Your festive fun starts here: The ultimate winter break to-do list

Hi! My name is Tisha, and I am in my first-year studying Digital Media & Culture. As someone who grew up in sunny Malaysia, this is my first winter break in a country where I can actually see my breath in the air!

This beautiful city is transforming into a cosy Christmas film with so many things to do.Whether you’re staying in London or going back home to spend it with family and friends, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, and I’m going to give you some ideas to make it even more jolly! Ho, ho, ho!

London is the best place to be during winter, especially if you…

• Enjoy the delicious food at Southbank Centre Christmas Market, right next to our beloved Waterloo Campus.
• Take your thrill-seeking friends to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park to go on the crazy attractions. Go ice skating right next to the Strand Campus at Somerset House!
• For no price at all, you can even take a night-time stroll along familiar places like Oxford Street or Covent Garden.

Don’t miss your chance to take pictures at some of these iconic spots! My phone storage is full to the brim from all the photos I was taking… 😅

Just short train rides away, many other places in the UK are waiting for you to explore them.

• For a cosy getaway, why not enjoy a short trip to the Cotswolds?
• Or if you’re feeling up for it and can handle the cold, Edinburgh is the place to be for huge Christmas and New Year festivals!

Make sure you plan and book tickets early for cheaper prices; anything is possible with a little preparation!

No matter where you are in the world, there are always opportunities to give back to your community — helping everyone feel the spirit of the holidays. King’s Volunteering is a great resource when searching for places to volunteer locally, whether it is a food bank, charity shop or other community projects.

As much as you help take care of your community, make sure you take care of yourself too!

Cooking a new recipe on a rainy day, starting a new hobby like crochet, or hosting mini movie gatherings with your friends can all be ways to recharge your battery.

My favourite way to practice self-care? Watching K-Dramas with a tub of chocolate fudge ice cream, all snug as a bug under my duvet!

At the end of the day, there’s nothing like home. It’s been a hectic few months as we began the academic year, and I’m sure your family and friends back home miss you as much as you miss them. So if you have the chance to spend your holidays with them, don’t miss it!

As our community is so diverse, we encourage you to share how YOU spend the holidays, whether it’s celebrating Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or your own family traditions.

And if you ever feel the holidays getting a little lonely, this article has some great tips to remind you that you’re definitely not the only one.

Don’t forget to sign up for King’s Winter Buddies, a great chance to meet new people for students staying in London. You will be welcomed back in January for another fantastic term, with plenty of societies to join, events to take part in, and a recharged community.