The winter season is one of fun, feasting and festivity. It’s a great time for seeing friends and family and celebrating together. All this festive fun does end up getting expensive, however, and many of us feel the crunch. Budget nights out are a great way to still enjoy the season without having to worry about the cost.
Below we look at some of the best free and low-cost nights out in London this Christmas.
Empire Casino
Many people don’t consider casinos when they’re planning an inexpensive night out. In reality, as long as you set a budget and stick to it, you can have a great night out without spending too much. Empire Casino is located in bustling Leicester Square, the heart of London’s entertainment district. This year, they’re also offering several Christmas promotions.
Empire Casino is also a great choice because it offers free entry to players and has many low stakes games available. Of course, there are also numerous online options like £10 deposit casinos if you feel like staying in this Christmas.
Leicester Square Christmas market
Is any holiday season complete without a trip to a Christmas market? The Leicester Square Christmas market is the best in London and features all of the classic stalls. You’ll find plenty of tasty treats, holiday gifts and novelties. Christmas markets are the perfect spot for finding any last-minute decorations to get your home Christmas ready. Don’t forget to take your picture with Paddington Bear or Mr Bean!
The Leicester Square Christmas market is also home to Spiegeltent, a venue hosting the 1920s-inspired La Clique show. La Clique is a blend of cabaret, aerialists, circus acts, comedy and music. Tickets have been selling very quickly but there are still seats available for most of the dates leading up to New Year’s Eve.
KERB food markets
The food truck renaissance is here and we’re loving it. Food trucks and market stalls are no longer just for chips, sandwiches and coffee – you can now enjoy restaurant-quality dishes from every cuisine at a more budget-friendly price point. Food markets have become a major feature of the UK food scene and KERB is one of the big names behind this growth.
KERB currently operates five food markets around the city. Most are open on Thursdays and/or Saturdays, with six to eight food stalls at each market – Gipsy Hill is an exception, with only one stall at the taproom. The cheeky Sen Noods at the National Theatre market is a favourite and their Chashu or Vegan Ramens are perfect for a chilly afternoon meal. At the Seven Dials location, El Pollote and Ong Ongs Buns will almost always have a line, but they’re worth the wait.
National Gallery
A trip to the National Gallery is a peaceful break from the hustle and bustle of busy holiday London. One of the reasons that the National Gallery is such a perfect museum to visit is that their collection is so diverse. If you’ve got a bit of the winter blues, Georges Seurat’s Bathers at Asnières and Claude Monet’s Bathers at La Grenouillère both bring a ray of sunshine. Their cafe also has a seasonal afternoon tea menu that deserves a try.
The National Gallery typically offers a combination of free and ticketed temporary exhibitions. The current ticketed exhibition is in its final weeks and is certainly worth a visit. It is a portrait series by the 17th century Dutch artist Frans Hals, and the emotion and presence he managed to capture on canvas remains striking.
Richmond Park
While the forecast doesn’t look promising for a white Christmas this year, the weather is perfect for a winter walk. Richmond Park is a lovely London destination for a stroll. The free entry adds to the appeal and means there’s an opportunity for a hot chocolate or mulled wine to warm up after your walk. You can also make some cocktails at home before heading out.
Richmond Park is the largest of the Royal Parks in London, so walks of any length can be planned. If you take the Tamsin Trail, you’ll stop at three of the park’s iconic viewpoints – King Henry’s Mound, the North Downs and Sawyer’s Hill. One of the biggest draws of the park is deer spotting. The large herd of 650 deer can be seen throughout the park and adds to the serenity of the scene.
