Whether you're Home Alone on a budget or in need of a Miracle on 34th Street, fear not – we've got 12 budget-friendly activities that even Elf on the Shelf would applaud.
From eating out for £1 or less, visiting Christmas light trails and getting a discount on cinema tickets.
1. Get a £1 meal
Lots of supermarket and store cafés offer ‘kids eat free’ deals or similar during the school holidays. Here are some of the best offers we’ve seen, where you won't have to spend more than a fiver.
2. Use a dining discount
Lots of restaurants also have kids offers during the holidays if you purchase a main meal.
You could also consider getting a dining card, which could save you up to 50% at thousands of restaurants across the UK.
3. Try a Christmas light trail
Most big cities have free Christmas light displays you can go and visit, but you may also find some closer to home.
In London, Covent Garden, Carnaby Street and Oxford Street have impressive displays, but you’ll also find winter light exhibitions at the Southbank Centre and in Canary Wharf you can visit for free.
Many local neighbourhoods have their own light displays to raise money for charity, you can search if there is any near to you on apps such as Nextdoor, or check your local Facebook group.
Which? members also suggested heading to your local garden centre to take in the decorations and lights.
Find out more4. Save at the cinema
Whether it’s Wish or Wonka, if your kids want to watch the latest blockbuster in the cinema make sure you save on tickets. Most major cinema chains have offers on during the school holidays.
5. Movie marathon at home
There are plenty of Christmas movies available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX as long as you have a TV licence.
We spotted Nativity, The Christmas Break, Merry Madagascar, as well as all the Harry Potter films, which although traditionally not festive, many families tend to watch during the holidays every year.
If you're paying for a streaming subscription like Disney+ or Netflix, make sure you are making the most of it.
You may be able to save some money by rotating your monthly subscriptions to save paying for them all at once.
Find out more6. Go to Winter Wonderland for free
With over 200 rides, ice skating and a Christmas market, there’s plenty to keep kids entertained at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, but the costs could easily set you back over £100 for a family.
Which? savings expert Matthew Jenkin said: ‘We're a family of four and visiting most weekends costs at least £5 each at peak times. And if the weather is bad, you can't cancel at the last minute and get a refund. Last year we booked to go in the morning on New Year's Day and were really happy to find that not only was it free, there were no queues. We also ate before so we didn't spend loads on food and drink.'
If you fancy bracing the crowds make sure you go off-peak to avoid paying an entry fee. The next off-peak day is New Year's Day,
7. Make Christmas cards and crafts
Rummage in your cupboards for materials to make your own Christmas cards and crafts.
Potato stamps are the perfect size to create snowmen, and grab some cotton wool to give them some extra texture. You can also create your own decorations like paper chains and pine cones.
One Which? member suggested a crafty way of making gift tags for next year: ‘When you take the Christmas cards down, cut the pictures out, make a hole and thread through some thread or ribbon to make gift cards for next year.’
And Which? employee Alice Fenner suggested: ‘I love a good crafting session. I recently bought my niece and nephew (the niblings!) secondhand denim jackets from Vinted (with nice wooly lining for the winter) for less than £8 each. Then I went online and bought a bumper pack of iron on patches and trims, and we spent an afternoon DIYing our own cool jackets!.’
8. Get 2-for-1 discounts
If you fancy a day out in the city, your train ticket can unlock savings.
Not only do some rail companies let youngsters travel for £1 when you buy an adult ticket, but National Rail offers two entry tickets for the price of one at a huge number of attractions nationwide, including the London Eye, Sea Life locations across Great Britain and several historic landmarks including Leeds Castle and Hampton Court Palace.
9. Board game Olympics
Monopoly CluedoHerd MentalityTaco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, PizzaBut rather than buying them all yourself, you could invite friends over and ask everyone to bring a game of their choice.
You could then have a board games Olympics, with prizes for the winner. Stick some string to a chocolate coin and you have your own edible medals for the winners.
Find out more10. Get ready for Santa
There are plenty of ways you can catch Santa in the run-up to Christmas.
11. December reading challenge
A visit to your local library means your kids can borrow festive physical books for free, as well as borrow ebooks and audiobooks.
Some libraries even allow you to read digital magazines and newspapers from the comfort of your own home.
To find out what your nearby library offers, visit your local council website and sign up for free.
As an alternative, you could also swap books with family and friends.
Find out more:12. Learn something new
Not only are museums and galleries great for learning, but many are free.
Lots of museums have dedicated exhibitions for children, often featuring interactive displays, although you may have to pay more to access some.
During the school holidays and weekends, some museums also run activity sessions or days where kids can get involved in crafts. Booking in advance is recommended.
Find out moresource https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/cheap-and-free-things-to-do-over-the-christmas-holidays-2023-adteZ9c9eaHH