Attribution: Title: Skiing | Author: Hans | Licence: CC0 Public Domain
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 country, perfect for having an inter-season or inter-trip play on.
1. Chill Factore
It is the UK’s longest indoor real snow slope at 180 meters in length. Chill Factore offer ski and snowboarding lessons for all levels, age group and ability. It is also home to the Disability Snowsport UK, the charity group that provides adaptive skiing to people with disability problems. Apart from ski and board lessons, other facilities include ice slide, tubing, climbing wall and snow play. There are also a variety of bars, cafes, restaurants and leading outdoor clothing shops within the centre.
Opening Times
| Mon/Wed/Sat | 7:30 – 22:00 |
| Tue/Thu/Fri | 9:00 – 22:00 |
Address:
Trafford Way, Trafford Quays Leisure Village, Manchester M41 7JA
2. The Snow Centre
It is the UK’s longest indoor real snow slope at 180 meters in length. Chill Factore offer ski and snowboarding lessons for all levels, age group and ability. It is also home to the Disability Snowsport UK, the charity group that provides adaptive skiing to people with disability problems. Apart from ski and board lessons, other facilities include ice slide, tubing, climbing wall and snow play. There are also a variety of bars, cafes, restaurants and leading outdoor clothing shops within the centre.
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
3. 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 with other facilities such as refresher clinic, ice slide, sledging and family fun day packages. 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.
Snow factor is a £32 million development project which also houses the largest indoor ice climbing facility in the world. 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:
Soar INTU Braehead, Kings Inch Road, Braehead, Glasgow PA4 8XQ
4. 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 meters and 25 meters. Professionally qualified instructors offer a wide variety of skiing and snowboarding lessons
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
5. 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 as tons of other recreational activities.
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
6. Cardiff Ski and Snowboard Centre
It is one of the first dry ski slopes in the UK, its original 90 meters slope built in 1969 has now been replaced by a 100 meters slope. There are number of lessons, events and competitions taking place at the venue every year.
It is one of the first dry ski slopes in the UK, its original 90 meters slope built in 1969 has now been replaced by a 100 meters slope. There are number of lessons, events and competitions taking place at the venue every year.
Opening Times
| Mon/Sun | 12:00 – 21:45 |
Address:
198 Fairwater Road, Fairwater, Cardiff CF5 3JR
7. 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
8. 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
9. Llandudno Ski Slope and Snowboard Centre
The centre offer a great range of ski and snowboard lessons and caters to all levels, age groups and abilities. Apart from ski and board sessions it has the longest toboggan run in the UK at an amazing 750 meters. 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
10. 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 houses the longest slope in England and Wales. 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 big airbag which is the only permanent one in the UK.
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
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