What's happening in halls over the festive break

The Christmas break officially starts at 16:30 on Friday 19 December 2025. This means campus will be a lot quieter until everyone is back on Monday 5 January 2026.

If you're staying on campus, don't worry, Accommodation Services and other key support services will be open over the holiday. Check the UWE website for more details.

This is a great time to get together with your friends and neighbours. There's so much going on around university and the city!

Attend events

Student Life are still running events throughout the break. We've got movie showings, game afternoons and festive walks to get involved with. If you haven't been to one of our events, this is a great time to get involved. Most of them are free, very casual and don't need you to sign up.

Get out in nature

The British winter can be harsh but it can also be very beautiful. There is nothing like a woodland walk on a crisp, bright December day, crunching through frosty grass. Pull on your boots, wrap up warm and explore:

• Stoke Park near Frenchay campus
• Oldbury Court Estate near Glenside campus
• Ashton Court near Bower Ashton campus

Food and drink

A big part of Christmas and other winter festivals is food.

Traditionally, British people have a big roast for their meal but you could have whatever you want! This is the perfect time to treat yourself to your favourite food and drinks. Maybe it's something that takes a lot of time, something that's only available at certain times of year or a buffet of a little bit of everything. Personally, I love a fancy cheese board at this time of year! 

Fancy going out for a meal? We've written a guide for each campus on the best spots nearby.

Play boardgames

This is a great opportunity to switch off from the digital world. Close the laptop, put the phone down and switch off the television.

Instead, gather your housemates and knock on your neighbours door and get them round for a boardgames night. The games don't have to be elaborate. They could be as simple as a few card games or maybe a classic like Monopoly.

Rest

Nature rests during winter, and so should we. Take this time to catch up on sleep, have guilt-free lazy days and reset your stress levels. Then you can start the new year feeling refreshed and ready to tackle 2026. I know lots of assessments happen in January, so it's important to not completely forget about your studies! Listen to your body, and know when to rest.