Christmas in halls

Christmas is coming to student accommodation! We'll be bringing sparkle to your winter break with sleighfuls of fun and events.

From Christmas lunches to festive fitness sessions, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, plus opportunities to meet others if you're staying with us over the holidays. All the activities below are open to all students living in our accommodation, including off campus and in the city centre.  

This page will be updated throughout December. Last updated: 18 December 2024.

Grab some festive goodies

Your accommodation team will be giving away free Christmas packs from Friday 20 December. Filled with sweets, games and craft activities, they will be available for collection from any of our three village receptions: Shackleton, Pritchatts House and Jarratt Hall. Drop by your nearest reception to pick up yours!  

Find your people

Connect with other students living in halls and around Birmingham this Christmas with our 'Christmas on Campus 2024' Unibuddy community. Exclusively for University of Birmingham students, this is your chance to find others in the area this winter. The community closes on 20 December, so make sure you join as soon as you can. You'll need to use your University email address to be granted access.

Join the community  

Chill out in Shackleton Lounge

Meet up with other students staying at uni over the holidays at Shackleton Lounge, which will be all dressed up for the season. Open every day from 10am – 3pm (closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January), here you can tuck into a delicious range of seasonal snacks and drinks while playing a board game or cosying up with a good book. 

Directions to Shackleton Lounge

Get your festive fitness fix with Active Residences

We’re hosting a packed Active Residences programme over the holidays, so you can get your festive fitness fix for free. You can enjoy everything from yoga to Pilates, tennis to badminton, from 14 December to 12 January 2025.

Events will be added throughout December and January, so make sure you check the timetable each week, as well as the Sport & Fitness app. You can download this for free from Google Play and the App Store. 

As it's Christmas, our student activators will be gifting a New Balance UoB Active t-shirt to students who attend Active Residences sessions throughout the holidays. Simply pick up a stamp card and collect eight stamps by attending eight activities by 12 January 2025 to claim yours. 

You can collect a stamp card from any Active Residences session or your accommodation's reception. 

Please send a photo of your completed card to e.crivellaro@bham.ac.uk. 

Explore events 

Hot drinks and crafts

Join your wellbeing ambassadors for a relaxing and fun afternoon of crafts and board games. There will be free hot drinks and biscuits to warm you up while you meet new people, socialise, and make some lovely Christmassy memories. This event is free (please bring your student ID card) and will take place at the Duck and Scholar on 17 December (1pm – 4pm).

Find out more 

Christmas at Duck and Scholar 

Celebrate the end of term at the Duck and Scholar (The Vale Village) on 13 December. From 7pm – 11pm, you can enjoy Christmas films and music, while catching up with your friends over your favourite drinks. 

Make sure you grab yourself a 'Christmas Eve Morning', a limited edition cocktail made from peach gin, grenadine and lemonade. Sip away for £5.50 or grab two for £8.50. All your other favourite tipples will be available, including soft drinks.

As a little gift from the Food Fellows team, you can get a £2 voucher towards any draught or soft drink. Simply make a purchase at Vale Infusion or Shackleton Lounge on 13 December to get yours.

The Duck and Scholar will also be showing Christmas films throughout December (5pm to 11pm).

Directions to the Duck and Scholar 

Tuck into a traditional Christmas lunch 

Please note that bookings are now closed for this event. If you're joining us on the day, check out the menu below. 

Celebrate the festive season with others staying in halls over the holidays with a special Christmas lunch on 18 December (1pm – 3pm) at Vale Infusion (Shackleton, The Vale Village). Enjoy three courses for £15 or £13.50 if you’re a Student Living Plus resident.

If you're after some festive food before the holidays, Christmas dinner will be available in Vale Infusion, along with its usual menu, on 11 and 12 December (5pm – 9pm).

View lunch menu

Image for illustrative purposes only. 

Treat yourself to a Christmas Eve hamper

Please note that the order period for hampers has closed. If you've ordered one, please make sure you're available to collect it during the times below.

Available for collection on 24 December (1pm - 3pm) at Shackleton Lounge only, our festive foodie hampers are brimming with seasonal snacks, cupboard essentials and freshly prepared meals for you to enjoy on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Each hamper costs £24 (or £21.60 if you're a Student Living Plus resident).

For more information about what’s on across campus and the city, please visit our Christmas on campus pages. You’ll also find top tips for enjoying an international Christmas, advice on how to look after yourself over the holidays, plus our holiday opening hours.  

Explore Christmas on campus