The best things to do at Christmas with the kids

Christmas with kids makes the whole festive season feel that bit more magical. Seeing the holidays through the eyes of little ones can bring out the kid in you, from the opening of that first advent calendar door to the tearing of presents on Christmas morning.

But, as every parent knows, the festive season can also come with a fair bit of stress. There's a list as long as your arm of things to do, while the school holidays mean constantly trying to keep the kids entertained.

You may want to create precious memories, but with Christmas already doing its best to empty your bank account, finding fun things to do that don’t cost a fortune can be tricky.

That’s where we come in. At Hungry Horse, we’ve got everything from Breakfast with Santa and indoor soft play to festive food and fun spots where the kids can let off a little Christmas steam. Plus, with plenty of deals and offers to help keep costs down, you can enjoy more festive fun without blowing the Christmas budget.

Festive things to do with the kids at Christmas

We’ve got plenty of festive cheer to keep you in the Christmas spirit all holiday season, and if you’re stuck for Christmas things to do, we’ve got plenty of ideas to keep the kids entertained.

Write that all-important Santa letter

Let little ones scribble down their dream present wish list for the big man in red. Post it in a special letterbox or hand it over to Santa himself at one of our festive breakfast events.

Have some festive fun at the Christmas markets

We love a local Christmas market for the twinkly lights, the hum of the crowd, and the abundance of festive treats. Give your kids a little pocket money and let them pick one thing for themselves or a gift for someone else. If it’s a novelty decoration, we say the tackier the better…

Make the Christmas tree magical

Kids love to decorate the tree and by decorate, we mean just chuck tinsel, baubles and fairy lights at the branches so the finished result looks like it’s been decorated with a leaf blower. But that’s all part of the fun, and once they’ve gone to bed, you can give it a bit of a polish.

See the Christmas lights in London

Everywhere looks wonderful at Christmas, but London holds a special place in our hearts. From Regents Street to Carnaby Street, there are so many illuminations to discover and it’s all free of charge.

Take a tour of the local Christmas lights

Don’t fancy London? There are plenty of lights to ogle closer to home. Pile into the car, whack on the festive tunes and take a little tour as a family. Bonus points for spotting the house that’s clearly spending a year’s worth of electricity in the month of December alone.

Plan a window-shopping trip

Christmas is pricey, but window-shopping is the perfect budget-friendly option. We all know the big stores go all out with their window displays, but we also have a soft spot for the independent boutiques who make a special effort too. Plus, it’s always nice to support local businesses around the holidays.

Cook up a festive food feast

What is Christmas without the festive food? Whip up a batch of Christmas cupcakes or cut pizza into the shape of a reindeer and let little ones pile on their choice of topping. It doesn’t matter if it’s messy or lacking in flavour. What matters is how proud they’ll feel of their culinary creations.

Visit a Christmas pantomime

Pantomime isn’t a must at Christmas? Oh yes it is! Tickets can be expensive, so check online to find the best deals or book for off-peak weekday or matinee performances.

Embrace the holidays with a magical Christmas movie marathon

Whether it’s Home Alone, Elf, Love Actually or Die Hard (yes, it’s a festive film, we won’t be told otherwise) they’re all over the streaming services at Christmas or go old school and check the TV guide to see when they’re on proper telly. Cosy up on the sofa, snacks at the ready, and let the festive nostalgia wash over you!

Build a gingerbread pub

Why settle for a gingerbread house when you can create a fully edible Hungry Horse? Add a biscuit beer garden, marshmallow pints and maybe a Jelly Baby landlord. Just don’t expect it to last until New Year’s…

Throw a festive fancy-dress party

Let the kids dress as elves, reindeer or even a Christmas pudding. Parents can join in too with a novelty jumper. Pick a theme with your friends and family and hand out prizes for best-dressed.

Track down Father Christmas

He’s a hard man to pin down at Christmas with his busy schedule, so check out your local events to see if he’s popping by. Better yet, stop by our Breakfast with Santa at Hungry Horse and enjoy some quality time together as well as a tasty meal.

Head to Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park

For a proper festive day out, visit Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park. With rides, food, games and plenty of Christmas cheer, there’s enough to keep the whole family entertained. Just be prepared for the kids to spot the most expensive ride in the entire place within approximately 30 seconds of arriving.

Why Christmas at Hungry Horse is made for families

Christmas is all fun and games until you're the one left hosting. Then it's all cooking schedules, seating to fit the whole family, and a daily vacuuming schedule so the house is spotless by December 25th. And yes, we know Aunt Jean will still run a judgemental finger over every surface...

So why not leave some of the hosting to Hungry Horse? We can take care of all the details while you focus on the festivities.

Plus, our pubs are made for the whole family. We're talking babies enjoying their first Christmas, kids counting down the days until their visit from Santa, moody teenagers pretending to be too cool to care, and parents trying to make it a holiday they'll want to remember. Whenever you need to get out of the house, gather the gang and make Hungry Horse your perfect festive pit stop:

• It’s stress-free - no cooking, no dishes, no worries.
• It’s value-packed - kids’ mains, puddings, plus daily deals that keep budgets in check.
• It’s child-friendly - menus they’ll love, play areas to go wild in, and colouring sheets to enjoy.
• It’s magical - festive food, fairy lights, and a chance for kids to see Santa in the flesh.

At the end of the day, Christmas isn’t really about the presents under the tree; it’s about giving kids moments they’ll remember (and maybe a pudding covered in ice cream and sprinkles).

Discover Hungry Horse for Christmas events and fun family activities this year

Whether it’s a magical Breakfast with Santa, a kids’ meal deal after Christmas shopping, or a wild and wonderful afternoon at Wacky Warehouse, Hungry Horse is the perfect place for families this festive season. Because while Santa might only visit once a year, we’re here all December making sure your Christmas is full of food, fun, and festive sparkle. And let’s face it, what’s Christmas without a little hungry horseplay?

Finding your nearest festive pub is easy. Just put your postcode or location into our handy pub finder, and see what's close to you.