The magic of Christmas is undeniable, and a large part of that sparkle comes from the effort councils across the UK put into decorations and events. With twinkling high streets and bustling markets, public events bring the festive cheer that unites communities nationwide.
The showstopping events are usually the lights and parades, but council spending covers so much more than these. It also includes the cost of purchasing, installing, and maintaining the sparkling decorations that capture our hearts each winter.
From real conifers to artificial Christmas trees that can be reused year after year, these investments help local governments deliver festive spirit.
We asked 50 councils across the UK to reveal their festive per-person spending and the number of events held during the season to uncover which go above and beyond to make an unforgettable time for residents.
Which UK council is the most Christmassy?
Design: top ten map (with the top 3 standing out) could be designed similar to this, but with Christmas markets/ decor
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Belfast – Festive score: 8.49/10
The magic of Christmas certainly isn’t lost in Belfast, with the city council ranking as the most festive in the UK.
As the top spenders, the council allocated £1.06 per resident to Christmas spending last year. This budget includes purchasing, hiring, installing, removing, storing, and maintaining festive decorations.
One of the most memorable events for families in the city was the Christmas light switch-on and markets opening on the same day last November. The festive event was complete with twinkling lights through the city’s streets and saw one of the six council-managed Christmas trees lit up.
The budget in 2024 was up just shy of a third (28.9%) from the previous year, representing the third-biggest year-on-year increase of all councils.
While the festive budget grew last year, the Belfast council plans to spend around £1,654 less on Christmas decorations this year.
Despite the smaller budget, the festivities are still set to be as showstopping as ever. The Magical Christmas Experience, running from 28th November until 23rd December, gives you a chance to meet Mrs Claus and Santa’s Elves – the perfect pre-Christmas treat for little (and big) kids!
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Hillingdon, London – Festive score: 8.26/10
Hillingdon council goes all-out for Christmas year after year, so it’s no surprise that it ranks as one of the UK’s most festive.
While the average spend on events in 2024 was lower than in some councils, at £0.69 per person, this was more than made up for by magical events.
There were 108 council-funded public Christmas events, including the Christmas Comic Club and festive parades.
This year, the Hillingdon council will support 28 Christmas light schemes and host Advent calendar and snow globe-making workshops for crafty residents.
If theatre or panto are more your thing, there will be performances of Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and The Santa Show this festive season at venues all over the borough.
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Bolton – Festive score: 8.02/10
Bolton council ensures residents have a Christmas to remember, ranking as the third most festive council on our list.
Christmas spending per person last year was around the average, at £0.37 per resident, although this is up over a quarter (27.7%) since 2023.
With this budget, the council launched 11 festive events last year, turning the town into a true winter wonderland. These events included pantomimes, Santa’s grottos, and live Santa shows, providing Christmas cheer for families across the area.
This year, as if this weren’t enough, the council will hold a Brunch with Santa on November 30th, which guests can enjoy alongside the much-loved Christmas markets.
Wherever you go in Bolton, you can soak up the festive atmosphere. Last year, seven council-funded Christmas trees dotted across the town centre lit up the area.
Which councils deliver Christmas on a tight budget?
Design: could do a Christmas lights bar chart with the lights lit up using the highlighted column
Decorating for the most wonderful time of the year doesn’t have to be expensive. The average council spent £0.32 per person on Christmas decorations in 2024, while those with bigger budgets spent over £1 per person.
The following councils managed to create festive cheer for around the average spend, or for far less, proving that you don’t need deep pockets to make a memorable Christmas.
1. Bolton – Festive score: 8.02/10
Bolton may not have the largest budget, but it makes the most of what it has. With a spend of £0.37 per person, only slightly higher than the national average, the council still ranked third most festive in the UK overall.
That money went a long way. Residents enjoyed 11 festive events, including pantomimes and live shows, bringing the town centre to life.
On top of that, seven Christmas trees were placed around Bolton, lighting up key areas and making sure the festive atmosphere was felt across the community.
The council’s ability to create such a memorable programme on limited funds shows that Bolton is one of the most efficient at delivering Christmas joy.
2. Portsmouth – Festive score: 6.39/10
With just £0.31 to spend per resident, Portsmouth delivered a packed festive season last year, earning it a spot in the top ten most festive councils overall.
The budget represented a 10.7% increase from the previous year, allowing the city to expand its Christmas programme.
The council installed six Christmas trees across Portsmouth and organised three festive events, including mesmerising light displays and family-friendly activities.
Though the number of events was smaller than in some councils, the decorations and events gave the city a warm atmosphere during the festive period.
Portsmouth proves you don’t need lots of money to make Christmas enjoyable. Careful planning and public festive touches are enough to bring the community together.
Council events for 2025 have yet to be announced; however, tickets for the Guildhall Christmas Ball, which will be held on select December dates, are available online.
3. Oxford – Festive score: 5.86/10
Oxford is one of the best examples of delivering Christmas on a small budget. Spending just £0.25 per person, well below the £0.32 average, the city still earned a high festive score.
Although Oxford did not disclose the number of council-funded trees or events in 2024, residents benefited from public events like live music performances and a glistening Christmas Market.
These created a festive feel, showing that the magic of Christmas isn’t only about scale, but atmosphere.
With a budget of just a pound per four-person family, Oxford’s approach shows that even the most modest funding can deliver a memorable Christmas experience.
If you’re spending Christmas in Oxford this year, look out for the Christmas Market, running from 22nd November to 31st December, and festive live shows like A Fairytale for Christmas on 15th November.
Ben Wightman, product expert at Christmas Tree World, shares how to make the most of Christmas events:
If you want to get the most out of your local Christmas season, here’s how to soak up the festive fun:
1 - Start with your council’s website and social media
Most councils publish a list of official Christmas events, including switch-ons, parades, and workshops. Check their ‘What’s On’ page or community groups early so you don’t miss key dates or one-off events.
2 - Look at smaller events
While markets and pantomimes are popular, smaller council-funded events, like craft workshops, storytelling sessions, or choirs, are often free or low-cost and can be even more fun.
3 - Follow local social media pages
Councils and town centres often post last-minute festive events on Facebook, Instagram, or X (Twitter), so keep checking these throughout the Christmas season.
4 - Bundle activities together
If you find an event you’d like to attend, explore nearby lights or markets. Councils often organise activities close to streets lit with cluster lights and squares decorated with wreaths, so you can make a full afternoon out of the festive fun.
5 - Check accessibility and family-friendly listings
Many councils let you know which events are pushchair or wheelchair-accessible, and some offer performances geared towards families with young children.
By planning well and keeping an eye on local updates, you can enjoy the best of your community’s festive season, regardless of whether your council is spending £1 per person or less than 25p.
Methodology
Christmas Tree World is one of the UK’s leading online retailers of artificial Christmas trees, lights, and decorations. We help families create magical festive displays that last for years.
Passionate about Christmas, we wanted to explore which councils created the best festive experiences in 2024 and explain how you can make the most of Christmas events this year.
We sent Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the local councils of the 50 biggest towns and cities outside London and each London borough on 12th August 2025. Each council was asked to provide:
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Total spend on Christmas decorations for 2024 (gross spend before any sponsorship/donations are deducted).
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Historical spend for 2021–2023.
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The number of public Christmas trees (over 2m) installed in 2024.
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The number of Christmas-related public events funded or organised by the council in 2024.
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Any planned budget for 2025.
We then calculated the spend per capita for 2024 and gave each council an overall score out of 10 based on:
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2024 per capita spend (weighted)
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Total number of trees installed
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Total number of events funded/organised
Only spending on purchase, hire, installation, removal, storage, and maintenance of festive decorations, trees, and lighting was included. General event staffing, policing/security, unrelated marketing, or any BID/ BID-community-led spend where the council did not directly contribute funding were excluded. Events were only counted if they were council-organised/funded and open to the public (e.g., switch-ons, markets, parades, community gatherings). Any councils that confirmed they do not fund decorations at all were also excluded from the rankings.
Note that some councils provided figures for the financial year instead of the calendar year, and for some, only budgeted figures were available.
