25 fabulous free events to attend in December 2024

Catch nature’s light show

Geminid meteor shower, 14 & 15 December

There’s a stunning, free light show happening this month – and it’s right above your head! The Geminid meteor shower is set to illuminate the sky throughout December, but peaks in the middle of the month. Head to the darkest location you can, bring something comfy to lie on and simply wait for the magic to unfold. Fingers crossed for clear skies!

Free events in London and the South East

Christmas at Trafalgar Square, London, throughout December. Credit: Getty Images

Embrace a historic tree-dition

Christmas at Trafalgar Square, London, throughout December

A card usually does the trick, but Norway’s taken gratitude to new heights – they’ve been sending us a massive Christmas tree since 1947 as a thank you for Britain’s support in World War II. The 25-metre Norwegian spruce takes pride of place in Trafalgar Square, where you can watch it get all lit up on 5 December, before it sets the stage for carol singers to do their thing from 9 December.

Create a gift for nature

Giving back this Christmas, London, 7 December – 5 January

Want to spread some festive cheer to wildlife? Pop into WWT London for these crafty family workshops where kids can make pine cone bird feeders, and thank-you cards that’ll bloom into wildflowers. 

This event won’t cost anything for Boundless members, who get access to year-round savings including unlimited entry to the all nine WWT centres. 

Step into a festive playground

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London, 21 November – 5 January

Hyde Park’s annual Winter Wonderland is no secret, but here’s a trick you might have missed: book your visit during off-peak times – generally weekdays before 2pm – and you’ll get in without spending a thing. Although you’ll have to pay for your mulled wines, hog roasts or a whizz around the ice rink, it’s totally free to simply mooch around and soak up the magical Christmas atmosphere. The best part? Once you’re in, you can stay as long as you like.

Say goodbye to seasonal stress

Creative Encounters: December Survival Kit, London, 11 December

Love or hate this time of year, there’s no denying it can be overwhelming. This drop-in evening session is your ticket to seasonal sanity. There’ll be live music and laughter to help you shake off the stress, but you’ll also come away with practical tips dealing with everything December throws at you.

Mark the winter solstice

Burning the Clocks, Brighton, 21 December

Brighton lights up the longest, darkest of nights with a spectacular community parade of handmade lanterns. After passing through the city, they’re thrown into a massive bonfire on the beach, topped off with an epic fire show and fireworks display.

Cheer on an unusual race 

Serpentine Christmas Day Race, London, 25 December

While you’re still in your pyjamas on Christmas morning, a bunch of brave folk will be diving into Hyde Park’s freezing lake. It’s been a festive tradition of the Serpentine Swimming Club since 1854, and while you need to be a club member to take the plunge, you can cheer on these plucky swimmers from the sidelines. It’s guaranteed to make you feel warmer!

Free events in the South West and Wales

Made in Bristol Gift Fair, 7 & 14 December

Get sparkly by the seaside

Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland, 15 November – 31 December

Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens get a magical makeover as this trail of glittering Christmas trees lights up a path towards the seafront. While there are paid extras like ice skating and an alpine lodge-style bar, the twinkly lights are all yours to admire – the perfect spot for those seasonal selfies! 

If you’re a Boundless member, don’t forget that you can save 20% at Bournemouth West Cliff Hotel and Spa if you want to stop over. You’ll also receive free spa access and 10% off spa treatments while you’re there – in fact, all your member benefits, including free parking, add up to £46.

Hunt for vintage treasures

Winter Vintage and Makers Market, Swansea, 7 & 8 December

Bored of trawling the high street for Christmas presents and decorations? For a spot of festive shopping with a difference, head to the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, where you’ll find stalls selling everything from retro ornaments to handmade jumpers. It's free to enter, but keeping your wallet in your pocket may be easier said than done! 

Pick up a one-of-a-kind gift

Made in Bristol Gift Fair, Bristol, 7 & 14 December

Another option for gift shopping is to make a beeline for this annual gift bonanza. With up to 200 local makers sweeping over six whole floors of the Bristol Beacon, it’s the perfect place to discover those one-of-a-kind presents while championing independent creatives. Even if you’re not there to buy, you’re bound to leave brimming with inspiration.

Embrace Wales’s winter traditions

The Mari Lwyd and Hunting of the Wren, Cardiff, 7 – 8 & 14 – 15 December

At St Fagans National Museum of History, you can watch two ancient Welsh winter traditions spring to life: the rather eerie Mari Lwyd (complete with decorated horse skull), and Hunting the Wren. And for a spot of more familiar festive cheer, local brass bands and choirs will be performing seasonal favourites throughout the day.

Free events in the Midlands and East

A workshop in Derby will help you make your own wreath. Credit: Getty Images

Get all starry-eyed

The Christmas Star, near Peterborough, 4 December

Ever wondered if the Star of Bethlehem was actually real? Join Boundless’s Peterborough Group for this afternoon talk that will unpack the theories behind this celestial mystery. Hosted at the Peterborough Milton Golf Club.


This event is free to Boundless members, who also get free entry to top attractions, exclusive events, and year-round savings. Interested, but not yet a Boundless member? Find out more about membership and how to join.

Add some sparkle to your life

Royal Leamington Spa Christmas Tree Festival, 7 – 15 December

What could be more heartwarming than the sight of dozens of Christmas trees twinkling with festive lights? This festival sees local organisations, schools and community groups decorate trees in their own unique ways. With prizes up for grabs, you can expect some seriously spectacular designs!

Have a frightfully good time

Supernatural Norfolk, near Norwich, 12 December

Halloween may have been and gone, but the supernatural doesn’t clock off come Christmas! If you’re a Norfolk local, you might be interested in this spine-tingling talk, which tells spooky stories of hauntings, witchcraft, devil dogs and other unexplained phenomena right on your doorstep. Hosted by Boundless’s Norwich Group at the SugarBeat Eating House.

This event is free to Boundless members, who also get free entry to top attractions, exclusive events, and year-round savings. Interested, but not yet a Boundless member? Find out more about membership and how to join.

Craft a Christmas centrepiece

Festive Wreath Workshop, Derby, 14 December

Turn natural materials into a festive masterpiece at this drop-in wreath crafting session (it’s free, but bring your own foliage if you can). Once you’re finished, pop over to Cathedral Quarter for a merry afternoon of brass bands, choirs and more festive fun.  

If you’re not local and you’d love to polish your wreath-making skills, you’re in luck – there’s a Boundless online masterclass that walks you through it. See below for details.

Free events in the North of England

Malton Christmas Festival, Malton, 7 & 8 December

Have a merry old time

Christmas Party, Chester, 4 December

The festive season wouldn’t be complete without fun, games and good company, and they’ll be in abundance at this afternoon party hosted by Boundless’s Chester and Wirral Group at the Five Villages Hall, Chester. There’ll be a free buffet lunch, along with hot and soft drinks – all you need to bring are your favourite tipples, plus a small wrapped silly gift for a draw.

This event is free to Boundless members, who also get free entry to top attractions, exclusive events, and year-round savings. Interested, but not yet a Boundless member? Find out more about membership and how to join.

Check off your Christmas shopping

Malton Christmas Festival, Malton, 7 & 8 December

Malton’s marketplace transforms into a festive wonderland for its merriest weekend of the year. Local traders showcase Yorkshire’s finest, while brass bands and choirs bring the Christmas spirit.

Catch a festive kaleidoscope

Manchester Christmas Parade, Manchester, 8 December

After dazzling thousands last Christmas, Manchester’s newest festive tradition is back – and set to be even bigger and better. The train of live music, dance and giant festive characters kicks off from Manchester Cathedral at 1pm, but there’ll be plenty more festive fun popping up elsewhere across the day.

Unleash your inner birder

Wild walk – Wild bird feeding stations, near Sunderland 14 December

If you can’t tell your willow tit from your coal tit, join this one-hour walk around the feeding stations at WWT Washington. Under the guidance of a friendly expert, you’ll learn how to identify these winged woodland residents and pick up a few pro birding tips along the way.

The many benefits of Boundless membership include unlimited entry to all nine WWT centres throughout the UK. Find out more about membership and how to join.

Free events in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Belfast Christmas Market, 16 November – 22 December. Credit: Getty Images

Get your tail wagging

*We Love Dogs!, Belfast, until 21 December

If you love dogs, you’d be barking mad to miss this exhibition. From chihuahuas to great danes, picture-perfect pups of all shapes and sizes have been put on display at Belfast Exposed, Northern Ireland’s leading photography centre. Featuring images taken by proud owners and by professionals, it’s bound to raise a smile in any dog lover.

Step into a Dickensian wonderland

Belfast Christmas Market, Selected dates from 16 November – 22 December

Set against Belfast’s stunning City Hall, this Christmas market has got to be one of the most picturesque in the UK. And if you’ve ever fancied stepping into a Dickens novel, here’s your chance: on the first and third weekends, you’ll catch characters from these classics roaming the market, bringing their beloved stories to life through storytelling and performances. 

Take a glimpse into Christmases past

Castle Fraser, Inerurie, Aberdeenshire, 22 November – 21 December

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, this stately home – one of Scotland’s finest – will sport festive decorations that represent the last 400 years, so you can experience Christmas through the ages as you explore its nooks and crannies.

This event is free for Boundless Plus members, who have unlimited access to all National Trust for Scotland places. Find out more about membership and how to join. 

Top up your Christmas spirit

Loch Lomond Christmas Festival, Balloch, 7 & 8 December

Loch Lomond is magical year-round, but one stretch of its shoreline will be extra sparkly over this weekend of festive cheer. You’ll have to pay to take a spin on the carousel or pick up that perfect gift, but it costs nothing to soak up the Christmas spirit. 

Free online events

Discover the secret lives of the Tudors

The History of Hampton Court Palace at Christmas, 17 December

This online history lesson – an exclusive for Boundless members – lifts the curtain on England’s most talked-about royal dynasty, sharing the family feuds, love affairs and scandals that played out within the walls of Henry VIII’s precious palace. Who needs TV dramas when you’ve got the Tudors?

This online talk is free to Boundless members, who also get free entry to top attractions, exclusive events, and year-round savings. Don’t forget that Boundless Plus members can also visit Hampton Court Palace all year round, with unlimited entry to all Historic Royal Palaces sites. Interested, but not yet a Boundless member? Find out more about membership and how to join.

Deck the halls like a pro

Boundless Masterclasses, anytime

Before you fill your shopping basket with shop-bought cards and decorations, you might want to check out Boundless’s festive online craft masterclasses, available on demand for members. You can learn how to craft a fabulous floral table centrepiece or show-stopping festive wreath, and although the festive cards workshop is for kids, once you see the art of iris-folding (layering folded paper), you’ll want to do it too. Each of these provides a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills, have fun and add some festive flair to your home.

These online masterclasses are free for Boundless members, who also get free entry to top attractions, exclusive events, and year-round savings. Interested, but not yet a Boundless member? Find out more about membership and how to join.

And one more, as our festive gift to you… 

The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide 2024, 3 December

If writing your Christmas shopping list has left you scratching your head, journalist Isabella Silvers has scoured the stores so you don’t have to, and will be sharing this year’s most coveted gifts in this member-exclusive online talk. From the latest tech to those ‘holy grail’ beauty buys, you’re bound to leave with fresh ideas for even the trickiest people on your list.

This online talk is free to Boundless members, who also get free entry to top attractions, exclusive events, and year-round savings. Interested, but not yet a Boundless member? Find out more about membership and how to join.

Do more with Boundless

If you're working in or retired from the public sector or civil service, Boundless has two great membership options to choose from: Boundless and Boundless Plus.

With Boundless, you get unlimited access or discounted entry to many of the UK’s top attractions including Kew Gardens and Wakehurst and WWT centres across the UK, as well as year-round deals on restaurants, holidays, shopping and much more. With Boundless Plus, you can enjoy additional benefits including unlimited access to Historic Royal Palaces sites, National Trust for Scotland places, access to the Ramblers' extensive group walks and routes, and peace of mind with roadside assistance and local recovery by LV= Britannia Rescue.