10 cheap and free things to do over the Christmas holidays

Find out how to keep the kids entertained, from getting discounted cinema tickets to dining out for £1 or less
Grace WitherdenSenior writer

Keep your wallet jingling all the way through the Christmas holidays with our top money-saving tips. 

From free festive workshops to kids-eat-cheap deals, we’ve unwrapped plenty of ways to keep your little ones entertained without spending a fortune.

Be more money savvy

free newsletter

Get a firmer grip on your finances with the expert tips in our Money newsletter – it's free weekly.

This newsletter delivers free money-related content, along with other information about Which? Group products and services. Unsubscribe whenever you want. Your data will be processed in accordance with our Privacy policy

1. Kids eat for £1 or less at supermarkets

Lots of supermarket and in-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.

  • Asda Kids eat for £1 all day at Asda Cafés, with no adult spend required. 
  • Ikea Kids eat from 95p in Ikea restaurants. Available every day from 11am.
  • Morrisons Kids eat free when an adult spends £4.49 or more on a meal.
  • Sainsbury’s Kids eat for £1 with the purchase of an adult hot meal from the café, from 11.30am every day.

2. Tuck into pub and restaurant deals

Some pubs and restaurants also offer cheap or free kids' meals with an adult purchase. Be sure to check the small print first. 

  • Bella Italia Children eat free with the purchase of an adult main on Thursdays, or for £1 with any adult main from 4pm-6pm, Sunday to Wednesday. 
  • Beefeater Two children under 16 can get a free breakfast every day with a paying adult during the school holidays.
  • Dobbies Garden Centres Get a free children’s breakfast with any adult traditional or full breakfast, or a free child’s hot meal or pick 'n' mix lunch box with any adult main course.
  • Hungry Horse Kids eat for £1 with every paying adult on Mondays.
  • Las Iguanas One child's meal free with every adult main if you join via the app. 
  • Travelodge Up to two children aged 15 or under eat free for every full paying adult.
  • Preto Kids up to the age of 10 eat free with a paying adult every weekday after 4pm and all weekend. You can download a voucher from its website. 
  • Purezza Children under 10 can get free mini pizza with every adult main purchase. 
  • Sizzling Pubs One child can eat for £1 with every adult main meal between 12pm and 7pm, Monday to Friday.  
  • The Real Greek Free under-12 child's meal for every £10 spent by adults on Sundays.
  • Premier Inn Up to two under-16s eat breakfast for free with every paying adult.

3. Budget cinema deals

Looking for something new to watch this Christmas? Swap the sofa for the cinema and enjoy family-friendly blockbusters such as 'Mufasa' and 'Moana 2'.

Most major cinema chains have offers on during the school holidays: 

  • Cineworld’s Movies for Juniors screenings offer children's tickets for £2.50.
  • Odeon Kids has a deal where adults pay the same price as a child every day during the school holidays, as well as every Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost from £2.75.
  • Vue has Mini Mornings screenings from 10am during the school holidays. Tickets for adults and children cost £2.49 each.

4. Bake festive treats

From building gingerbread houses to icing snowmen, baking is a festive way to keep the kids entertained. 

Shop around for budget-friendly ingredients to make your bakes even sweeter.

Each month, Which? compares prices at the UK’s biggest supermarkets to find the cheapest. Aldi has consistently been the most affordable for baskets of goods this year, while Asda often leads for bigger shops. 

5. Get crafty with Christmas workshops

Looking for family activities? From decorating baubles to photography, there’s plenty on offer this Christmas.

  • Dobbies Garden Centres Little Seedlings holiday club offers free activities for children aged four to 10. The January Little Seedlings workshop will focus on the wonderful world of houseplants.
  • Apple offers free creative sessions such as photography and music creation for kids, available by signing up online.
  • Hobbycraft holds workshops from £5, including decorating your own bauble and making a Christmas wreath. All workshops need to be booked in advance.

6. Explore discounted days out

This Christmas, you can get discounted entry to attractions across the UK. 

You can step back in time at the Tower of London, where displays show how kings and queens celebrated Christmas in the past. Runs until 5 January. 

Alternatively, enjoy festive rides and activities at Legoland Windsor, or explore winter highlights at London Zoo.

Not only do some rail companies let youngsters travel for £1 when you buy an adult ticket, but National Rail also offers two entry tickets for the price of one at a huge number of attractions nationwide.

Check National Rail's Days Out Guide, which also explains which tickets are valid.

7. Free entry to museums and galleries

Not only are museums and galleries great for learning, but many offer free entry.

Lots of museums have dedicated exhibitions for children, often featuring interactive displays, although you may have to pay to access some of them. 

For example, at the London Transport Museum, little ones can meet Santa in the interactive sleigh until December 23 or join a festive elf trail through the galleries, all included with admission (kids go free).

Meanwhile, at the National Railway Museum in York, families can enjoy holiday-themed crafts, storytelling and the chance to explore historic locomotives during the school holidays.

8. Visit Christmas markets

Christmas markets are a great way to get into the festive spirit, and most are free to enter. To save even more, why not bring your own hot chocolate? 

Our experts have rounded up the best markets in top UK cities, including Manchester’s bustling stalls, Bath’s Georgian streets filled with handmade gifts, and York’s St Nicholas Fair with its charming alpine chalets.

9. Enjoy free festive light displays

Christmas lights are a great way to get into the festive spirit without spending a penny. 

Many neighbourhoods have their own displays, often raising money for charity. You can check apps such as Nextdoor or local Facebook groups to find one near you. 

Garden centres are also worth a visit for their festive lights and decorations.

In London, you'll find iconic displays on Oxford Street and Regent Street, while the Fleet Street Quarter offers something different with its Penguin Parade. This sculpture trail features 12 uniquely designed penguins, each created by artists to highlight the importance of protecting marine life, with proceeds supporting the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). 

Outside the capital, cities including Manchester and Edinburgh also offer dazzling light trails – perfect for a winter evening stroll.

10. Host a board game bonanza

Gather the family for a festive board game marathon.

Whether it’s a round of Monopoly or newer favourites such as Herd Mentality, board games are a great way to bring everyone together after a big holiday meal.

Rather than buying them all yourself, you could invite friends over and ask everyone to bring a game of their choice.

More on this

Related articles

About Us

Which? Limited is registered in England and Wales to 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF, company number 00677665  and is an Introducer Appointed Representative (FRN 610689) of the following:


1. Inspop.com Ltd for the introduction of non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arrange non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635). Inspop.com Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to provide advice and arrange non-investment motor, home, travel and pet insurance products (FRN310635) and is registered in England and Wales to Greyfriars House, Greyfriars Road, Cardiff, South Wales, CF10 3AL, company number 03857130. Confused.com is a trading name of Inspop.com Ltd. 


2. LifeSearch Partners Limited (FRN656479), for the introduction of Pure Protection Contracts and Private Health Insurance, who are authorised and regulated by the FCA to provide advice and arrange Pure Protection Contracts and Private Health Insurance Contracts.  LifeSearch Partners Ltd is registered in England and Wales to 3000a Parkway, Whiteley, Hampshire, PO15 7FX, company number 03412386.


3. HUB Financial Solutions, for the introduction of equity release advice and an annuity comparison service, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) to provide advice and guidance on financial products for those who have retired or are approaching retirement (FCA Firm Reference Number: 455713). HUB Financial Solutions is registered in England and Wales to Enterprise House, Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey RH12 7RP, company number 05125701.


4. Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers Ltd (FRN 301), for the introduction of non-investment landlord insurances, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to provide advice and arrange insurance contracts. Alan Boswell insurance brokers Ltd is registered in England at Prospect House, Rouen Rd, Norwich NR1 1RE, company number 02591252.


Other financial services:

Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), Unit 26 (2.06), Newark Works, 2 Foundry Lane, Bath BA2 3GZ. London & Country are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.


We do not make, nor do we seek to make, any recommendations or personalised advice on financial products or services that are regulated by the FCA, as we’re not regulated or authorised by the FCA to advise you in this way. In some cases, however, we have included links to regulated brands or providers with whom we have a commercial relationship and, if you choose to, you can buy a product from our commercial partners. 


If you go ahead and buy a product using our link, we will receive a commission to help fund our not-for-profit mission and our campaigns work as a champion for the UK consumer. Please note that a link alone does not constitute an endorsement by Which?.