37 fun winter activities to do whatever the weather

You don’t need lots of snow to have fun this winter. Discover 37 fun winter activities that will be keeping you busy until Spring

Whether it’s rainy or snowing outside, there are so many winter activities you can do. It may be cold and seem like it will never end, but if you make the most of Winter you’ll rediscover how cosy and fun it can be. Here’s some of my favourite winter activities.

Reading a book

When it’s freezing outside, this is the perfect time to get wrapped up in a good book. Grab a steaming hot cup of tea or hot chocolate piled high with marshmallows and get lost in the story.

Bake a gingerbread house

Even if you’re not very good at baking, there are loads of gingerbread house kits you can buy. There’s something so festive about building and decorating a gingerbread house.

Visiting a Christmas market is one of the best winter activities

One of my favourite winter activities is to visit a Christmas market. What I love most about them is that they’re everywhere, whether you’re in the UK or heading to Europe. Bruges is definitely one to put on your list – it has a Christmas market that is famed for its pretty wooden chalets and a glittering ice rink. It’s the perfect parcel of Winter goodness. I also love paying a visit to Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland. There’s a real mix of everything there from theme park rides to a traditional Christmas market.

Make mulled wine

Even on the coldest of days, a sip of warm mulled wine will warm you up instantly.

Bake a pie

Homemade apple pie coated in lashings of hot custard is the perfect winter warmer. Make yours from scratch using some of the tastiest apples so you get a tangy surprise when you bite into it.

Cosy up your home with candles

Candles really help set the mood and can help to relax you. You can pick candles with scents to match the season such as the Winter Signature candle. You can also buy candles designed specifically to have a calming effect. You’ll feel so cosy wrapped up in a blanket in front of the telly.

Ice skating is one of the most exciting winter activities

During winter you’re spoilt for choice with the amount of ice skating rinks that pop up everywhere. Whether it’s a shopping centre or a Christmas market you’re bound to find the perfect ice skating rink to practice your figure 8s.

Cook marshmallows over a roaring fire

One of the best cheap but simple winter activities. Grab a bumper pack of marshmallows, poke them on to long sticks and cook them over the fire till they’re warm and gooey.

Have a movie marathon

Either watch your favourites or try something new – Netflix has so many movies for you to choose from. Grab some popcorn and turn down the lights, make it feel like a real cinema from home experience.

Bake some cookies

Freshly baked cookies smell and taste amazing, and as a added bonus the warm oven will leave your home feeling really cosy. So whether you prefer chocolate chips or you’re more of a smartie kind of girl go crazy and get baking.

Cook some comfort food

When it’s cold outside I love cooking some cottage pie or spaghetti bolognese. I don’t know why but comfort food seems to taste so much better during the Winter.

Challenge your friends to a winter activities board game competition

Whether it’s Operation, Scrabble or Monopoly, while the hours away and see who will be crowned the board game champion.

Do your odd jobs

Bored and don’t know what to do with yourself? Why not pick up all the jobs that you’ve been putting off to a rainy day, like sorting out your inbox or cleaning the bathroom.

Book some flights away

If you’re really feeling the winter blues, you can take this time to book a holiday away in the sun. Many destinations are cheaper during winter so it’s the best time to book your time away. Whilst you’re looking don’t forget to check out my tips on how to get a great holiday on a budget.

Book your summer holiday

If you’ve got no annual leave left, you could get prepared for your summer holiday. If you book it now you’ll have more time to pay it off and then start counting down the days until it’s time to jet off.

If it’s snowing there’s so many fun winter activities to do

In the UK it generally doesn’t snow that much, so snow activities are pretty low on my recommend list of winter activities. If it does snow however there’s so many things you can do like:

• Build a snowman
• Create lots of snow angels
• Build your own igloo and use it as a fort when you’re throwing snowballs at your friends and family
• One of my favourite childhood activities has go to be sledging. Find the biggest hill, climb to the top and get ready for one of the rides of your life!
• Dog sledding – similar to normal sledging but you’re pulled by dogs. I’m not sure if there’s any in the UK but you’ll find plenty of places to enjoy this fun activity if you’re heading to colder climes like Canada.
• Catch snowflakes on your tongue
• You’ve got to be pretty brave to do it but winter camping will give you a true experience of the outdoors during some of the harshest times of the year. Practice your survival skills and see how long you last before you head home (or the snow melts!)

Volunteer at soup kitchens

Volunteering at soup kitchens is a fantastic feel good activity that will leave you feeling all warm inside.

Jump into the cold sea

Every year people jump into the freezing cold sea to raise funds for charities. The water will be very cold though so make sure your hearts up to it before taking the plunge.

Start a scrapbook

Use those cold winter days and nights to put away all the photos you’ve taken over the years.

Make some homemade hot chocolate

Make it the traditional way with hot milk, lots of cream and marshmallows and enjoy it in front of a traditional roaring fire. You can also spice it up a little and try something different like Pumpkin Spice hot chocolate.

See The Nutcracker

This classic Christmas tale set on Christmas Eve is best watched on the stage. You’ll be immersed in a dream like world where the nutcracker tries to defeat the mouse king. Whether you see a local production or something a lot bigger just make sure it’s top of your list of must do winter activities.

Knit some clothes for premature babies

Learn to knit and use your skills to knit little cardigans for premature babies. Premature baby wards are crying out for clothing that fits the tiny babies and knitted clothing is great as it keeps them warm.

Go bowling – fun winter activities you’ll love

It’s pretty self explanatory but you’ll be inside, having fun and you can even play on the arcades after!

Do a jigsaw puzzle

You’ve probably not done a jigsaw puzzle in a while – I know I haven’t – as they often require long periods of intent concentration. However when you’ve got the time, like if you’re snowed in, then get the jigsaw out and see how long it will take to solve that 500 piece conundrum.

Have the ultimate chill out day

If you get the opportunity, use those days when you don’t have to do anything to really chill out and relax. Lounge around the house in your cosiest pair of pyjamas all day, eat lots of junk food, binge on Netflix and pamper yourself to your heart’s content.

Try a new restaurant

Many restaurants have a winter menu which has items created to leaving you feel festive and warm inside. Why not ditch your usual restaurant and try something you wouldn’t normally.

Make your own snow globe

Think snow globes are really difficult to make? They’re actually really simple, buy the parts off EBay, slip a family photo in and revel in how creative you are every time you look at your homemade snow globe.

Create a Christmas song playlist

Use Spotify to put all your favourite Christmas tunes onto your playlist. Whether you love Rocking around the Christmas Tree of Fairytale of New York, show your friends and family how you get into the Christmas spirit at an impromptu Christmas party

Decide on your New Year resolutions

Work out what you want to achieve for 2020, write it all down and go the next step by planning how you’re going to achieve your goals.

Donate to local children

Around Christmas time many local radio stations and supermarkets put out a request for toy donations. The toys get donated to children from low income families to those who are ill in hospital. Put a smile on a little ones face this year, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a big or small present, everything counts.

Make your own wreath

Use a Pinterest tutorial to create your own Christmas wreath this year. That way you can make sure it looks exactly how you want. You can also show off by pointing out you made that fabulous wreath everyone commented on.