Chiltern View Ice Skating At Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS EXPERIENCE WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST/S FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.
Reviewed by Amanda Dando
Chiltern View Ice Rink is located at Chiltern View Garden Centre Stoke Mandeville Aylesbury.
We arrived on a very chilly opening night expecting an ice rink in a garden centre, but wow we were greeted by soo much more. If you have not been before like us, what an amazing place to discover. There is ample parking outside, but it’s busy, so be prepared to queue to enter the venue. We were super excited for their opening night, featuring none other than our very own Vernon Kay, the fantastic La Voix and blimey the mighty Boney M. I for one thought all my Christmas’s had come at once and wasn’t sure who I was most excited to see in person.
As soon as you walk through the door you are immersed in Christmas, there is a fantastically decorated truck with Santa on his sleigh on the back, there are beautiful light displays everywhere, featuring Santa’s reindeers, penguins, talking reindeers, the kids especially love these, they are a firm favourite. Almost straight away you are in front of couple of real life reindeer’s borrowed from the big man himself I am sure, they were just magnificent, and being looked after wonderfully by a couple of Santa’s helpers.
There were characters everywhere, the real life lady in the snow globe was gorgeous and brilliant to look at. Characters in the crowd were plentiful, the grinch, a gingerbread man, Santa and Mrs Claus, Minnie and Mickey Mouse, Elf of the Shelf and probably many more, my little grandchildren would have been beside themselves. There is a Santa letter post box with the opportunity to write and post your letter to the North Pole.
The lights and balloon displays are just magnificent and to be honest the whole venue is just sparkling and you just feel Christmas oozing from every nook, cranny and corner. There has clearly been no expense spared, and the whole venue is soo much more than just an ice rink. There are selfie chairs, disco balls, an interactive Lapland sleigh experience, and probably far more than I can list, you could spend hours wandering around without even trying the ice skating.
The rink is a good size, with ample padding around any danger spots. The getting of skates is easy, and getting into the ice is relatively straight forward. There are plenty of aids for the little ones to keep them upright on the ice, in a variety of fun colours and animals. It’s great fun, and you proper belly laugh when you realise it’s not quite as easy to skate like your favourite dancing on ice stars, or Torvill and Dean. It’s just the sort of activity you need to do as a family, you can laugh at how bad each other are!
It was an incredible evening, sadly our Vernon Kay couldn’t make it, I was really looking forward to seeing him in the flesh, not to worry, Aylesbury’s own Andy Collins made a wonderful stand in, alongside La Voix, who is so down to earth and funny, they introduced my childhood favourites Boney M. There are many different events scheduled over the coming month, if you love Christmas, skating and good family fun, then grab yourselves some tickets, you will have the very best time, ho ho ho.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £13.00 per Adult, £11.50 per child
Chiltern View Ice Rink is open from 22 November to 31 December 2024 for more information or to book tickets visit www.chilternviewicerink.co.uk
Chiltern View Garden Centre Wendover Road Stoke Mandeville Aylesbury HP22 5GX