Feeling wholesome? Here are the best winter activities to do with your Liverpool flatmates

With the end of semester one fast approaching and the cold and miserable weather showing no sign of leaving, it’s no surprise if you’re really feeling the winter blues this year. Don’t let this get you down though, because December also means Christmas is right around the corner!

This is also when you realise that spending all your loan on going out in the first half of the semester was a huge mistake, so we have some budget-friendly options to salvage your bank account before the winter break. Also if you’re fed up with drinking, we know some of the best sober activities that luckily, won’t break the bank.

So don’t let the deadlines get you down – we’ve compiled the ultimate list of student-friendly wholesome activities to do with your housemates that don’t revolve around Liverpool’s Christmas Markets as I’m sure you are fed up with seeing them every other Instagram story – and we must admit spending £5 on a mediocre hot chocolate is a bit much.

We promise the library will still be there when you return, so grab your housemates and do one of these activities to get you in the festive spirit.

Ice skating

Our first wholesome activity is ice skating, a festive classic and the perfect opportunity to get competitive with your friends. There’s a rink right by BoxPark and it’s open till the 5th January. This activity is bound to give you a laugh, and the best part is that students can pay just £12 to give it a go, and this includes a £10 food voucher to spend.

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From some cheesy chips to warm desserts, you’re guaranteed to grab something winter-ish to refuel. Even if you can’t skate, falling over on the ice will be the peak of entertainment for your housemates – or you might even find out that one of them is destined to go pro. Although this one is more expensive, it’s a laugh and the perfect wholesome option so it’s definitely worth it!

Frankie’s Paint It Pottery 

Located on Smithdown Road, Frankie’s Paint It Pottery is the ultimate sober wholesome activity. Even if you lack artistic skills (like me) you will enjoy this – you never know you, might discover your secret artistic talent and finally have an excuse to ditch the books and 9am lectures. You could even gift what you make to a family member for Christmas, as nothing is as sweet as a homemade present.

Visit a cosy pub

Now we’re not saying you need to go and spend big bucks on a night out, but Liverpool has a variety of cosy pubs that will make you feel like you’re living your out true winter cottage core aesthetic. Top that off with a festive pub quiz and you and your flatmates are sorted for the evening. Personally I’d recommend the White Heart located at the top of Hope Street – it offers the perfect cosy evening, with candles and cute and definitely instagrammable decor, what more could you want?

Sefton Park, Lark Lane and the Docks 

A winter walk is the perfect opportunity to unwind but also get in some exercise to combat those seasonal blues. Some fresh air and actual greenery will give you a much needed break from a screen. It’s worth going to Lark Lane for a wander or even a meal if you fancy it. If you’re feeling brave you could try and battle the Lunko queue to grab a strawberry croissant that you can post all over your Instagram story.

If you live near or on campus, Sefton Park is accessible by the 699 bus. However, this might be one to avoid during the week as you will be packed in – or the bus will simply go past you. If trekking on a bus doesn’t take your fancy, you could try something more central and head down to the Albert Dock. Bonus points if you go at night, as you’ll be able to snap some aesthetically pleasing festive pics to send back home to your family.

Bake together

Nothing says wholesome quite like baking with your housemates. With the endless deadlines and darker nights, a quiet night in is a must. You could use baking as an opportunity to get in the Christmas spirit, by baking a festive treat and putting on Christmas music. The bonus is you get a sweet treat at the end! I’m sure you already have some collective eggs and flour somewhere in your cupboards, so don’t waste time waiting around.

Cook a Christmas dinner

Following along the same lines as baking, a house Christmas dinner is a right of passage as a uni student in December. Enjoy a some of the classic home comforts and an opportunity to judge what your housemates put on their roasts – no doubt you’ll have multiple debates about gravy, mash and sauces but that’s just part and parcel. It’s also a chance to put the house arguments of the term behind you and enjoy a festive feast.

Have a cosy movie night

A movie night is the perfect way to forget about your upcoming assignments. You can do this option at home or splash out abit more and go to the cinema. Either option provides the perfect excuse for a sweet treat – because let’s be real, you can’t watch a film without a snack. To get in the Christmas spirit even more we recommend putting on a Christmas film. You could opt for a classic like Love Actually, or see what the latest Netflix releases have to offer.

Decorate your house

Our final suggestion is for you to bring out those Christmas decorations. There isn’t much that some fairy lights can’t fix. You could even make this into a fun activity if you fancy being creative and DIY them as a house bonding activity. However, if you can’t be bothered to make decorations putting up some tinsel and calling it a day is better than nothing!

Anything that helps you to beat the winter blues is absolutely essential at this point in the year, and Christmas as a uni student is one of the most wholesome periods of time you’ll spend in Liverpool. Much less messy and chaotic than Halloweekend, I can guarantee that.