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Cheapskate Kids - winter holiday 2025
London’s best free family events from Weds 17th Dec-Sun 4th Jan
Hey there! 👋
Welcome to a very special festive edition of Cheapskate Kids! From Santa’s grottos to Christmas markets, this time of year can be extortionate, so we’re honoured to bring you the best things to do with kids over the next few weeks for FREE 🧡
If you find Cheapskate Kids helpful, we’d love it if you could spread the word about our newsletter using your personalised referral code: https://cheapskatekids.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER. You’ll have our eternal gratitude and appreciation!
Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or just enjoying being around loved ones this December, we hope it’s filled with joy & love, & we wish you all the best going into 2026!
Hope you have a fantastic holiday season,
Kate, Georgia and Clementine x
PS: Congrats to reader Ilana M, who won a family ticket to the bougie creative playspace Mome London in our October half term edition. Scroll down for your chance to win a copy of the much-hyped new novel Family Drama!
EVENTS
Baby: 0-1, Toddler: 1-3, Child: 4-12, Teen: 13-19
🐕 Good grief!There’s still time to catch this series of Peanuts-themed sculptures throughout the Fleet Street Quarter celebrating the iconic image of Snoopy on his red doghouse. 👧 BABY➜CHILD | 🏟️ Stratford shindigsThe Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is playing host to lots of fab family-friendly events this Dec, including this family fun day & this A Christmas Carol-themed dance performance. 👧 TODDLER➜TEEN |
🕎 Festival of LightsCelebrate Hanukkah at this object handling session at the Museum of the Home, in collaboration with Rinkoffs Bakery (yep, there will be doughnuts!). 👧 TODDLER➜TEEN | 🎨 While you’re shopping……get a Christmas tree, reindeer or Grinch artfully rendered on your child’s face at these free face painting sessions at Battersea Power Station (Turbine Hall A). 👧 TODDLER➜CHILD |
 | 📚 Competition time!Fancy immersing yourself in a powerful meditation on family, motherhood & the cost of holding on to your dreams? We’re thrilled to be giving away a signed hardback copy of Family Drama, the highly anticipated & “magnificent” debut novel by Cheapskate reader Rebecca Fallon (released on 15th Jan). To be in with a chance of winning, get someone you know to subscribe to Cheapskate Kids by sending them this link (it contains your personalised referral code): https://cheapskatekids.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER. Once they’ve signed up, you’ll be entered into the draw. Good luck! 💛 |
🎧 Don’t stop the musicGet ready to hit the dance floor at Woolwich Works’ annual end of term party, where a DJ will be on hand to blast classic tunes. No booking required. 👧 TODDLER➜TEEN | 🏛️ Io Saturnalia!Before there was Christmas, there was the Saturnalia. Learn about the Ancient Roman solstice festival through drop-in family crafts activities at the London Mithraeum. 👧 BABY➜TEEN |
🎥 Family film nightOn two Fridays this winter break, The Heathcote & Star will be hosting a double bill of animated films for all the family. Film choices TBC – watch this space! 👧 BABY➜TEEN | 🎄 A cosy Christmas cornerPop into IKEA Wembley this Sat for wholesome festive storytelling all about the magic of Christmas. You’ll need to book this one in advance, as tickets are selling out! 👧 TODDLER➜CHILD |
 | 👴 Golden oldiesDesign a Christmas card for a Chelsea Pensioner this weekend at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, & there’s also gingerbread decorating on the same day. 👧 CHILD |
🎅 He’s making a list…Santa’s in trouble & needs your help! Search for the items on his list at this half-hour musical & sensory treasure hunt all around the London Museum Docklands. 👧 TODDLER➜CHILD | 🎙️ Mic dropYouth podcast platform Podxparty is hosting a live showcase for a range of talented young speakers, rappers & actors at Boxpark Wembley. Suitable for ages 15+. 👧 TEEN |
🍽️ The table is setThe Kids’ Table is taking over Boxpark Croydon this festive season to provide arts, crafts & other tabletop fun to keep little ones entertained while you browse & relax. 👧 BABY➜CHILD | 🪡 Designers of tomorrowDo you have a creative child aged between 11 & 14? If so, take them to the Young V&A’s Design Club, where they can create sequin patches using biodegradable materials. 👧 CHILD➜TEEN |
 | 🥂 Bring on 2026!It’s the big one! To ring in 2026 (well, count down to noon) in style, the Southbank Centre is throwing a massive family-friendly NYE party, complete with Caribbean grooves, party games & even a dance competition. 👧 BABY➜CHILD |
And for dessert...
🫶 Want to support Cheapskate without spending any money? Please click on our links like this one - it won’t cost you a thing, but you’ll massively help with our running costs.
🦃 A special shout-out to some of the amazing organisations offering free Christmas dinners to those in need this year, like The Alexandra in Wimbledon, Cummin Up in Lewisham & Hoxton catering company Humdingers.
👶 It’s a wedding registry, but for babies. Amazon’s baby wishlist allows you to select everything you’ll need during pregnancy & the newborn stage, & see it all in one place – plus, you’ll then get a discount on all eligible items! If you do buy anything (baby-related or otherwise!) from Amazon, please use our affiliate link to help us make a bit of extra cash.
📸 One of my resolutions for 2026 is to print more photos, so my daughter has a physical record of her early years. That’s why I’m really excited to try Mosaic Journal: you upload daily photos in an app, and they send you monthly prints to keep in a beautiful album. Use the code CHEAPSKATE for 10% off – and if you order within 24 hours of receiving this email, you’ll get it in time for Christmas (cut-off: 18th Dec). - Kate
🎭 We love the Unicorn Theatre near London Bridge for family-friendly plays & storytelling, & they have two fab-sounding festive shows for various age groups on until early Jan – all the tickets are under £30!
What did you think of this edition? |
We try to only include accurate information, but sometimes things can change. Everything included in the newsletter is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time the newsletter is sent out. Sometimes we make money from the links we include (like this one!) but we only recommend things we genuinely like. You can also support us by joining the Cheapskate club as a monthly or annual member.
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