Hard to believe, but it’s now only a couple of months until Christmas is with us once again. Bristol, in South West England, is a great city to spend the festive season with everything from the Christmas markets to the Winter Wonderland to help get you in the spirit. If you are unsure where to begin, we have compiled the following list to help you get started on your Christmas journey in Bristol this year.
Visit Santa’s Grotto at Bristol Zoo
December this year will see Santa setting up his grotto from December 2nd -December 23rd at Bristol Zoo. Take your kids along for a special day out at the zoo where they will not only be able to see a whole host of amazing wildlife but will also have the opportunity to meet Santa himself and perhaps even receive a gift. The zoo will also host Christmas arts and crafts and have plenty of Christmas treats on offer to fuel you throughout the day.
Bristol’s Christmas Market
At the very heart of Bristol’s city centre you will find the Christmas market which has over 50 stalls all selling a variety of seasonal treats and gifts. The markets are open from 10am to 7pm and will be sure to get you in the Christmas spirit, with Christmas music playing, a large glittering Christmas tree in the centre and warm drinks like mulled wine being served throughout the day.
Christmas Crafting Workshops
Within the stunning Sudeley Castle – about an hour and a half’s drive outside of Bristol – you can take part in Christmas crafting workshops. The workshops can be prebooked at £45-50 per person and take place between the 9th of November and 14th of December. There are several classes covering a variety of Christmas themed workshops, with workshops in cracker making, bauble decorating and wreath crafting to name a few.
The Christmas Lights Switch On
The Cabot Circus shopping centre hosts a Christmas spectacular to celebrate the season’s lights being switched on. The event often includes a Santa’s Grotto so the little ones can have a chance to tell Santa what they want for Christmas this year, a gospel choir, lots of confetti and all the Christmas lights you could ask for.
Run with Santa
Not only great fun, but also supporting an amazing cause is the Santas on the Run event which takes place on Sunday 9th of December this year. The festive run, where everyone arrives dressed as Santa, is a 2km course which raises money in aid of Children’s Hospital South West. You can either sign up to be a part of the run itself or simply go along and cheer on all the Santas taking part.
Experience Bristol’s Winter Wonderland
Nothing will get you more into the Christmas spirit than the incredible Winter Wonderland experience at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway. Here you can dust off your ice skates and show off your best moves on the 1000 square metre ice rink, visit Santa’s Enchanted Ice Castle and go on a Christmas train ride through the inside of The Mall.
There’s lots of Great Accommodation
If you are looking for somewhere to warm up and get some rest, Bristol has a lot of great well-equipped hotels. If you are looking for something new and modern then you can’t get much newer than The Village Hotel in Bristol which opens on the 8th of December, just in time to for all the Christmas fun.
