It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Bristol, and we are so ready to embrace the festivities. Sure, this year has had its fair share of ups and downs, but we want to end things on a high! So hit play on the Xmas playlist, fish out the fireworks for New Year’s Eve, and dine at some exciting new restaurants. Have a jolly ol’ time with our guide to the best things to do in Bristol this December.
1. Hit up Bristol Christmas Market
It’s not a complete December without a trip to Bristol Christmas Market. The sprawling annual event has taken over Broadmead until December 23. There are over 50 festive stalls selling gifts, festive treats, unique crafts, and more, alongside numerous bars. You’ll also find romantic ski gondolas, a new VR Sleigh Ride experience, and multiple appearances from Santa himself.
2. Catch a Christmassy candlelight concert
What could elevate a classical concert performed by candlelight—Christmas, of course, what else? Embracing the holidays, Candlelight is lighting up the Church of All Saints with a handful of Christmas concerts this December. These captivating tributes to iconic Christmas classics will offer a multi-sensory delve into the music of Christmas Movie Soundtracks (December 19). To get your tickets, head here.
3. Visit ‘the UK’s number one light trail’
Luminate looks to brighten up these darkening nights at Ashton Court with a stunning new mile-long illuminated journey ahead of the festive season. From Friday, November 28, to Friday, December 28, the mesmerising trail will feature stunning light elements and interactive light play, all set to a beautiful soundtrack. Just one of the installations sees 4,000 illuminated roses change colour in a display set to a medley of music.
Another bespoke installation includes the Mirrorball Alley, creating the perfect photo opportunities, while interactive elements like joysticks and the retro game Simon Says keep everyone engaged. Plus, the Luminate fairies will be looking to make a lucky visitor’s dream come true. En route, sip on mulled wine and toast marshmallows on fire pits, as you make your way around!
4. Become an elf yourself!
Have an Enchanted Christmas experience in Bristol this December and become an elf yourself. With cutting-edge technology, digital storytelling, and AR/VR effects, you are on a mission to help save Christmas alongside Santa and his friendly helpers at Planet Ice. The VR expedition sees you solve challenges, dance with elves, and show your bravery during an epic snowball battle to defeat Krampus. To get your tickets to Enchanted Christmas, head here.
5. Go for a wintery walk that ends at the pub
It’s cold. It’s dark. But don’t waste all your money by putting the heating and all the lights on. Head outside this December with a wintery walk through the crisp landscape of England. There’s only one way to make the experience better—a trip to a cosy country pub afterwards. So, from Blaise Castle to Chew Magna, why not try one of these winter walks near Bristol that all end at a pub?
6. Support local businesses at this Christmas market
Bath Christmas Market (November 27 to December 14) is best known for its support of independent sellers from the South West. This year, more than 250 businesses, 65% of which are based in Bath and the surrounding areas, will join the 2025 event, featuring six Christmas Carts showcasing Bath and Bristol-based micro-businesses. Plus, new for this year, a reindeer trail can be found around the outside edge of the market!
7. Look up for a one-of-a-kind drone light show
Forget about fireworks on NYE, the Bristol night sky will come alive with drones on December 20 & 21. WILD: The Drone Light Show welcomes you to an eco-friendly, world-class drone light experience above Bristol County Ground in Ashley Down. From dramatic deserts to icy oceans, journey through five breathtaking worlds of wildlife for a 40-minute show with hundreds of high-quality drones soaring in perfect harmony. It’s the pet-, child- and ear-friendly alternative to fireworks the whole family can enjoy! To get your tickets to WILD: The Drone Light Show, head here.
8. Meet the Big Man himself
Cabot Circus will once again host Santa’s Grotto in the heart of Bristol for the first time since 2019 (from November 28 until Christmas Eve)—featuring a theatrical adventure designed especially for families, Santa O’Clock. Led by cheerful elves, journey through rooms filled with ticking clocks, snowy owls and festive surprises, leading to a very important meeting with the Big Man himself.
9. Take this self-guided pub crawl of the Old City
Bristol’s Old City is filled with Georgian-era buildings, iconic street art, modern eateries and Bristol’s oldest pub. Discover all this and more on this self-guided audio tour. Stopping at traditional breweries, pubs and places to eat along the way this December, you’ll also learn fun facts, like how the city began and what happened to the now ruinous Bristol Castle. Who doesn’t love a bit of random pub trivia? To get your tickets head here.
10. Wander among a glowing mushroom network and giant wicker animals
One of the world’s most important plant collections will once again be transformed into a glowing spectacle (November 28 to December 31). Christmas at Westonbirt welcomes a host of new installations inspired by wildlife, woodland and the changing seasons. The trail is designed to delight the senses, with sparkling light displays set to music and seasonal sounds.
The new Mycelium Network invites visitors to step into a glowing world of colour-changing mushrooms; ten giant wicker woodland animals will be nestled amongst the arboretum’s plants; and it welcomes the UK premiere of 10 Neon Bird Boxes, each casting a colourful glow among the branches.
11. Witness Longleat’s glow-up with The Festival of Light
Longleat’s legendary lantern trail, The Festival of Light, returns to Europe’s first safari park with a little help from Bristol’s very own Wallace and Gromit. Your favourite Aardman characters—like Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run, Morph and more—are visiting the UK’s most famous landmarks remade in lantern form. This includes trips to a 15m tall Tower Bridge in London, as well as iconic sights of Stonehenge, Giant’s Causeway, Blackpool and West Wallaby Street—from November 8, 2025, to January 11, 2026.
12. Catch a biker gang of Santas in Bristol
Santa’s On A Bike will see hundreds of Santas, snowmen, elves and reindeer riding festive-decorated bikes and booming out Christmas songs. Motorcyclists from across the South West will be meeting at Winterbourne Academy on Saturday, December 6. Santa’s On A Bike will then set off at 12:30pm, where it will head off towards Charlton Farm Children’s Hospice. The almost two-hour route will head down such popular locations as Gloucester Road, Park Street, and Cumberland Basin.
13. Hike up one of the UK’s most stunning natural landmarks
You might only know it for its cheese, but Cheddar is also home to the UK’s largest gorge. At almost 400 feet deep and 3 miles long, you can walk all around the craggy cliffs and pinnacles of Cheddar Gorge. The cliff-top walk leads up one side of the gorge and down the other. Just remember to climb Jacob’s Ladder to the Lookout Tower on your way around – with some staggering views of Somerset, on a clear day, you can see for miles across the Mendip Hills.
Many experienced rock climbers also head to Cheddar Gorge to test themselves—with over a thousand routes to try—but those less experienced can learn on the 50ft high outdoor climbing wall. You can also head underground into Gough’s Cave, once home to our ancestors tens of thousands of years ago. These mysterious cave chambers are full of secret caverns, incredible vistas, and stalagmites and stalactites.
14. Set sail on the UK’s first sauna boat
The UK’s first sauna boats, Skuna Boats, will sail Bristol’s iconic Floating Harbour this December. Inspired by Scandinavian traditions, unwind in an electric stoved sauna, soaking up panoramic harbour views, from Friday, November 21, to Sunday, December 14. With two boats to choose from, one permanently docked at the Bristol Amphitheatre, the other sailing up and down the water, each session will last approximately 75 minutes.
15. Visit Treasure Island in a brand new musical adventure
Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale is brought to life as a brand-new musical (December 4 to January 10)—featuring Jayde Adams‘ professional stage acting debut at the Bristol Old Vic. Treasure Island: A New Musical Adventure is described as “a story of friendship, hope and reaching for dreams just beyond the horizon.” Full of heart, joy, and showstopping musical numbers, what more do you want this December? You can learn more here.
16. Have a Xmas sing-along
In its 10th year, Wiper & True’s The Barrel Store has to have the best FREE Xmas party in Bristol on Friday, December 19. It’s a simple concept: With a live band backing your favourite Christmas hits, lyrics projected on the wall, it’s up to you to do the rest! Expect festive chaos, big tunes, bad harmonies and even worse jumpers.
17. Catch these children’s Christmas classics in concert
For one day only (Monday, December 22), the acclaimed Mozart Symphony Orchestra brings its magical West End Christmas concert to Bristol Beacon, performing live soundtracks to two beloved children’s classics. This immersive experience brings The Snowman to life on the big screen, complete with the iconic Walking in the Air, as well as The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, narrated live and performed to Axel Scheffler’s famous illustrations. To learn more, head here.