Christmas on a budget: Cheap festive family days out with the kids!

Table of Contents

If you’re celebrating Christmas on a budget then you’ve come to the right place – here are 10 ideas for cheap festive family days out with the kids that won’t break the bank! As the lights twinkle and the holiday spirit fills the air, it’s the perfect time to plan some magical family outings. But with the cost of living rising, it’s easy to feel like festive fun might stretch the budget. Fear not! There are plenty of fantastic, low-cost or even free activities that the whole family can enjoy this Christmas – here are my top picks for budget-friendly festive family days out with the kids:

1. Check out the local Christmas lights

One of the simplest yet most magical activities that you can do with the kids doesn’t cost a penny – wrap up warm and take a stroll around your local area to see the Christmas lights. We always have a few December evenings where we drive around too, blaring out Christmas tunes, whilst the kids sit snuggled in the back of the car in their dressing gowns and pyjamas. Many town centres or neighbourhoods put on incredible displays, and we’ll wait for the local steam train to go past with its lights on too.

2. Visit a Christmas Market

Christmas markets are full of festive cheer, and many don’t charge an entry fee. You don’t need to buy anything – simply browse the stalls, enjoy the festive music and soak up the atmosphere. To keep costs low, bring your own hot chocolate in a flask and some festive snacks to enjoy as you wander. You may even find some free or inexpensive craft areas for the children, or a bubble snow machine for them to run around near! For ideas on where to go, check out my article: The 10 best UK Christmas Markets to visit with kids.

3. Make the most of free / cheap local Christmas events

Many towns and villages host free or low-cost festive events, such as carol singing services, tree lighting ceremonies, Christmas fairs or parades. These events are fantastic for getting into the festive spirit and are often perfect for little ones who love music and excitement. Have a look on your local Facebook pages to see which events are running near you – our local town used to run an amazing free Christmas evening with stalls and live music, and they even had real reindeers! You might find that a local school, library or village hall offers free kids’ Christmas craft events too.

4. Visit Santa’s Grotto

While visiting Santa can often be pricey, many garden centres, shopping centres, libraries, schools or local community centres offer affordable alternatives. Smaller venues will often run grotto meet-and-greet Santa experiences very cheaply, or even for free, so have a browse online to see what’s on offer near you. Don’t feel like you have to spend a fortune on a luxury Santa visit – the kids will love it anyway!

5. Enjoy a wintery walk or festive trail

For a very budget-friendly day out with the kids, head to a local country park, woodland or nature reserve for a wintery walk to collect pine cones and natural materials to make your own Christmas wreath or table decorations. Make it extra special by bringing along festive treats like homemade mince pies, or planning a festive-themed scavenger hunt (e.g, spotting holly, pine cones or robins). Some country parks even host free or low-cost seasonal trails with prizes for completing them.

6. Enjoy a Christmas movie

Check to see what’s being hosted locally, as places like community centres may host Christmas movie screenings, but if not see what’s on at your local cinema – they often show the Christmas classics for just a few pounds per ticket. For 2025, Cineworld are offering £5 tickets for classics like Elf, The Grinch, Polar Express and Home Alone. (I’ve added an image below with the dates and movies shown.) This is also an event that you could host at home for the kids and their friends, or something you can enjoy as a family in your pyjamas! Use a Christmas TV guide to see which movies will be on when, to enjoy them for free, and check out what’s on offer on your streaming services.

7. Ice skate on a budget

Outdoor ice rinks are a staple of the festive season – they can be pricey but it’s one of my kids’ favourite Christmas days out so I try to plan our annual skate in the most budget-friendly way possible. If you fancy taking the kids ice-skating, keep an eye out for discounted family sessions, early bird November deals or off-peak times, which will typically offer cheaper prices. And, local pop up rinks will often be more affordable than big venues – often subsidised by local councils, schools or charities. Bring a car picnic and a flask of hot chocolate to enjoy afterwards while you warm up.

8. Make the most of memberships

If you have a National Trust or English Heritage membership, have a look to see which Christmas events and activities are running at sites near you. Lots of English Heritage sites run festive treats for the kids – with trails, activities and Christmas light evenings. So, if you’re already a member, it’s the perfect way to make the most of your membership – click here to take a look at what the English Heritage are offering for Christmas 2025.

9. Support local pantomimes and plays

Pantomimes are a festive tradition, but tickets to big productions can be costly. If it’s not within your budget this year, look out for performances by local theatre groups, schools or community centres instead. The amateur performances can often be great fun, and even more personal and interactive for the kids, but they’ll also likely be far more affordable – giving you a budget-friendly festive evening out with the family this Christmas time. If you do want to head to a bigger scale production, save money by booking early bird November tickets, weekday performances or seeing the show in January. We tend to book January tickets the panto – it’s far cheaper and it gives us something to look forward to after the big day!

10. Host a games night or DIY escape room

You don’t even have to leave the house to have some festive fun – why not host a festive games night or Christmas themed escape room for your friends or family? My two adore evenings like this, and you can easily make your own fun with some old cardboard boxes, a few clues, some Christmas quizzes or even an old board game. Grab some cheap chocolate to award as prizes, and ask your guests to bring a plate of food, to make Christmas memories at home. Amazon have some great ready-to-go home Escape Room options too!

Tips for keeping costs down whilst enjoying festive family days out on a budget this Christmas:

Plan ahead: Book tickets early for discounts and avoid peak times.
Pack your own snacks: Food and drink can quickly add up, so bring your own festive treats.
Use discounts and vouchers: Check local papers, social media or apps like Groupon for festive deals.
Bundle up: Dressing warmly means you can enjoy outdoor activities for longer without needing costly indoor breaks.
Invite your friends: Often the fun comes from who we’re with rather than what we do, so invite friends and family along to make your activities even more special – my two love bringing their cousins!
Keep it local: Local events will likely be cheaper than those at bigger venues, so see what’s on offer near you.
Save your reward points: Reward schemes like Tesco Clubcard can be a great way to enjoy days out, cinema trips and meals for free – collect all year for festive fun in December that won’t cost a penny!

Remember you can make memories at home too

Family traditions can be made in even the simplest of moments, so don’t forget you can make lots Christmas memories at home too – often without spending a thing. Get crafting and make tree decorations, paper chains or Christmas cards for the family. Have the kids write a letter to Santa and walk past the Christmas lights to pop it into the post box one evening. Bake lots of Christmas treats whilst you dance around the kitchen to Christmas songs, or make some food for the reindeers to sprinkle on the lawn.

There are absolutely loads of ways to have a magical time this Christmas with your family – and the kids don’t need loads of money spent on them to have a great time, they just want to spend time with you. So make loads of memories and start your own traditions – Christmas is such a fab time of year and my activity advent calendar is a great way to get in a Christmassy mood and enjoy quality time with your family at home! Festive, family fun doesn’t have to be expensive – download my FREE, printable activity advent calendar, and check off a new box every day in December.

You might even want to have a go at making a December box too – so check out my article: What is a December Box? Kid’s Christmas activity ideas (& FREE printables!) to find out more.

With a little creativity and planning, you can enjoy heart-warming family days out that won’t leave you worrying about your bank balance. After all, the best memories are made with love, laughter and a sprinkle of Christmas cheer – not a hefty price tag. So I you have a magical time with the kids (whatever you get up to) enjoying lots of festive family days out and fun at home, whilst on a budget this Christmas. Merry Christmas from our family to yours! 🎄