Christmas is often seen as a time to spend with family, but for many international students, traveling home may not be an option. If you’re staying in the UK, it’s easy to feel like an outsider or even a bit lonely during the festive season. With most British students returning to their families, student accommodation can feel much quieter than usual.
But don’t worry—Christmas can still be a joyful and memorable time! To help you make the most of the holiday season, we’ve put together some simple and practical tips to ensure you have a Merry Christmas in the UK.
Plan something!
As much as you and I like to be invited to things, rather than planning something for ourselves, Christmas calls for a little more initiative. So, this Christmas if you have no plans, make one! Why not invite your friends over for a meal? Spending the time to cook for them, clean for them, and simply love them, will be deeply heart-warming on a cold winter’s day.
Maybe plan a trip, you don’t need to leave the UK to find some nice Christmas destinations, popular Christmas destinations in the UK include Bath, Edinburgh and York. However, if you are planning a trip make sure you leave before Christmas as everything will be closed including public transport during those days.
Find a “Christmas family”
Just because you’re away from your real family this Christmas, that doesn’t mean you can’t find the perfect people to spend the holidays with. Check-in with any international student societies at your university, or simply ask around your classes to find out what other international students’ Christmas plans are! You may be surprised at how many people will also be searching for the company through the holidays. You could plan a Christmas dinner, or share traditions and activities from your home country.
Get a Christmas tree
Simple and effective. If you want to do something fun with your friends to get in that Christmas Spirit, why not put up and decorate your Christmas tree together?
Buy a small one if you don’t have the space and spend some quality time together dressing it up in fairy lights, baubles, and perhaps even some decorations you make yourself! This is a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit from your home away from home.
Check out the Winter Markets
Pretty much every major town and city in the UK plays host to the winter market or Christmas market for a few weeks around December. These are a great way to soak up the holiday atmosphere. Drink a little mulled wine or eggnog (traditional winter drinks), shop from local and international craftspeople, listen to live music and try all manner of food from around the globe. Some of the most popular Christmas markets in the UK 
include Winter Wonderland (London), Manchester, Frankfurt Christmas Market (Birmingham).
Prepare a Dish from home
Be prepared for shop closures on Christmas Day! Most of the shops will be closed on Christmas day and may have seasonal opening hours starting from next week. Don’t be surprised if your favourite restaurant or shop is closing to celebrate Christmas. A good idea would be to prepare your cooking plans in advance, a lot of people leave there Christmas food shopping a day or two before Christmas by this point a lot of traditional Christmas food such as turkey and pigs in blankets have sold out.
Video calls with friends and family
Christmas is a time for a reunion with loved ones. There’s a saying from my hometown that goes, “Families will be missed the most when it comes to festivals”. Being miles away from home, we may not be able to meet our loved ones in person, but luckily, we can make video calls with the help of technology. Make a call and wish them a Merry Christmas!
Do some charity work
Christmas is a time for showing that you care, and for spreading some joy. With that in mind, it’s important to remember those who are less fortunate at this time of year. A quick Google search, or a simple enquiry at your Student Union, will let you know where you could volunteer some time and effort to help the poor, the homeless, or the elderly. Many shelters serve warm meals and offer a safe place for the homeless, but they often need extra help around Christmas. You and your friends could offer to serve meals, help with kitchen duties, or simply sit and talk with residents, offering friendship and warmth.
Rest!
Come to think of it, there may be nothing as traditional for Christmas in the UK as the post-lunch snooze. Once you’ve eaten yourself to a standstill, don’t feel bad at all about laying on the couch, watching movies, and slowly drifting off to sleep for a few hours.
But beyond Christmas Day itself, remember that you’re on holiday from your studies, so make sure and take the time to rest up. After all, once the new year arrives, you’ll be full steam ahead again.
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