The Top 10 Dry Ski Slopes & Indoor Snow Centres in the UK
Want to train and practice before hitting the slopes this year? Or are you a newbie who wants to learn the basics of skiing or snowboarding to save time practising at the resort?
Here are some of the best dry ski slopes and indoor snow centres in the UK, perfect for having an inter-season trip or to get to grips with the sensation of skiing before hitting the Alps.
Many of the snow centres have other activities on offer, such as climbing, tubing and sledging so you can make a full day out with the family or with your friends.
Chill Factore
It is the UK’s longest indoor real snow slope at 180 meters in length. Chill Factore offers ski and snowboarding lessons for all levels, age group and ability, as well as other snowy activities such as luging and tubing and even a climbing wall on site. It is also home to the Disability Snowsport UK, the charity group that provides adaptive skiing to people with disability problems. There are also a variety of bars, cafes, restaurants and leading outdoor clothing shops within the centre.
- The main slope (180m long x 40m wide)
- The beginner slope (40m long x 40m wide)
- Snow Park area (40m long x 20m wide)
- Mini Moose Land area (approx 30m long x 20m wide)
Opening Times
| Mon/Wed/Sat | 7:30 – 22:00 |
| Tue/Thu/Fri | 9:00 – 22:00 |
Address:
Chill Factore, Beyond, 7 Trafford Way, Trafford City, Manchester M41 7JA
The Snow Centre
The closest indoor ski park to London, the Snow Centre offers group and private lessons as well as events such as Ladies Mornings and Park & Slide nights for freestylers. There is also the bonus of ski equipment included with every session.
Opening Times
| Mon | 10:00 – 20:00 |
| Tue | 7:00 – 22:00 |
| Wed/Thu/Fri | 10:00 – 22:00 |
| Sat/Sun | 08:00 – 20:00 |
Main Slope closes at 6pm for Race Training.
Address:
St Albans Hill, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP3 9NH
Snow Factor
It is Scotland’s only indoor real snow slope offering a 168 meters long piste. The centre has ski lessons and snowboarding lessons, sledging and even ice climbing. It is home to Scotland’s first of its kind ‘ice bar’, which is constructed entirely with ice starting from the walls, bar, tables to even the drinking glasses.
According to Jamie Smith, mountain sports entrepreneur and Ice Factor International owner,
“From New York to London, trendy sub-zero ice-bars are proving to be extremely popular. Now not only can our skiing, snowboarding and ice climbing customers enjoy an ice time with their friends, but party-goers from Scotland and beyond will be able to enjoy a unique, fun and memorable venue less than 10 minutes from Glasgow city centre and the airport.”
Opening Times
| Mon- Fri | 10:00 – 22:00 |
| Sat/Sun | 9:00 – 22:00 |
Address:
Xsite, Braehead, Kings Inch Road, Braehead, Glasgow PA4 8XQ
Snowdome
Snowdome provides the ideal snow, ice and leisure experience in a fun and progressive environment. The centre has a 170 meters main slope and two separate ‘Snow Academy’ teaching slopes at 30 metres and 25 metres. Professionally qualified instructors offer a wide variety of skiing and snowboarding lessons and you can even train for your BASI level one instructor course here.
Other recreational activities at the centre include ice skating, swimming, fitness and spa, snow play, tubing, sledging and tobogganing.
Opening Times
| Mon/Fri | 9:00 – 13:15 14:00 – 18:00 20:00 – 23:00 |
| Sat | 9:00 – 13:15 14:00 – 18:00 20:30 – 24:00 |
| Sun | 9:00 – 12:00 14:00 – 17:00 20:00 – 23:00 |
Address:
Leisure Island, River Drive, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 7ND
Snowzone
Snowzone has three locations in the UK: Basingstoke, Castleford in Yorkshire and Milton Keynes, and has recently acquired a site in Madrid! Operating with renewable electricity, the company has a focus on social responsibility and has specialist coaches for adaptive skiing in Milton Keynes. A rookie site with freestyle features is a popular part of the Castleford slope. The Basingstoke site has a revolving dry slope and Milton Keynes is Europe’s largest indoor real snow slope and also has some freestyle features.
SNOZONE MILTON KEYNES
602 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3XS
SNOZONE YORKSHIRE
Colorado Way, Glasshoughton, Castleford WF10 4TA
KIZONE BASINGSTOKE
Basingstoke Leisure Park, Euskirchen Way, RG22 6PG
SNOZONE MADRID
Intu Xanadú Shopping Center, Highway A5 exit 22 and 25, Arroyomolinos
Snowtrax
It is a great place to learn skiing or snowboarding during the off season period. The centre overlooks its own miniature lake and island with a huge area of endless pine trees. Snowtrax offer taster sessions to advanced coaching with some of the best instructors.
The dry slope centre is attached to the UK’s largest independent ski and snowboard retailer store and workshop and the alpine adventure park. Besides ski and board lessons, there are ski bobbing and ringos facilities as well events and competitions, including the freestyle ‘air attack’ competitions.
Opening Times
| Mon/Fri | 9:00 – 22:30 |
| Sat | 8:30 – 22:30 |
| Sun | 9:00 – 22:30 |
Address:
Matchams Lane, Hurn, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 6AW
Cardiff Ski and Snowboard Centre
One of the first dry ski slopes in the UK, with the original 90 metre slope built in 1969. The centre now offers a main slope at 170 metres long by 30 metres wide – roughly equivalent to a blue run in a ski resort. There are also two Snow Academy areas – one at 30 metres, the other at 25 metres. Lessons, events and competitions take place at the venue every year and there is also a tubing zone.
Opening Times
| Mon/Sun | 12:00 – 21:45 |
Address:
198 Fairwater Road, Fairwater, Cardiff CF5 3JR
Ski Rossendale
It is the most popular dry ski slope in the North West’s with a 200 meters main slope as well as a freestyle park, nursery slope and quarter pipe. Ski Rossendale offer ski and board lessons for individuals, families, friends, schools and groups.
Freestyle is another popular feature of the venue especially with the addition of quarter pipe which most dry slopes don’t have. Other leisure facilities include tubing, a walking trail and parties.
Opening Times
| Tues/Fri | 13:00 – 21:00 |
| Sat | 13:00 – 21:00 |
| Sun | 9:00 – 17:00 |
Address:
Haslingden Old Road, Rawtenstall, Lancashire BB4 8RR
Suffolk Ski Centre
The centre has 3 dry ski slopes with the main slope at 180 metres which incorporates a contoured ‘red’ and ‘blue’ run. The 40 meters junior slope accommodates beginners, improvers and experienced skiers and boarders.
The ski centre is part of the Suffolk Leisure Park and offers a variety of other facilities such as ringos, tobogganing, wall climbing, high ropes course, the lodge restaurant & bar, ski & snowboard store & golf shop.
The leisure park is also home to the ‘Ipswich Golf Driving Range’ which has 12 fully covered bays catering to complete beginners to golfing professional.
Opening Times
| Tue | 13:00 – 21:00 |
| Wed/Sat | 10:00 – 18:00 |
| Thu/Fri | 13:00 – 21:00 |
| Sun | 10:00 – 17:00 |
Times indicated are for Spring April – July, winter times can be found on their website.
Address:
Bourne Hill, Wherstead, Ipswich IP2 8NQ
Llandudno Ski Slope and Snowboard Centre
The centre offer a range of ski and snowboard lessons and caters to all levels, age groups and abilities. There is a new ski-tech surface on the slope which provides an enhanced experience. Apart from ski and board sessions it has the longest toboggan run in Wales at an amazing 750 metres! Other activities on site includes sno-tube, freestyle, alpine adventure golf and activity days.
Opening Times
| Mon | 19:00 – 22:00 Club |
| Thu | 19:00 – 20:00 L1 & 4 20:00 – 21:00 L2 & 5 21:00 – 20:00 L3 & 6 |
| Sun | 15:00 – 17:00 L4 up |
Timing for other activities can be found on their website.
Address:
John Nike Leisuresport Complex, Great Orme, Llandudno LL30 2QL
Gloucester Ski and Snowboard Centre
It is located on the outskirts of Gloucester close to the beautiful Cotswolds. The centre covers 12 acres of land and is home to the longest slope in England. It is the ideal place to learn skiing and snowboarding for all levels.
There are also facilities such as tubing and freestyle sessions, disable skiing, racing, snoxross bikes and even has a big airbag to practice freestyle!
Opening Times
| Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri | 10:00 – 22:00 |
| Thu/Sat | 10:00 – 18:00 |
| Sun | 10:00 – 20:00 |
Timing for other activities can be found on their website.
Address:
Matson Lane, Robinswood Hill, Gloucester GL4 6EA
Tempted by a ski holiday in France?
We offer great-value catered chalets in the Courchevel resorts of Le Praz and La Tania. The ski area is part of the enormous Three Valleys with 600km of marked runs, and plenty of off-piste and freestyle parks too!
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