professional photograph, and take home a special gift. Tickets also include Royal Pavilion admission and a festive trail, making for a complete day out.

With its glittering interiors, festive traditions and magical experiences for all ages, the Royal Pavilion promises to be Brighton’s most atmospheric destination this Christmas.

This winter, enjoy festive fun on and off the ice! Skate at the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink and get discounted entry to the Royal Pavilion – just £14.50 plus up to four accompanying children free of charge. After skating, explore the Pavilion’s Regency Christmas trees, follow the Christmas Mouse Trail, see Father Christmas in his palace grotto and lots more festive surprises! Simply show your ice rink ticket for this exclusive offer and experience the magic of Christmas at Brighton’s iconic palace!

Christmas at the Royal Pavilion 2022/23

19 November 2022 to 3 January 2023

10am-4.30pm Free with admission, drop-in. All ages
Make a visit to the Royal Pavilion part of your family Christmas tradition as the palace is once again transformed with festive decorations and glittering trees. Take a selfie in Queen Victoria’s sleigh and find the festive mice on our family trail.

Christmas Banquets 2022

Friday 9, Saturday 10 & Friday 16 December

6.30-11.30pm £150, members £135 (only 90 tickets per event available), book in advance. 21+

The Royal Pavilion invites you to celebrate Christmas in regal splendour…

Join us for a drinks and canapé reception in the palace’s historic Great Kitchen, followed by a three-course dinner with wine in the magnificent setting of the Banqueting Room.

Dress code: Black Tie

Christmas Carol Concert 2022

Thursday 15 December 2022

Doors 7pm Performance 7.30-9.30pm £34, members & concession (16 years & under) £30 (includes an interval glass of prosecco or a soft drink and a mince pie), book in advance. 12+

Join us in the seasonally dressed Royal Pavilion for a special evening of Christmas carols performed by two talented Sussex based choirs.  The Music Room is the setting for the entertainment and during the interval you are invited to enjoy a glass of prosecco and a mince pie in the palace’s beautiful Banqueting Room.

Mr Charles Dickens Presents A Christmas Carol

Wednesday 21, Thursday 22 & Friday 23 December 2022

Doors 7.30pm Performance 8.30-10pm £36, members & concession (16 years & under) £32 (includes an interval glass of wine or soft drink), book in advance. 12+

European Arts Company returns to the Royal Pavilion with the much loved A Christmas Carol as told by the author himself! Actor John O’Connor (Before We Die, Channel 4) faithfully recreates Charles Dickens’s famous performance of his best-loved ghost story.  Using Dickens’ own performance script, this is a wonderfully evocative evening and an acting tour de force.

For further information, visit brightonmuseums.org.uk, email info@rpmt.org.uk or call 03000 290900.

The Royal Pavilion Ice Rink is delighted to announce that they have been awarded the ‘We’re Good to Go’ accreditation by Visit England and ‘Safe Travels’ accreditation by the World Travel and Tourism Council. This mean that we have demonstrated that we are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and we have the required processes in place.

The safety of our customers is our priority so we will abide by any and all restrictions in place at the time of your skate. We reserve the right to make any changes to your tickets, session or the provision, as required by the guidance in place at the time.

If you, or any member of your party, are unable to attend your session because of travel restrictions, because you are experiencing symptoms of Covid 19 or needing to self isolate, please let us know and we will offer you the chance to rebook your tickets for later in the season, or to carry them over to next season (2022/23).

If we are unable to honour your booking due to Government and Public Health guidance, we will offer you the choice of rescheduling (subject to availability) or a refund, less the £0.85 per transaction booking fee.

Whether you are on your way to visit Santa’s grotto, ice skating at The Royal Pavilion Ice Rink or shopping in Churchill Square, children can travel free on the bus every weekend in December.

The Kids Travel Free deal is for up to three children under 16 or BusID holders who are accompanied by an adult, including adults with concession passes, and it’s valid across the bus company’s entire Brighton & Hove and Metrobus network.

Brighton & Hove Buses’ Managing Director Martin Harris said: “Kids Travel Free is a great incentive to go out and have fun and to leave the car at home. The lead up to Christmas is probably the busiest time of the year, so using public transport means less congested city centres and takes away the stress of finding a parking spot. Not only that, it’s better for the environment too.”

An extra weekend has been added this year so people can go to the Boxing Day Sales and new cinema releases.

The dates of Kids Travel Free are: 30 November & 1 December; 7 & 8 December; 14 & 15 December; 21 & 22 December and 28 & 29 December. The offer is not valid on night buses and children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information: https://www.buses.co.uk/kids-travel-free