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 completed December without a 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 Christmas Igloos and Ski Gondolas, a candy-themed escape room, a reindeer sleigh ride, appearances from Santa himself, and so much more!
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 13 & 20). To get your tickets head here.
3. Get your free birthday bus pass
The popular Birthday Bus Pass scheme – which provides a free bus pass to anyone living in Bath, North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire as long as it is their birthday month – will renew this December. This time, under-21s get two months free, while all will have access to unique offers and freebies from local shops and attractions – including 10% off at Aerospace Bristol and a free glass of wine at The Forum in Bath.
4. Visit the new Christmas Village
If you’re bored of the Bristol Christmas Market, maybe this year check out the Christmas Village instead! Evening’s entertainment will also include a light show. There’ll be a roller rink and a curling rink, a VR sledge ride, traditional funfair rides – like a bungee trampoline, a Waltzer, Dodgems, and a balloon ride carousel – and food and drinks stalls.
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. Have a cracking time at this ‘Wallace & Gromit’ experience
Help Wallace save Christmas by getting his latest gadget, the Christmas-O-Matic, up and running ahead of the release of Vengeance Most Fowl on December 25. This one-of-a-kind ‘Wallace & Gromit: A Cracking Christmas Experience’ at Cabot Circus (November 16 to December 24) transforms The Friary Building. This unmissable festive event is filled with Christmas chaos and cheesy fun. Plus, don’t skip the Cracking Christmas Cafe for cheese sandwiches and cups of tea! To learn more head here.
7. Glide into the month on ice
December means the arrival of winter (bleurgh), but not everything about the season is depressing. Several ice skating rinks have popped up around Bristol this month, for a most magical activity everyone can enjoy. So whether you see yourself as the next Torvill and Dean, or you’re more of a Bambi on ice, it’s time to grab your skates this December. From year-round Planet Ice near Cribbs Causeway to the return of Bath on Ice, see here for the best places to ice skating in Bristol this Christmas.
8. Witness a futuristic take on ‘A Christmas Carol’
Watch ‘A Christmas Carol’ like never before this December. Performed by hundreds of animated drones and narrated by none other than Matt Lucas, audiences will see this Christmas classic in a totally new way at Gloucestershire County Cricket Club (December 19 – 21). The 45-minute show will also feature a DJ, plus food and drink outlets serving a variety of refreshments. To learn more about ‘A Christmas Carol’ from Celestial head here.
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 happened to the now ruinous Bristol Castle. Who doesn’t love a bit of random pub trivia? To get your tickets head here.
10. Catch the Christmas Steps stage its very own strange story
One of Bristol’s oldest streets comes with countless stories. The Christmas Steps – it’s actually got nothing to do with Christmas, surprisingly – has a scandalous and spooky history. On December 7, the Invisible Circus will bring it to life like never before with a theatrical takeover of strange happenings and tall tales. Head down from 2pm-6.30pm – and it’s free to watch!
11. Witness Longleat’s glow-up with The Festival of Light
The Festival of Light returns with more life-size lanterns than ever (November 9 to January 5) to light up these dark nights. There are nearly a thousand interactive and immersive lanterns to see as you “Journey through time” – coming across everything from an Ice Age sabre-toothed cat to a 10-metre-high Roman Colosseum with chariots and gladiators and Elizabeth I!
It’s not the only Christmas light trail taking place around Bristol this December. Christmas at Westonbirt will see thousands of trees come to illuminated life (November 29 to December 31); Avon Valley Park is teaming up with an award-winning event lighting specialist once again (December 6-31); and head into Wookey Hole where over 100,000 lights magically illuminate the way (November 23 a- December 24). To see the very best Christmas light trails near Bristol head here.
12. Pick up some local gifts for Christmas
It’s the last Windmill Hill Market of the year on December 7. It won’t return until April 2025, so check out the best Bristol market for showcasing local creatives, food producers and other independent businesses. With over 50 stalls and an emphasis on designer makers, you’ll pick up plenty of unique gift ideas – from ceramics and pottery to clothing, homeware, jewellery, prints and more. Plus, there’s street food, secondhand clothing, kids’ crafts, a tarot reader, live music and the Bruhaha pop-up taproom.
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. Ring in the New Year in style
Wow! We can’t believe the year is almost over – it’s been a blast! There are going to be hundreds of New Year’s Eve events taking place across the city – too many to all name here. Just a taster of events includes the New Year’s Eve House Party at Bristol Old Vic – complete with a mirrorball dance floor, boogie-inducing live music, a non-stop silent disco, confetti cannons, street food stalls, cocktail bars and more. While you can expect huge NYE raves at Lakota, Motion and The Prospect Building. Keep an eye on the very best New Year’s Eve events in Bristol here.