Christmas at Alderford Lake, Whitchurch, runs 27 November to 23 December: Santa's island by boat, an ice rink, and drive-in films on 11 and 13 December.

Christmas at Alderford Lake, on Tilstock Road in Whitchurch, runs from Friday 27 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026. It has three bookable parts: a boat trip across the lake to Santa’s island, a real ice rink, and a Woodland Ice Bar kept as cold as minus 12C. Everything is booked online, and the lake says children under 10 can visit for free (Alderford Lake).

The quick answer

  • Dates: 27 November to 23 December 2026.
  • Where: Alderford Lake, Tilstock Road, Whitchurch SY13 3JQ.
  • Book online. Prices are only on the lake’s booking platform, not on its Christmas pages.
  • Parking: free for three hours, £5 for the day.
  • Drive-in cinema: The Holiday on Friday 11 December, Home Alone on Sunday 13 December.

Updated 6 November: Alderford has added a Christmas Drive-In Cinema on 11 and 13 December.

What is on at Christmas

Santa’s Island Experience

The headline is a boat trip across the lake to a hidden island, where children meet Father Christmas in a woodland grotto. Alderford lists what the visit includes (Alderford Lake):

  • the boat journey to the island, and time with Santa’s elves
  • toasting marshmallows round a campfire
  • a story from a storyteller, and a book for each child
  • a wish at the Wishing Bridge and a stop in Santa’s Toy Workshop
  • hot chocolate for every child and mulled wine for the adults
  • a letter to Santa, a personal visit with Father Christmas and a Christmas gift for every child

The last date is published two ways. The Santa Island event page gives 27 November to 23 December, which matches the main Christmas page. The card linking to it from the lake’s homepage says 27 November to 24 December. Check the date you want on the booking platform before planning around Christmas Eve.

The ice rink

Alderford calls it a real ice rink, for first-timers and confident skaters, with hot chocolate and seasonal food stalls nearby. It also lists special themed skating sessions as a separate booking. For the other place to skate this Christmas, Telford Ice Rink, see our Shropshire ice rink page.

The Woodland Ice Bar

An adult option hidden in the woods, where the temperature can drop to minus 12C and nearly everything is carved from ice. A visit includes a shot served in an ice glass through an ice luge, then a glass of mulled wine.

Around the lake

Alderford says visitors can also toast marshmallows at the fire pits, meet its real reindeer, and buy seasonal food, hot chocolate and mulled wine.

Christmas Drive-In Cinema

Alderford is bringing back its Christmas Drive-In Cinema, watched from your own car by the lake, on two nights: The Holiday on Friday 11 December and Home Alone on Sunday 13 December. Its Christmas page gives neither the start times nor the price; both are on the booking platform (Alderford Lake).

Prices and booking

Alderford’s Christmas pages carry no prices. The lake points to its Christmas 2026 booking platform “for live product details, availability and prices”. That shop only loads in a full browser, so we have not been able to read the prices from it. We will add them to this page when the lake publishes them anywhere we can check.

What the lake does say is that children under 10 can visit for free, and that schools, groups and celebrations should contact the team.

Getting there and parking

Alderford Lake is on Tilstock Road, Whitchurch, postcode SY13 3JQ. Its site gives parking as free for three hours, and £5 for the day. On normal days it opens 9am to 4.30pm with last entry at 4pm; it has not published separate Christmas opening hours.

The town’s own car parks and their charges are on our parking in Shropshire page, and anything that might slow the drive is on roadworks and travel.

Before then: Bonfire Night at the lake

Alderford’s next big night is Bonfire Night on Saturday 7 November, with a sound-sensitive display at 7pm and the main display at 8pm. Details are on our Shropshire fireworks page.

Other places to see Santa in Shropshire

The Elf Express on the Severn Valley Railway, Park Hall Farm near Oswestry and the county’s other grottos are on our Santa trains and grottos page. Markets and fayres are on Shropshire Christmas markets.

Frequently asked questions

When is Christmas at Alderford Lake in 2026? From Friday 27 November to Wednesday 23 December 2026, according to the lake’s Christmas page.

Does Alderford Lake have an ice rink this Christmas? Yes. Alderford lists a real ice rink as part of Christmas 2026, with themed skating sessions booked separately.

How much is Santa’s Island at Alderford? The lake has not put prices on its own pages. They are on its online booking platform only.

Is it free for children? Alderford says children under 10 can visit for free. The Santa Island visit and skating are separate bookings.

Where do you park? On site: free for three hours, £5 for the day.

Sources