'Tis the season to be jolly! Christmas is right around the corner, and the excitement is beginning to build for the most festive time of the year. There are a variety of different activities that you and your family can enjoy in the lead-up to Christmas and on the day itself, to get the most out of the magical period.

We at Quidco have got you covered with 10 of the best activities to give you plenty to look forward to in the lead up to Christmas.

Christmas outdoor activities

While the winter months can be colder than we like, it is the perfect opportunity to wrap up warm and take part in activities you can’t usually do throughout the rest of the year.

Visit a Christmas market

Christmas markets are becoming a must-visit year after year as the festive season gets into full swing. There are a number of superb Christmas markets all around the UK for people to enjoy. Alton Towers is having its annual Santa’s Sleepover event this year, which includes a festive day out exploring the Towers Street Christmas market.

Ice Skating

Skating around with friends or family on an ice rink could be the perfect activity to do this Christmas. Whether it's your first time ice skating, or you are a veteran, it can be so much fun for all ages, and it will be especially fun for your children who may have never had the experience before.

Build a snowman

If the snow falls this Christmas season, there’s nothing better than building a snowman - it’s fun for the whole family! You can band together to create the best snowman possible, or make it a friendly competition by each creating your own. If this year is a white Christmas, it may be the perfect activity to do on Christmas Day.

Go sledging

Sledging is another snow-themed activity, and all it takes is a sledge and one snowy hill to have hours of fun with the whole family! Sledging on the snowy slopes can work off that cabin fever, especially if you have guests staying over during the Christmas season.

Christmas activities at home

Thanks to the frosty chill of winter, a lot of people will prefer being in the warm indoors with the fire roaring, enjoying activities that the whole family can take part in.

Family game night by the Christmas tree

A family game night is a great way to spend any evening, but nothing may be a better Christmas Day activity than playing some board games with the family while sitting next to the Christmas tree! There are a bunch of classic games you can enjoy as a family, including Monopoly, Cluedo, and Ludo. You can get multiple cashback and discount opportunities when purchasing board games from The Entertainer through Quidco!

Watch Christmas movies

Now is the perfect time to get into the festive spirit by watching Christmas movies with the whole family. There is more choice than ever, as there are new Christmas movie releases every year. Check out our best Christmas movies guide to see what movies you should watch this Christmas!

Christmas food activities

Christmas is the time of year when we can stuff our faces with food without being judged for it. There are plenty of food-related activities you can take part in this Christmas that can be fun for the whole family.

Make Christmas desserts

There are a number of different Christmas desserts that you can make this festive season.. From apple pies to a chocolate yule log, there are plenty of Christmas desserts to choose from and it will be sure to get you into the Christmas spirit when making and eating the delicious dishes.

Build a gingerbread house

This one is especially fun for the kids, but building a gingerbread house is a famous Christmas Day tradition and something the whole family can get involved with. You can add an element of competitiveness to this by offering prizes for the best or most creative gingerbread houses.

Christmas craft activities

There are plenty of craft activities for the creative individuals out there. Taking some time to complete craft activities can be the perfect way to relax this Christmas.

Make your own Christmas decorations

It’s easy to buy Christmas decorations and hang them up, but this Christmas, why not spend less money and invest time in making your own Christmas decorations and hanging them up around your house? Recycling last year's Christmas cards could be a great way to do this, by cutting them into different shapes and stringing them up on your walls!

Write custom letters to Father Christmas

One of the most special parts of Christmas is getting your children to have a closer connection with the festivities, and the perfect way to do this is to get them to write custom letters to Santa about what gifts they want this year. You can even take this a step further by ordering a Christmas letter from Father Christmas to give to your kids! You can get cashback on Christmas Letters from Santa via the Quidco website.

Christmas activities FAQs

There’s a variety of popular Christmas activities that you can do during the festive season. Some of the most popular activities include visiting a Christmas tree farm, baking cookies, building a gingerbread house, watching Christmas movies, and going to Christmas markets.

What do you do at home for Christmas?

Most people tend to spend their day at home on Christmas. There are a number of activities you can do at home on Christmas Day, including playing board games, doing a festive jigsaw puzzle, and watching a Christmas movie.

What should adults do for Christmas?

There is a big difference between how children spend Christmas and how adults want to spend it. Alcohol is a big part of most adults' Christmas celebrations, so during the festive season, why not drink something that represents the time of year, like eggnog or some Christmas cocktails?