Browse the site
We've rounded up some FREE and low cost days out to keep you busy in December! Remember to browse our What's on guide for lots more!
1. Alton's Garden Centre VR Sleigh ride - £3 - No booking required, simply turn up and pay for your golden ticket. We have tried out this ride (twice) and highly recommend.
2. Scott's Garden Centre VR Sleigh Ride - £5 - Bookable online until 15th December, enjoy DASH's Lapland Adventure. Your intrepid journey will soon begin, along with the incredible range of motions our cart has to offer; two front fans and surround sound for a fully immersive 4D experience
3. The Victoria Shopping Centre Winter trail - FREE - Until 16th December - Visit the Winter Trail station located by Esquires Coffee. Collect your trail map and start exploring! Find hidden letters around the centre in 15 of the stores. Unscramble the letters to reveal a festive message.
Once you've cracked the code, return to the Winter Trail station by Esquires Coffee and post your completed map in our post-box. Complete the trail and you'll be entered into our fantastic competition for a chance to WIN a fabulous Christmas hamper!
4. Christmas Open Day - FREE EVENT - Waterside Leisure Centre, SS8 9RA - 10th December 2023
Completely free event with soft play, entertainer/magician, bouncy castles, Christmas story corner, Christmas party games, £1 swimming all day and lots more activities Activities at Southchurch Library - FREE - Events including tree decoration and bauble decorating, Christmas Rock Painting, Christmas bookmarks and Christmas Construction brick building
5. Hanningfield Reindeer Trail - £4 pp - Follow the reindeer trail, answer questions and win a prize - 16 Dec 2023 - 24 Dec 2023
6. Children's Christmas Storytelling - £2 pp - Cliff's Pavilion - Enjoy Christmas stories with an expert storyteller. No need to book so just turn up! - 16th December 2023
7. Lego Club Christmas Event - FREE - 17th December - Build the nativity, create Christingles, mince pies and treats with a special guest! - 17th December
8. Kid's Christmas Film - Hadleigh Hub - £5 but includes a child's Christmas lunch bag - 22nd December 2023
9. Children's Christmas Party - Hadleigh Hub - £5 entry but also includes child's hot meal and drink - 21st December 2023
10. Southend City Teddy Bear Trail - FREE - uncover hidden letters held by our Christmas teddy bears in venues around Southend. Once all the letters have been found, spell out the Christmas word at the end! Running until 21st December 2023
11. Activities at Southchurch Library - FREE - Events including tree decoration and bauble decorating, Christmas Rock Painting, Christmas bookmarks and Christmas Construction brick building
12. Children's Christmas Crafts - FREE Shoeburyness Library
13. 401 Winter Wonderland - Rides just £3, Glice-Skating £5 - A smaller, but *less expensive* version of Winter Wonderland for the little ones. Running every Thursday - Sunday until Sat 23rd December
14. Christmas Markets - FREE entry - Have a browse through our Christmas Markets article - There's still lots going on with lots being free entry including Big up Southend Christmas Special and Meadow Croft Garden Centre German market
15. Drive to see the Christmas Lights - FREE- Including the popular Westbourne Lights -
16. Animal Mysteries Festive Trail - FREE - Hadleigh Country Park - Pick up or download a free Animal Mysteries Trail this festive season. Find and count the winter animals hiding in the park and discover the magic number to enter our prize draw to win an Explorer Pass. From 16th - 31st December 2023
17. Eastwood Community Christmas Crafts - FREE - Festive crafts with The Art Ministry, suitable for ages 3-11 years
18. Winter Reading Challenge - FREE - Take part in the Mini Winter Challenge to help keep children reading through the winter break. Create your profile and discover fun games, activities, book reviews and author content! You'll be able to set yourself a reading goal of three or more books and unlock special online rewards!
The challenge runs from 1st December - 19th February.
19. Lathcoat's Farm Christmas Trail - £4.50 per child - Chelmsford, CM2 8LX - Various dates throughout December
FA magical self-guided interactive walk through the beautifully decorated animal area and stables at Lathcoats Farm. Collect your activity sheet from the farm shop and then follow the trail as you discover the 12 days of Christmas.
20. Trust Links Christmas Party - FREE - Join trust links for a Christmas party - Including Santa's grotto, Christmas games and crafts, Scavenger hunt, Christmas music, hot drinks. RSVP following the link - 15th December 2023
