Free or cheap Christmas fun for kids

Christmas can be chaotic, especially when the kids are bouncing off the walls. The good news is, there’s no need to break the bank, as there’s plenty of budget-friendly ways to keep them entertained.  

Here’s some of the best free or cheap activities to make this festive season special for all the family.  

Cinema for less  

Family movie time doesn’t have to be expensive. Check out these cinema deals: 

Movies for Juniors  

Cineworld offers weekly family films for just £2.50 per ticket, adults and kids. Just remember kids need to be with an adult for the Movies for Juniors deal. 

Odeon Kids 

For £2.75, you can enjoy family movies with Odeon Kids tickets.  

Shop around 

You might not think of shopping around when it comes to visiting the cinema. But websites like Fever and Tastecard are great for finding discounted cinema tickets. 

Also, check with your mobile or broadband provider for exclusive deals on cinema tickets. Virgin Media, O2, Vodafone and Three UK all offer them.  

Get crafty  

Keep little hands busy with these easy (and free) arty ideas: 

Hobbycraft’s free downloads 

Head to the Hobbycraft website and download free Christmas-themed colouring sheets and craft instructions, like making felt penguins or cork tree reindeers. 

Craft walk  

Head outside for a nature walk. Collect pinecones, branches and fallen leaves to turn into festive decorations with a little glitter, glue and imagination.  

Christmas lights drive 

Load the kids in the car and take a drive around your town to see the best Christmas lights. From inflatable Father Christmases to flashing Rudolphs, it’s a free, festive, magical and memorable way to pass an hour or two.  

Eat out for less 

After all that crafting and Christmas lights spotting, your little ones will need some fuel - and so will you, for that matter. These venues offer free or cheap kids’ meals: 

TGI Fridays  

Kids eat free at TGI Fridays when you order an adult’s main meal. The offer is available for Stripes Rewards members all day every day, including Christmas school holidays. You’ll just need to join via their app, which is free to download through app stores.  

Sainsbury’s cafe  

If you buy a main adult’s meal from £5.20 in the Sainsburys cafe, you can get one children’s hot main meal or “lunch bag” for £1. It’s available every day from 11.30am until the cafe closes. 

Bella Italia  

At Bella Italia, kids eat free all day every Thursday and for £1 between 4–6pm Sunday to Wednesday. Meals are suitable for 2-11 year olds. This popular Italian restaurant chain also has colouring books and crayons at the tables to help keep little ones entertained. 

Dunelm 

If you don’t mind battling the Dunelm crowds in between Christmas and New Year, you can take advantage of their free kids meal deal, where they get a ‘mini main,’ two snacks and a drink for free – as long as an accompanying adult spends £4 or more. 

Dobbies 

There’s nothing quite like a trip to a Dobbies garden centre to get the kids out of the house and entertained for an hour or so. What’s more, kids can get a free breakfast or lunch for every adult main purchased. And for Sunday lunch, kids meals are just £1.  

The deal isn’t available at every Dobbies though, so check before you go.  

Christmas markets 

Stroll around local Christmas markets for some festive fun. Most are free to enter. Just bring your own snacks and drinks to avoid the overpriced mince pies and hot chocolate. 

Free museum and galleries visits  

Many museums and galleries have Christmas-themed exhibitions for kids and a lot are free to enter. It’s the perfect way to get the little ones out of the house while keeping the festive spirit alive.  

Family Pass for more savings  

Consider getting a Family Pass for discounts on cinemas, zoos, safaris, outdoor activities, and more. You can try it for £1 for 30 days. After that, it’s £49.99 a year. 

There’s no need to spend much to make memories this Christmas. Enjoy these activities, save some cash and keep the kids entertained.  

We’ve got plenty more money-saving tips and tricks to help you save more and stress less.