Getting Festive in Bristol
The UK has celebrated Christmas as a religious event for hundreds of years. Many unique traditions have developed during this time, from Christmas trees to gifts wrapped in colourful paper, carol singing, Christmas cards not forgetting the mince pies. One of the most celebrated traditions is the Christmas Market.
Some gluhwein in the courtyard & garden?
All across the UK, these stalls and cabins take shape for a few days or in some cases months each year and Bristol is one of the most popular.
Oliver Cromwell attempted to constrain the extent of how the British celebrate Christmas in the 17th century, thankfully no one cares about Oliver Cromwell these days and a traditional Christmas Market can be an ideal way to celebrate and escape the constant cheesy repetitive supermarket adverts which seem to invade every TV channel.
Bristol is such a historic city and port, traditions run deep in the West Country capital and Christmas is no exception. Here’s a little insight into what you may find in Bristol this Christmas.
Bristol Christmas Market
Bristol Christmas Market has all the usual array of traders, offering up their goods – from crafts and unique items, ideal for that special Christmas gift.
It’s easy to find, located right in the heart of the city centre and has in excess of 50 stalls with festive santas and reindeer, heated seating, warming drinking and, being Bristol, plenty of live music in the Jäger Barn Bar. Bristol is proud of its huge Christmas tree which is the centrepiece of the whole market and really adds to the seasonal cheer. Visitors can also partake in the ancient sport of curling.
The market is near to the bus & coach station and Temple Meads train station – there are several car parks catering for shoppers nearby too. Located in Broadmead and opens 8th November to 23rd December 2019. Open daily from 10am to 7pm, and 10am to 10pm for food and drink.
The Harbourside Christmas Market
The Harbourside Christmas Market is another festive treat for Bristolians. It opens on the Waterfront from Saturday 23rd of November for five weekends of magical Christmas moochiness.
The covered walkway is transformed into a winter wonderland with a Makers Market.
This is a chance for Bristol’s best independents to showcase around 50 stalls of unique gifts such as award-winning jams, handmade leather goods, books, artisan sweets and chocolates and some much loved Bristol art – no, sadly no Banksy here!
To compliment the Makers Market there’s a street food square full of the best in light bites on the go, mulled drinks and live bands.
St Nicholas Market
Established in 1743, St Nicholas Market is Bristol’s largest collection of independent market stalls.
With over 60 stalls it also sprawls even further into the streets which run adjacent to The Exchange Building.
