The magic of Christmas is undeniable, and a large part of that sparkle comes from the effort councils across Britain 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 councils across Britain 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 British council is the most Christmassy?
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Bolton – Festive score: 8.25/10
The magic of Christmas certainly isn’t lost in Bolton, with the city council ranking as the most festive in the UK.
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.
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Glasgow – Festive score: 7.50/10
Glasgow 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.
The average spend on events in 2024 was much higher in some councils, at £0.85 per person, and it shows.
There were 76 council-funded Christmas trees put up, including the twinkling tree at the market in George Square.
This year, Glasgow council will host events all through the Christmas season this year, including woolly wreath making and a Crafty Christmas Show where you can buy handmade gifts.
If theatre or panto are more your thing, Eastwood Park Theatre will perform their rendition of Cinderella with tickets from just £14.
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Portsmouth – Festive score: 6.52/10
Portsmouth council ensures residents have a Christmas to remember, ranking as the third most festive council on our list.
The council allocated £0.31 per resident to Christmas spending last year, which is the average across all councils. 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 party last November, which is set to be just as spectacular this year. The festive event was complete with twinkling lights through the city’s streets.
The budget in 2024 was up just over a tenth (10.7%) from the previous year, representing the continued investment of Portsmouth council in making this the most wonderful time of the year.
Which councils deliver Christmas on a tight budget?
Decorating for the most wonderful time of the year doesn’t have to be expensive. The average council spent £0.31 per person on Christmas decorations in 2024, while those with bigger budgets spent up to £0.85 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 the most festive in Britain 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 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 three 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. Doncaster – Festive score: 5.86/10
Doncaster is one of the best examples of delivering Christmas on a small budget. Spending just £0.19 per person, well below the £0.31 average, the city still earned fifth place as one of the most festive councils.
There were three trees put up and two events held in 2024, including a Christmas fair and street markets.
These created a festive feel, showing that the magic of Christmas isn’t only about scale, but atmosphere.
With a budget of less than a pound per four-person family, Doncaster’s approach shows that even the most modest funding can deliver a memorable Christmas experience.
If you’re spending Christmas in Doncaster this year, look out for the Christmas Mingle and Market on 5th December, held in the dramatic setting of the Doncaster Minster.
Ben Wightman, product expert at Christmas Tree World, shares how to make the most of Christmas events:
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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.
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Look at smaller council-funded 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.
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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.
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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.
