10 Christmas Activities to Do at Home This Holiday Season

When it comes to Christmas, there’s no need to go far to feel the festive spirit. With a few simple ideas, you can turn your home into a cosy hub of holiday fun that everyone will enjoy. Here are 10 easy and enjoyable activities to bring cheer to your home this season.

A winter BBQ brings a refreshing twist to the usual indoor gatherings, and there are plenty of Christmas BBQ ideas in the UK that work perfectly for the colder season. With a few adjustments, you can turn your garden or patio into a festive, cosy setting. Start by setting up a few outdoor heaters or draping extra blankets over seating to keep everyone warm. Decorate fairy lights or Christmas wreaths, adding a portable speaker to play some holiday classics to liven up your BBQ Christmas decorations.

For the food, think of hearty winter warmers and festive twists. Grill up spiced sausages, burgers, and veggie skewers, and pair them with comforting sides like baked potatoes, cheesy garlic bread, and roasted chestnuts. A hot drink station is a must, with options like hot chocolate, mulled wine, or spiced apple cider to keep everyone’s spirits high. For dessert, marshmallows for roasting is a great way to end the meal on a sweet note!

This is one of the unique Christmas day activities at home that lets you enjoy the crisp winter air while celebrating with a hearty meal.

Planning to spend a quiet and relaxing holiday with your better half? A Christmas spa day is the perfect idea. Transform a quiet corner of your home into a mini holiday spa. Light a few Christmas-scented candles, gather soft towels and set out a basin with warm water, Epsom salts, and a drop of essential oil for a soothing foot soak. This setup helps set the tone for a relaxed evening.

Next, try a simple facial with a mask of your choice—whether it’s store-bought or a DIY mix. While waiting for the mask to set, give each other a light hand massage using a festive-scented lotion to keep things feeling cosy.

Wrap up with a quick shoulder or back massage using a gentle oil like coconut, perhaps with a hint of peppermint for a seasonal touch. Conclude with a cup of herbal tea or spiced hot chocolate to keep the evening calm and comforting. This Christmas spa night is an easy way to enjoy a restful break together amidst the season’s busyness and one of the best Christmas activities for couples at home.

Embrace the tradition of ugly Christmas jumper day in the UK for a fun, festive twist. Start by digging out the most outrageous Christmas jumpers you can find, or, if you’re feeling creative, customise a plain jumper with tinsel, bells, or even battery-operated lights. Set up a voting system with categories like Most Ridiculous or Best Homemade for a friendly competition.

To make it a full day of fun, plan some festive activities to go along with the theme. Snap a few photos to capture everyone’s outfits, set up a small prize for the best jumper, and enjoy some holiday snacks or mulled drinks while you’re at it. You can even add a Christmas playlist to keep the mood lively.

An ugly Christmas jumper day is a lighthearted Christmas activity to do at home that gives everyone an excuse to be a bit silly during the festive season.

Turn up the festive spirit with a Christmas karaoke party at home! All you need is a good playlist of Christmas classics and a simple karaoke setup (even just a speaker and lyrics on a screen will do). Start with the best Christmas songs for karaoke, like Jingle Bell Rock or All I Want for Christmas Is You, and let everyone take turns belting out their top holiday hits. To make it even more entertaining, add props like Santa hats or reindeer antlers for an extra festive touch.

For a bit of friendly competition, create categories like Most Enthusiastic, Best Duet, or Funniest Performance, and let everyone vote. Serve some festive snacks and drinks, and turn your living room into a mini concert venue. Christmas karaoke is a fun way to enjoy Christmas activities at home, and it’s sure to bring lots of laughs and memorable moments.

Spread a bit of Christmas goodwill by organising a small donation station at home. Set up a box or basket where family members can contribute items they no longer need, like clothes, toys, or books, in good condition. You can even turn it into a family activity by gathering small essentials such as toiletries or canned foods to donate to a local food bank or shelter.

For a creative twist, set up a “giving jar” where everyone can add a small contribution over the holiday season. At the end, you can decide together where to donate the money, whether it’s a charity, a community organisation, or even a Christmas gift for someone in need.

This simple but impactful Christmas activity at home helps foster the spirit of giving and teaches everyone about the importance of generosity during the festive season.

Kick off the holiday morning with a North Pole-inspired breakfast, perfect for adding a bit of Christmas magic to the start of the day. Set up a table with festive decorations—perhaps a red and white tablecloth, mini Christmas trees, or even a sprinkle of snow (coconut flakes work well).

For a North Pole breakfast menu, think of cosy, wintry treats: pancakes or waffles with a selection of toppings, cinnamon rolls, and a hot chocolate bar with whipped cream, marshmallows, and peppermint sticks. Make it extra fun by serving food in creative ways, like mini pancake stacks or snowman-shaped toast. 

You can play some soft music in the background and enjoy a relaxed Christmas breakfast together that’s perfect for all ages. A North Pole breakfast brings a bit of holiday cheer to the start of your day, setting the tone for the festivities ahead.

A scavenger hunt is a fantastic Christmas activity at home for toddlers that adds a touch of adventure to the day. Start by hiding small festive treats or items around the house. Candy canes, tiny wrapped gifts, Christmas ornaments, or little toys are some great ideas. Create a simple list of clues or hints to guide them, like ‘Find something red and shiny’ or ‘Look where you hang your coat.’

For younger children, keep the clues visual and straightforward. You might draw a picture of the location or use an easy-to-recognise description. To make it even more fun, offer small rewards after they find each item, like stickers or mini chocolates.

This activity encourages a bit of friendly exploration, keeps little ones active, and adds an element of surprise to the day. It’s also one of the flexible Christmas activities for kids at home, so you can adapt the difficulty and number of items based on your children’s ages.

Engaging in gingerbread house decorations for home is a festive, hands-on activity that everyone can enjoy. Start with pre-made gingerbread pieces or kits for easy assembly, then set up a decorating station with a variety of colourful icings, gumdrops, sprinkles, mini marshmallows, and any other edible decorations you like.

The activity lets each person get creative with their own design, whether they’re going for a classic snowy cottage or a candy-covered holiday scene. For an extra touch, consider building a “gingerbread village” if everyone’s working on multiple houses or turning it into a friendly decorating contest with categories like “Most Festive” or “Most Creative.”

Not only does this activity bring out everyone’s creative side, but the finished gingerbread houses also make great seasonal decor. Just remember to snap a few photos before anyone takes a bite!

Revisiting family recipes can add a nostalgic touch to your Christmas activities at home. Gather the family and choose a few classic holiday dishes that hold special memories. Perhaps your grandmother’s mince pies, a secret stuffing recipe, or a traditional pudding. Cooking these dishes together brings those flavours back to the table and also lets everyone share stories and traditions that make the recipes meaningful.

For an added twist, involve everyone in the preparation, whether they’re chopping ingredients, mixing dough, or simply tasting along the way. You might even try updating an old recipe with a new ingredient or a modern cooking method, adding a fresh take on a family favourite.

Family recipes in the UK are treated as treasures, and recreating them allows everyone to connect over familiar flavours and brings a sense of continuity to the holiday. Plus, it’s a delicious way to keep cherished traditions alive.

A movie marathon is a great way to spend a cosy, festive day at home, perfect for unwinding. Create a Christmas movie marathon list filled with holiday classics, family favourites, and maybe even a new release or two. Curate a mix of genres, from heartwarming tales to comedic favourites, to keep everyone entertained throughout the day and to capture different holiday moods. Include films like Home Alone, Elf, The Polar Express, and It’s a Wonderful Life for a blend of laughs and heartfelt moments.

For a bit of added fun, set up a Christmas film quotes quiz between movies! Prepare a list of iconic quotes from your chosen films and have everyone guess which movie they’re from. To keep it simple, you could even display a quote on the screen before each film and let people guess before you press play.

Add some cosy blankets, festive snacks, and perhaps a hot chocolate station, and you’ve got yourself a fun and low-key holiday experience that’s perfect for all ages.

With these simple yet meaningful Christmas activities to do at home, your holiday can be just as joyful, cosy, and memorable as any big outing. The perfect way to bring your festive activities together is with a Christmas feast. 

But it often means that you’re tied to the kitchen instead of enjoying time with loved ones. Between planning a menu, prepping ingredients, and timing everything just right, the stress of cooking can overshadow the joy of the day.

To take the pressure off and enjoy Christmas to the fullest, consider hiring a private chef. A private chef can create a personalised festive menu that lets you relax and celebrate without the work. 

Platforms like yhangry have made it convenient to connect with talented private chefs all over the UK. Whether you want a traditional Christmas meal or something more modern, finding the right chef that fits your requirements is quick and seamless.