January isn’t the easiest month of the year. It’s cold and wet and none of our friends ever want to do anything. The highs of December, from Christmas to waving goodbye to 2024, often leave us feeling low in the first month of the year. Luckily for you, we’ve unearthed plenty of fun things to do in Bristol to help beat those January blues. And rest assured, you’ll end January knowing that it was the best month of 2024 – so far!
1. Light up your January blues with a candlelight concert
This might be the coldest month, but nothing will warm you up faster than bopping along to Queen. On January 18, the legendary 1970s rock band will get the Candlelight treatment at St Mary Redcliffe Church. Get ready for a string quartet to play the likes of We Are the Champions, Don’t Stop Me Now, Bohemian Rhapsody and more, all under pressure the gentle glow of candlelight. To get your tickets head here.
2. Have a laugh at the first-ever Bristol Comedy Festival
It feels like there’s never much to smile about in January, but the inaugural two-week Bristol Comedy Festival should leave us a little lighter. Taking place January 12-25, the stellar line-up includes Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Glenn Moore, podcaster Jess Fostekew, star of Friday Night Dinner and Plebs Tom Rosenthal, acclaimed author Mark Watson, and quick-witted star Brennan Reece, alongside a host of visiting and local talent.
It all starts with a FREE launch party at Bambalan on opening night, followed by everything from a ‘Made in Bristol’ working-class showcase to a “Roast Battle” and the city’s first-of-its-kind Bristol Comedy Competition – with over 100 events lined up. It’s also partnering with TAP for Bristol to raise funds to tackle homelessness and support vital services in the city.
3. Add a splash of colour with this ‘paint in the dark’ experience
January is a dark month, a very dark month, but we say embrace it! Start the year under UV lights, with this immersive Neon Brush experience. With a brush in one hand and a glass of wine (or a beer or a soft drink) in the other, brush up on your painting skills on January 17 & 18. The adults-only, drink and paint workshop will rekindle your love of art under a neon glow, as you rekindle your creativity. To get your tickets head here.
4. Awake the cider apple trees with a Wassail
Let’s face it, January is a bit dry when it comes to holidays. But this ancient tradition is having a bit of a resurgence at the moment – especially in the cider-loving South West. If you don’t know what a wassail is, it’s all about blessing the fruit trees for a good harvest later in the year, particularly apple trees – essential for cider enthusiasts in Bristol.
You’ll find numerous events throughout Bristol and beyond this January, but join the annual Redcatch Wassail on Sunday, January 12. Head down to Redcatch Community Garden from 12:30PM for crafts and singing workshops, while the Wassail ritual starts at 3PM. Expect brightly dressed dancers, folk music, mulled cider, and the banging of pots and pans to scare away evil spirits!
5. Escape Bristol and enjoy a winter staycation in the UK
As we can see already, there’s no reason to leave Bristol in January, but after a busy Christmas period, you deserve a break! Boasting varied landscapes and quaint little villages, our country is a mecca for culture, with tons of stunning sights and historical landmarks to uncover across the island. Check out our pick of the best winter staycations in the UK here.
Recently, we took a trip to Castle Combe – one of the world’s prettiest villages. Known for cosy country lanes, honey-coloured homes and its babbling brook, it’s only 40 minutes from Bristol! Stay at the Grade II-listed The Manor House hotel – with its very own beautiful Italian gardens and 18-hole golf course – and dine at the Michelin-starred Bybrook restaurant. Or just grab a pub lunch at The Castle Inn, and wander around the Cotswolds.
6. Watch the world’s most popular rugby player
The most followed rugby union player in the world on social media, Ilona Maher has signed for Bristol Bears until the end of the Premiership Women’s Rugby season. The 28-year-old signed a three-month deal from January, ahead of the Rugby World Cup in England next summer. Bristol Bears Women will play Gloucester-Hartpury at Ashton Gate Stadium on January 5, and
Leicester Tigers at Shaftesbury Park on January 18. Will we see Ilona play?
7. Let’s go bowling
The Manchester-born bowling complex, King Pins has chosen Bristol as the site of its third location. Opening at Cabot Circus in January, it will host everything from ten-pin bowling and ice-free curling to tech darts, American pool and shuffleboard. You can also test out your vocal cords with karaoke, or spend hours in the arcade… Plus, King Pins boasts its own dessert kiosk, serving everything from doughnuts and soft serve ice cream to endless Pick ‘N’ Mix.
8. Go vegan for the month
Veganuary rolls around once more, and it seemingly gathers speed every January. We say “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”, so why not check out all the vegan delights that Bristol has to offer to inspire your next dining-out experience? From vegan junk food by Oowee to Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine by Eat A Pitta and Koocha, there’s something for plant-based eaters to enjoy in Bristol, Veganuary or not. Here are our favourite vegan restaurants in Bristol.
9. Go for a wintery walk that ends at the pub
We’ve spent a lot of time indoors during December. So if you need a break from your living room this January, there are several lovely wintery walks in and around Bristol – many of which end at a cosy pub too. From a wander down the River Avon to visiting Stanton Drew Stone Circles, these are all worth getting your walking boots on for. If you want even more winter walks near Bristol check these out here.
10. Stay in an actual Tudor castle once used by Henry VIII
Yes, that’s correct, the historic Thornbury Castle once housed Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn for a short period – and is the only Tudor castle that is also a luxury hotel. From the “budget” Deluxe rooms to the Catherine of Aragon Tower Suite – you’ll have to climb the atmospheric spiral staircase to reach the largest four-poster bed of any UK hotel – every room is fit for kings and queens.
Elsewhere, you’ll find 15 acres of land surrounding the castle to discover, with stunning views and endless activities for all who stay. Stroll through The Rose Garden, take up a new skill like falconry; or relax with a spa treatment. You can also stop by for a royal feast in one of Thornbury Castle’s 3AA rosette dining rooms.
11. Boogie on a toboggan
We’ve all been Twilight Tobogganing at the Mendip Activity Centre – a 25-minute drive from Bristol. But starting this January, the centre is debuting Disco Tobogganing. A groovy twist on the toboggan slope, it’s being transformed with funky lights and disco classics, from January 13 to February 23. Tickets start at £7 for 30 minutes and can be purchased here.
12. Release your inner Scot for Burns Night
Scotland is a long, long way away from Bristol. So Burns Night (January 25) – the celebration of the poet Robert Burns – is never going to be the biggest party in the South West. That said, there’s still plenty of fun to be had! Many will be gathering at home to tuck into haggis, shortbread and a wee dram of whisky or two, before belting out Auld Lang Syne and reading aloud the Scot’s poetry. But events like Burns Night Supper at The Milk Thistle – with Scotch whisky, a three-course meal, and more – will help bring Bristol’s Scottish communities together.
13. Learn the joy of the ‘happy fail’
Want to try something new this January? The Bristol Improv Theatre, aka the UK’s first full-time dedicated improv theatre, will challenge you in unexpected ways. Improve your listening skills, build your confidence or simply tap into your mischievous side when its theatre school’s taster sessions and 6-week courses restart in January.
14. Watch the ‘UK’s funniest musical’ in its spiritual home
Only Fools and Horses might be set in South London, but it bleeds Bristol – with large chunks of the iconic sitcom filmed in our city. Now, after a record-breaking sold-out four-year run in London’s West End, Only Fools and Horses The Musical is heading to the Bristol Hippodrome between January 27 to February 8 – with musical contributions from the iconic Chas & Dave, and Paul Whitehouse starring as Grandad.
15. Be dazzled by this spectacular light festival
Yes, it’s mostly a February thing, but we’re squeezing Bristol Light Festival in at the end of January. Return for 10 days of dazzling light-based artworks from January 31 to February 9, its fifth iteration will brighten up these gloomy months ahead. Expect everything from a flock of pink flamingos to a heart-shaped disco ball and the return of a fan favourite, a musical swing. To learn more head here.