A Christmas Day Trip to Bristol: A Festive Guide to the City

This blog post features links and information which have been obtained on a press trip. However, as always, all opinions shared in this post are my own.

This festive season, I was eager to escape the hustle and bustle of London for something different. As a full-time travel content creator, I’ll be the first to say that I’m guilty of overlooking the UK, which explains why Bristol had yet to be on my radar.

However, in late November, I was able to change all of that with a 24-hour Christmas-inspired break to the city. A Great Western Railway (GWR) train took me directly from London Paddington to Bristol in under 2 hours.

GWR trains between London and Bristol run several times an hour throughout the day, so you’re always likely to find a time that works for you. Bristol Temple Meads station is within walking distance of the city.

In fact, throughout my entire 24 hours in Bristol, I walked everywhere, with my first stop being the hotel. The Leonardo Hotel Bristol is a relatively new hotel ten minutes from the city and the train station.

There are 197 spacious, clean, and modern rooms available. There’s also a bar and restaurant. I had dinner here, but unfortunately, I left too early to try the breakfast.

This hotel was everything I needed and more from a hotel in Bristol. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.

My first attraction in Bristol was Wake The Tiger. This is the UK’s largest immersive art experience and the world’s first amazement park.

Wake The Tiger is a year-round attraction but has some extra unique festive decor during Christmas. Regardless of when you visit, if you do one thing in Bristol, make it this.

During opening hours, you can spend as long as you like at Wake The Tiger. I’d personally suggest allocating 2 – 3 hours.

I planned for around 90 minutes and spent way longer enjoying getting lost in this labyrinth. Later, I learned that I still didn’t manage to see everything this place has to offer—an excuse to go back, maybe?

After Wake The Tiger, I walked into the city centre. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit Bristol with my two young children on this occasion. However, if I had been, Wallace & Gromit: A Cracking Christmas Experience would have been a must!

Heck, I debated going on my own as an adult. After all, who doesn’t love Wallace & Gromit?

The show runs from 16th November to 24th December at the Cabot Circus. However, Wallace & Gromit: A Cracking Christmas Experience is more than just a show. You’ll need to solve puzzles, share cheesy jokes and work together to light up the Christmas tree.

Bristol city centre has an eccentric mix of independent and mainstream stores. However, the ClothingXChange really caught my eye.

This is Bristol’s biggest store for sustainable and affordable fashion. It is an in-person Vinted, if you will, where you can sell your old clothes and buy new ones. After a 20-minute browse, I ended up leaving with a Tommy Hilfiger T-shirt for less than £10 – a winner!

Across from here, I enjoyed a quick lunch at Eat a Pitta. My friend Victoria from Bridges and Balloons, who is from Bristol, later messaged me, telling me this place is a proper Bristol classic!

I can certainly see why. The heartiness of the food is perfect for this cold weather, plus the prices are super reasonable.

I then took some time to stroll around Bristol Christmas Market, home to over 35 festive stalls selling unique gifts and seasonal treats.

Shopping isn’t the only attraction at Bristol Christmas Market. Several rides, Santa appearances, and live music at the Jäger Barn Bar are also available.

I finished my day at The Granary Club. This architectural marvel was initially built in 1869 as a grain store. However, between 1968 and 1988, this location was Bristol’s home of rock.

Bands which appeared here included:

• Iron Maiden
• Motorhead
• Billy Idol
• Thin Lizzy
• Slade

After several years of in-occupancy, The Granary re-opened in 2023 as an all-day dining restaurant. Underneath The Granary Club is now a sophisticated cocktail bar.

Here, I took part in an incredible cocktail masterclass. Standing behind the bar, I made two different cocktails alongside the trained mixologists. The Granary Club plans to run this event several times a year moving forward—a great Christmas gift, maybe?

With that, my Christmas day trip to Bristol came to an end. I’ll be honest: I had no idea what to expect from Bristol. But the fact that I’m already planning a return trip to the city in the New Year should tell you everything you need to know.