PRESENTS, party food and pricey days out are leaving families feeling the strain this festive season.
Research shows that almost three-quarters of us are worrying about the cost of Christmas.
And it is little wonder, with loved ones forking out as much as £500 to enjoy Yuletide activities together.
But you don’t need to break the bank with expensive visits to grottos, light displays or theatre shows.
Here, Catherine Jones and Alex Lloyd scour the UK for free days out that families will love.
PICK a day to check out a penguin parade. Twelve sculptures of the cute birds have been dotted around the Fleet Street area of central London as part of a free trail.
Each statue has its own QR code which, when scanned, reveals penguin facts narrated by children’s author and comedian Olaf Falafel.
BE dazzled when you visit the winter light trail, at the Southbank Centre until January 2. Outdoor artworks by a dozen artists are colourfully illuminated.
You could follow up with a visit to the Southbank Centre winter market, where you will find pop-up bars, street food stalls and independent craft traders.
BE nautical or nice at the London Docklands Museum in the East of the capital. Older kids can find out about life on the docks in wartime, and how Canary Wharf emerged out of marshland, at this fascinating venue.
For younger children, there are free Christmas events such as a sensory experience of the Arctic, with blizzards made of bubbles, or a baby-friendly sing-a-long to carols with London’s CK Gospel Choir.
See londonmuseum.org.uk/docklands.
POP along to see alpacas, ponies and emus at Aspens near Tunbridge Wells in Kent.
Families are also welcome to walk through the woodland, use the playground area with its giant wind chimes, and visit the café.
The charity, which supports people with learning disabilities and those on the autism spectrum, welcomes donations from visitors.
See aspens.org.uk.
THERE is no need to spend a fortune visiting reindeer farms when the magnificent creatures can be spotted in the wild at Knole Park in Sevenoaks, Kent.
You can walk in for free, without booking, to soak up the beautiful parkland and festive trail.
There is an admission fee for the historic house, but no cost for pedestrians enjoying the grounds.
See nationaltrust.org.uk.
FIND a novel way to pass the time by immersing yourself in books on a trip to Newcastle.
Kids will love the free exhibitions at the National Centre for Children’s Books, featuring author Judith Kerr’s Mog the Cat, plus classic The Tiger Who Came To Tea. On Thursdays, youngsters can enjoy free festive storytime.
GET family time on track in York at the National Railway Museum.
As well as seeing classic locomotives such as the Mallard and the futuristic Bullet train, there is a chance to spot model railways, go to signalling school or have fun in the extensive play area.
See railwaymuseum.org.uk.
GET your skates on and head for Blackpool.
Families can glide around a 20-metre ice rink with the world-famous Blackpool Tower and illuminations as their dramatic backdrop.
Visitors can simply turn up to the rink, and it is even free to rent a pair of skates. Afterwards, you can check out the nearby festive fairground rides and one of Europe’s tallest aerial swing rides.
GET crafty at The Vale, an arts centre in Mossley, Greater Manchester. Tomorrow, you can make your own winter scene with everyday recycled and found materials, and a naturally scented home decoration from dried flowers, grasses and pinecones.
See the-vale.co.uk
PEOPLE go to Lancashire from all over the world to walk in the footsteps of Lord Of The Rings author JRR Tolkien.
Join a seven-mile trail that begins at Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley.
You can see how his novels were inspired by the beautiful landscape – a great conversation starter.
UNRAVEL an animal mystery in Essex.
Kids can follow a trail, answering questions about woodland creatures, at Great Notley Country Park in Braintree.
There are plenty of other activities on offer, including fishing, football and an exhilarating 1.2km play trail featuring a giant see-saw, tyre swings, zip wire, sand play area, rope climbers, slides, forts and much more.
See explore-essex.com.
BLOW the cobwebs away with a family stroll along the beautiful Horsey Beach, a famous place to spot grey seals.
November to January is the perfect time to visit as it is birthing season, so you should see seals and plenty of their pups.
See norfolktravelguide.co.uk/horsey-beach.
THE Urban Wilderness Festival, from 11am to 5pm on December 14, is presenting an “Arabian Nights” version of Christmas in Stoke-on-Trent, with a real camel, music, storytelling, fire show, theatre with sign language, and food vendors.
AT the National Memorial Arboretum in Lichfield, Staffs, see a themed Christmas house from 1944.
Visit the cosy café and explore parkland around the museum, which honours the sacrifices of service personnel.
See thenma.org.uk.
BECOME plane-spotters at Sheldon Country Park, where you can watch aircraft taking off from Birmingham airport while exploring 300 acres of countryside and meeting animals such as pigs, goats and ponies.
See birmingham.gov.uk/sheldonpark.
In Nottingham, be wowed at Green’s Windmill and Science Centre, where you can see inside a restored, working 19th-century windmill. There is also an interactive science centre and free carol event on December 14.
See visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk.
DISCOVER toys of Christmas past in Devon. Kids can look at board games from as early as the 1600s, see the largest permanent marble run in the UK and watch glass blowing at House of Marbles in Bovey Tracy, Devon.
There is also a play area with giant games and free parking.
Visit: houseofmarbles.com/
MAKE a Victorian sci-fi steampunk outfit at Saint Nics gallery in Weymouth tomorrow. Wear it on Sunday for free entry to the festival (with a market and Christmas crafts).
Nothe Fort has a maze of tunnels and a nuclear bunker. It is also free, with views of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast.
Visit: weareweymouth.co.uk
MEET a Little Donkey in Sidmouth. Kids can meet a real life furry festive friend straight out of the nativity at the Donkey Sanctuary, which rescues and cares for donkeys.
Round off the trip with a visit to the café or treat yourself to donkey-themed gifts in the shop.
Today [6 December] there is a carol concert by candlelight with the donkeys in the barn that’s free to those who come by foot or public transport.
Visit: thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/
Get an ‘elfie in Bristol. Spot Brunelf, a 15ft ‘Elf on the Shelf’ at ten locations across Bristol until 24th December! Snap an ‘elfie’ and tag @bristolbid and @redcliffeandtemplebid, using the hashtag #Bristolelfontheshelf, to be in with the chance of winning a £500 Love Bristol Gift Card!
Visit: instagram.com/bristolbid/
MOOCH around the market in Carrickfergus. The town’s Christmas market held at the town hall on 7 December has free face painting, a visit from Santa, artisanal crafts to browse and a treasure trail.
ENJOY a Winter Wonderland for free in Lisburn with the Lisburn Light Trail at Castle Gardens. Make a day of it with live music and a chance to explore the mini Christmas Market each Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Visit: lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk
EXPLORE Game of Thrones locations in Country Antrim. If you’re a fan of cult TV show Game of Thrones you can visit iconic locations from the show for free such as The Dark Hedges (a tree-lined road between Armoy and Stranocum) and Larrybourne Quarry.
Kids will enjoy exploring the creepy Cushenden Caves which also featured in the programme, collecting shells on the nearby sandy beach and spotting the many types of seabirds.
Visit: visitbelfast.com
Visit: midandeastantrim.gov.uk
GO underground in the Valleys. Kids can go 300 feet underground with a real miner at The Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenofon to see what life was like for the thousands of men who worked at the coal face.
There is also a Santa storytelling experience available for an extra charge.
Visit: museum.wales
PARTY in Powys. The whole family can put on their dancing shoes to enjoy an afternoon of music at Hafon Yr Afon in Newtown on Saturday 14 December from 3 – 5pm.
3 DJs will take to the stage to play tunes that adults and kids will both enjoy. There’s a cafe and 130 acres of green space to explore including a kids playground.
Visit: ticketsource.co.uk/hafan-yr-afon
While adults admire artworks by famous artists like Andy Warhol and David Hockney at the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art, kids can unleash their inner artist.
Youngsters aged 5 – 12 can take part in free creative workshops (drawing, painting, sculptures, printing, or collage) on Saturdays and on the third Saturday of the month under 5s can get in on the action with music and stories linked to the art on display.
Visit: glasgowlife.org.uk
HORSE around in Falkirk. At The Helix, Home of the Kelpies in Falkirk, you can admire 30ft sculptures of horses, go cycling and walk through the lush landscapes. There is also a splash park and adventure playground.
Visit: thehelix.co.uk
GET sketching in Edinburgh. The National Museum of Scotland is offering visitors the chance to sketch items on display in the galleries from Fri 27 Dec – Sun 29 Dec, 11:00 – 15:00.
There are 12 million objects to explore including dinosaur bones and Dolly the Sheep.
Visit: nms.ac.uk
