Christmas in Liverpool city centre looks different this year. Skate St George’s, an outdoor ice rink with a Big Wheel, Christmas tree maze, carousel, rooftop bar and a smaller market, opens on the St George’s Hall Plateau on Saturday 21 November 2026 and runs until 3 January 2027, closed only on Christmas Day. Down at the waterfront, Liverpool Christmas Wonderland at Pier Head adds a covered rink and rides beneath the Three Graces. If you are coming in for a match over the next six weeks, both are within easy reach of Lime Street and the walk to the stadiums.
What has changed from last year
For years the Plateau was the home of the city’s chalet-style Christmas market. In July the council announced a new 2026 festive programme after a competitive tender, with two operators running two separate sites:
- St George’s Hall: Skate St George’s, run by Underbelly.
- Pier Head: Liverpool Christmas Wonderland, run by Icebox Live, with a covered ice rink, thrill rides and games.
The council also said there would be pop-up seasonal markets featuring local independent businesses at other city centre spots, including Basnett Street and the Cunard Building, on selected dates, plus a festive programme at the City Halls with A Christmas Carol, Carols by Lantern Light and Story Time with Santa. Check the council and venue pages for the exact market dates nearer the time.
Skate St George’s: the essentials
The official site lists these opening times:
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday, until 17 December | 12pm to 10pm |
| Monday to Thursday, from 21 December | 10am to 10pm |
| Friday and Saturday | 10am to 11pm |
| Sunday | 10am to 10pm |
| Opening day, Saturday 21 November | 2pm to 11pm |
| Christmas Eve | 10am to 6pm |
| 26 December and 1 January | 12pm to 10pm |
A few details worth knowing before you go:
- The first skating session starts 15 minutes after opening and the last one 45 minutes before closing.
- Rink tickets can be booked online, which is recommended at peak times, or bought on site at the box office by card if there is space.
- The rides are paid for at each ride, on the day, by card.
- Under-16s must be with someone aged 16 or over at all times.
- The site is opposite Lime Street station, about five minutes’ walk from Queen Square bus station and ten from Liverpool Central.
Prices are on the booking page rather than the main site, so check those before you set off.
Fitting it around a matchday
The Plateau is a natural meeting point for anyone arriving at Lime Street, which is exactly why it gets busy on matchdays. Some practical thoughts:
For a game at Anfield
Most supporters heading up to Anfield from town go by bus or taxi from the city centre, or walk. A morning skate followed by a pub lunch works for a late kick-off, but on a 3pm Saturday you will be fighting the crowds in both places. Aim to skate on the Friday night or the Sunday morning instead. Our local’s guide for visiting fans has more on the walk up and where to eat.
For a game at the Hill Dickinson
Pier Head and the waterfront are on the way north towards Bramley-Moore Dock for anyone walking along the river. The Wonderland is a sensible stop for families before or after an Everton game, and the walk back into town after a match takes you past it.
For the derby on 29 November
With a noon kick-off on Sunday 29 November, the city centre will be busy from breakfast and the rink opens at 10am on Sundays. If you have children with you, a skate after the match, once the crowds have dispersed, is likely to be calmer than one before it.
Practical tips for a festive visit
- Carry a card. Both the rink box office and the rides take card payments.
- Travel light. If you are going to a match afterwards, a big bag will cause problems at the stadium as well as on the ice.
- Gloves are not optional. On an outdoor rink in December, cold hands are the first thing that ends a session early.
- Watch the weather. Outdoor rinks can close at short notice in high winds or heavy rain. Check the venue’s channels on the day.
- Plan your train home. Late-night services around Christmas are not the same as usual, especially on 24 and 26 December.
Where the old Christmas market crowd will go
Some people will miss the long rows of wooden chalets on the Plateau, and that is fair enough. Change in this city tends to arrive with an argument attached, as anyone who lived through Everton’s move to the docks will tell you; we wrote about that in Goodison Memories and the Move to the Waterfront. The practical answer is to treat this December as a trial run. Try the rink, look for the independent pop-ups, and let the council know what worked and what did not when it asks for feedback.
Beyond the rinks
Liverpool at Christmas has always been more than the main market. The City Halls programme suits anyone who wants something seated and warm, and the independent pop-up markets are where you will find local gifts that are not on every high street. And if you are looking for a football present, we have looked at stadium tours at Anfield and the Hill Dickinson as gifts.
The city is at its best in December when it is busy and a bit noisy. Matchday weekends add to that. Give yourself enough time to enjoy both rather than rushing from one to the other.