By Ellie Conran, December 2024
December has arrived and Christmas is here! Rainy Lancaster might not be the snowy Winter Wonderland of your dreams, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a festive time with your flatmates! Here are some must-do activities you can do in Lancaster, to make the last weeks of Michaelmas term a little more special!
Secret Santa is a great, affordable way to exchange gifts with your flatmates, and it can be hilarious too. My friends love an inappropriate gift, but this year we managed to keep it quite wholesome, with some funny slippers and a t-shirt.
This year, we used our Secret Santa as our Christmas morning present opening, before cooking our dinner together, making it really feel like a real Christmas Day!
There are plenty of places to get yourself a Christmas Dinner, whether you went down to Barkers in Cartmel for a 2 or 3 course dinner last weekend for a tasty cooked meal on campus, or you’re heading to one of the many pubs in town offering Christmas menus (such as The Toll House Inn, The Water Witch, Merchants 1688, The Borough or The Boot and Shoe).
If you and your flatmates are feeling adventurous, maybe you can take on the cooking yourself! Which, in my opinion, is the most wholesome way to spend your 'Flatmas'! Last year we went a little mad at the shops and spent a little too much, so this year, we made a big effort to be tactical. We made a big list of everything everyone wanted and made sure to stick to that list on our way round Aldi! Together, we managed to cook a joint of beef, with roast potatoes and all the Christmas trimmings for about £5.50 each. With seven of us involved, we each had one role which meant every item on our plates was so delicious, with everyone putting in loads of effort into their item (even the carrots!).
After Dinner, we played some games together with a glass of wine and some chocolates. Perfect Christmas evening!
Every college holds a winter ball at the end of Michaelmas term. The winter ball is a great excuse to get dressed up in fancy clothes and get some classy pictures with your flatmates. The evening usually consists of transport to the venue, a three-course dinner, and lots of drinks and dancing until it’s time to go home. The winter ball celebrates your hard work throughout first term as a college, a good opportunity to party alongside lots of your friends.
What better way to spend Christmas with friends than embarrassing yourself on an ice rink! Lancaster on Ice returns to Dalton Square every year for Christmas ice skating. Whether you’re a pro on the ice, you cling to the sides or you’re terrified of falling over, it’s a fun afternoon for everyone.
To warm up after, head to Lancaster on Ice’s Tipi Bar for some mulled wine or hot chocolate. The Tipi bar is one of my favourite winter spots, with a cheerful Christmas atmosphere, and fires to toast marshmallows, it’s the perfect way to end the afternoon.
Hopefully you had a chance to have a look round our very own Christmas Markets on campus last week, but if not, some of the best Christmas markets in the country are only a short train ride away!
Manchester Christmas Markets have stalls and food vendors scattered across the city, with lots of options for Christmas shopping and eating. From Lancaster, in my experience, you can get to Manchester in an hour from as little as £7 for an off-peak single (or less with a railcard).
Another option, although a little further, is Edinburgh. A two-hour direct train from Lancaster (which goes quickly when the train is so scenic) and you and your friends can explore the historic city, grab a German Bratwerst sausage and a Baileys hot chocolate. For the adventurous, try out the swinging chair ride next to the Scott Monument, that takes you stomach-droppingly high above the city, for some amazing views.
Both Christmas Markets (among others) are a great day out, and a fantastic way to explore more of the country during your time in Lancaster.
However you decide to spend your ‘Flatmas’, we hope you have a great time!
Merry 'Flatmas' and a Happy New Year!
