I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. But what makes us all scream even more is when the ice cream doesn’t cost us a penny. So brace for some ear-splitting noises to fill the air this month, as internationally-beloved ice cream brand, Ben & Jerry’s, returns with Free Cone Day – giving away free ice cream around the world.
On April 14, the annual tradition will return, and the dairy scoopers will give away unlimited ice cream at their scoop shops all over the globe. Those looking for a sweet treat can enjoy the brand’s infamous chunky, swirly, flavour-packed ice cream creations – completely for free!
Free Cone Day
Ben & Jerry’s has been running the Free Cone Day giveaway since 1979. The one-day-a-year event has seen them give away countless cones of ice cream to people around the world. And this year, they’re hoping to break their own record and give away more free ice cream than ever before.
In 2023, on Free Cone Day, Ben & Jerry’s gave away a staggering 1 million free scoops of ice cream. And this year, they’re hoping to smash that record with a simple goal: they want to give away 1 million and 1 free ice cream scoops. If they succeed, they would have given away enough ice cream cones to span “17 times the height of Mount Everest, or reach one third of the way to space!”
“Free Cone Day is all about our fans. It’s our way of saying thank you with an international moment of togetherness. In 2026, our aim is to go even bigger!” said Jochanan Senf, Ben & Jerry’s CEO. “We want to hand out 1 million and one free scoops of ice cream across the globe to spread a little joy on the best unofficial holiday of the year!”
So, really, we should all head on down to our nearest Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop to help them hit their goal! It would be rude to say no to free ice cream after all…
How to get free ice cream
Only one London venue is participating in the giveaway this month. But it couldn’t be easier to claim your free ice cream. Literally all you have to do is turn up, join the line, and claim your free ice cream cone!
You’ll find London’s participating Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop in Soho at 74 Wardour Street, London, W1F 0TE.
And with no limit, you’re welcome to rejoin the line and grab another free ice cream all day long – perhaps until you’ve tried every single flavour! Be prepared for those lines to be pretty long, though, as it’s sure to be a popular giveaway! After all, is there anything better than a free sweet treat?
Claiming free ice cream outside of London
If you’re outside of London, there are still plenty of places in the UK and around the world to grab a free frozen treat. After all, “Free Cone Day has now cemented itself as a global celebration, with free cones available to fans in 13 countries.”
Within the UK, you can grab a free cone from the following locations:
- Brighton: 41 Bond Street, Brighton, BN1 1RD
- Edinburgh: 4 Castle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3DW
- Peterborough: 10 Exchange St, Peterborough, PE1 1PW
- Windsor: 12 Peascod Street, Windsor, SL4 1DT
You can find your nearest participating Scoop Shop and check opening times here.
