Last updated: 12 August 2025
Bristol Christmas Market 2025 is your festive blueprint for a city break. Running from 7 November to 23 December 2025 in Broadmead, this free-to-enter market combines alpine-style chalets, artisan gifts, warming street food, and cosy bars with live music. Plan a weekday visit for calmer crowds, or go at dusk for fairy lights and après-ski vibes. Book signature experiences like private ski gondolas, igloo dining, and the Candy Factory escape room before they sell out. In this guide, you’ll find dates, opening hours, maps, accessibility info, parking and transport tips, plus tricks to make your trip easy, memorable, and magical.
Quick-Look Essentials (Bristol Christmas Market 2025)
-
Dates: Fri 7 Nov – Tue 23 Dec 2025 (closes at 18:00 on 23 Dec).
-
Opening hours: Stalls 10:00–19:00; Food & Bars 10:00–22:00.
-
Location: Broadmead, Bristol Shopping Quarter, BS1 1UX.
-
Cost: Free entry (pay for food, drink & optional experiences).
-
Headline experiences: Ski Gondolas (up to 6 people) & Hot-Air-Balloon Basket (6–8 people), 90-minute slots, last booking 20:00; well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
-
Escape room: Candy Factory — 60-minute game, ages 8+, teams 2–6, from £50; advance booking recommended.
-
Getting there: About a 15-minute walk or 5-minute bus/taxi from Bristol Temple Meads to Broadmead.
-
Park & Ride: Service 9 links Brislington ↔ City Centre (Broadmead) ↔ Portway with frequent buses, including Sundays.
-
Driving & CAZ: The Bristol Clean Air Zone covers the city centre; check if your vehicle is charged & how to pay before you go.
What’s New for 2025
Bar Glissè – Après‑Ski Vibes Come to Broadmead
Replacing last year’s mini chalet bar, Bar Glissè debuts with heated seating, alpine DJ sets on weekend evenings, and a menu of schnapps‑based cocktails. Look for the wooden ski signage just off the piazza.
Hot‑Air‑Balloon Baskets & Extra Gondolas
Bristol’s aviation heritage gets a nod with two wicker hot‑air‑balloon basket “booths” you can book for mulled‑wine tastings. Capacity is six per basket and reservations open in early September.
Expanded Artisan Zone
Five additional huts have been added on Merchant Street focusing on sustainable, plastic‑free gifts—think beeswax wraps, zero‑waste soaps and up‑cycled jewellery.
How to book & prices
What you can book (official options)
-
Ski Gondolas – private pods for up to 6 people, 90-minute slots, last booking 8pm. Not heated; well-behaved dogs on leads welcome. Book online via the official site.
-
Hot-air-balloon basket booth – life-size wicker basket set-up for 6–8 people, 90-minute slots; book online.
-
Igloo pods – cozy private seating; reservations handled via the market’s booking partner (availability appears in the booking flow). V
-
Candy Factory Escape Room – 60-minute game. Entry prices: up to 2 people £50, up to 4 £80, up to 6 £100. Party package add-ons available (e.g., “Medium Drinks” £25; “Gold Ticket” bundles at £105 for 4 and £145 for 6, incl. gondola seating and drinks). Age guide: 8+ with at least one adult.
How to book (quick steps)
-
Pick your experience (Gondola, Balloon, Igloo, Escape) on the official site’s booking pages.
-
Choose date & time in the online calendar (Gondola/Balloon are 90 mins; Escape is 60 mins).
-
Pay online to confirm. Bookings are non-refundable; you can request a date change 48 hours in advance (office not staffed at weekends).
Good to know before you pay
-
Capacities & policies: Gondola max 6, Balloon max 8; last slot 8pm; dogs allowed; gondolas not heated.
-
Escape room bundles: “Sweet Escape” packages (£120 for 4 / £150 for 6) include entry plus vouchers (hot drinks, churros, ride). Full bundle list and start-times show in the booking widget.
-
Food & drink add-ons: Past igloo/gondola menus show sharers and drinks packages (e.g., platters and prosecco/Glühwein options). Final 2025 pricing appears at checkout.
Map & layout
Where it sits: Bristol Christmas Market stretches through Broadmead in the Bristol Shopping Quarter, with the main hub on the Broadmead piazza and lines of chalets running along the pedestrianised high street. The organiser’s site links to an interactive Google Map so you can pin exact entrances and meeting points.
How it’s laid out (typical): The latest published layout plan shows a circular central hub with the big bar area and stage, plus two straight runs of stalls radiating along Broadmead, with additional clusters on the side streets. It’s flat and step-free throughout, and the map highlights major fixtures (tree, bars, structures) to help you navigate. A fresh PDF is usually posted each season—check back closer to opening for the 2025 version.
Key zones to know before you go
-
Central hub (Broadmead piazza): home base for the Jäger Barn Bar and live music; the ski gondolas and hot-air-balloon booths are nestled inside the bar area, so bookable experiences are easy to find.
-
Broadmead run: the main spine of gift stalls and food huts—best for browsing; busiest on weekends.
-
Side-street clusters: smaller groups of chalets branch off into the Shopping Quarter (e.g., Merchant Street connecting The Horsefair with Broadmead), handy for ducking the crowds or looping to Cabot Circus.
Pro tip: Screenshot the official “Download Market Layout” PDF to your phone and mark your meet-up spot (tree or bar entrance). It’s the simplest way to keep your group together once the fairy lights come on.
Insider Tips to Beat the Crowds
-
Mid‑week Evenings Rule – Footfall dips after 6 pm Tuesday–Thursday.
-
Park & Ride For £3 Return – Brislington & Long Ashton sites drop you 3 mins from the market.
-
Contactless Is King – Almost every hut is cashless; carry a card or phone wallet.
-
Book Extras Early – Gondolas, igloos & escape‑room slots sell out by late October.
-
Hidden Heated Benches – Two heated benches sit behind the information hut—great for warming up without queuing for a bar seat.
Beyond the Market: Make It a Festive Weekend
-
St Nicholas Markets (10‑min walk) for global street food.
-
Cabot Circus for late‑night shopping until 9 pm.
-
Bristol Light Trail in Castle Park (28th Nov – 27th Dec).
-
Ice‑skate at Planet Ice (15 min bus) if you crave a rink fix.
-
Boat Trip to SS Great Britain for a maritime twist on your festive break.
Sustainable & Ethical Shopping Pointers
Bristol is a certified Gold Sustainable Food City, and the market follows suit:
-
Deposit‑Return Cups – cut disposable waste.
-
Local‑Maker Priority – 70 % of traders come from within 50 miles.
-
Green Electricity – stalls powered by renewable energy supplier Ecotricity.
Remember to bring a tote bag and skip plastic gift‑wrap by opting for recycled Kraft paper available at the info kiosk.
Where to Stay Nearby
Hotel | Walk Time | Perks |
---|---|---|
Moxy Bristol | 4 mins | Trendy bar, city‑view rooms |
Radisson Blu | 8 mins | Upper‑floor harbour views |
YHA Bristol | 12 mins | Budget‑friendly family rooms |
Book early—weekend rates jump by 25 % after September.
Accessibility Specifics
Terrain & layout
The market runs through Broadmead, a pedestrianised, flat shopping street with wide pavements—good for wheelchairs and buggies. Routes are step-free, and vehicle access is restricted during shopping hours.
Accessible toilets & Changing Places
-
Accessible toilets: available in The Galleries and Cabot Circus (next to the market area). Note: some facilities use a RADAR key.
-
Changing Places toilet: Cabot Circus has a Changing Places facility; AccessAble notes a RADAR-key system (keys can be obtained on-site via Shopmobility/guest services—bring your own RADAR key to be safe).
Wheelchair & scooter hire (Shopmobility)
Bristol Shopmobility is based in Cabot Circus car park (BS2 9AB) and ordinarily hires manual chairs and mobility scooters; TravelWest details nearby bays and access. However, their Facebook page recently flagged a temporary closure—check status before you travel.
Blue Badge parking (closest car parks)
-
Cabot Circus MSCP: 75 Blue Badge bays (Ground & Level 3). Charges apply to all users. Lifts connect to the centre.
-
The Galleries car park (Fairfax St): 10+ Blue Badge bays; step-free route to the mall.
Note: Bristol’s Clean Air Zone no longer offers Blue Badge exemptions—non-compliant vehicles must pay.
Getting there accessibly
-
Park & Ride Service 9 (Brislington/Portway) runs low-floor, wheelchair-accessible buses to Broadmead and Temple Meads, 7 days a week.
-
By train: Bristol Temple Meads has an interactive accessibility map and, newly, an Auracast hearing-assistance pilot that streams PA audio to compatible hearing aids/phones—handy if crowds are noisy.
Seating & rest areas
You’ll find benches around Broadmead, plus heated seating inside the Jäger Barn Bar.
Assistance & contact
For specific accommodations (quiet entry, queue help, allergies), email the organiser info@bristolchristmasmarket.com or use the site contact form; ask stallholders/bar staff for assistance on-the-day.
Final Thoughts
With a freshly expanded artisan line‑up, new après‑ski Bar Glissè and bucket‑list gondola dining, Bristol Christmas Market 2025 promises its most spectacular season yet. Bookmark this guide, reserve your experiential extras early, and get ready to wrap yourself in West Country festive magic this November!
Bristol Christmas Market 2025: Frequently Asked Questions
1. When does Bristol Christmas Market 2025 start and finish?
Bristol Christmas Market opens on Friday 7 November 2025 and runs daily until Tuesday 23 December 2025.
2. What are the opening hours for stalls, food huts and bars?
Stalls trade 10 am – 7 pm, while food huts and bars serve until 10 pm (the whole market closes at 6 pm on 23 December).
3. Where exactly is the market and how do I get there?
You’ll find it along Broadmead, Bristol Shopping Quarter (BS1 1UX)—about a 10‑minute walk or one stop by bus from Bristol Temple Meads station.
4. Do you need tickets to enter?
No—entry is 100 % free; you only pay for food, drink and optional extras like gondolas or the escape room.
5. Are dogs allowed at Bristol Christmas Market?
Yes. Well‑behaved dogs on leads are welcome in outdoor areas, though they can’t go inside ski gondolas or the Candy Factory escape room.
6. How do I book a ski gondola or hot‑air‑balloon basket and how many people fit?
Reserve online via the official website; each 90‑minute slot seats up to six people in a gondola or eight in a balloon basket.
7. Is the market wheelchair‑friendly?
Yes—Broadmead is flat and step‑free, with accessible toilets next to the Jäger Barn Bar. Mobility‑scooter hire is available nearby via Bristol Shopmobility in Cabot Circus.
8. What’s new for 2025?
Look out for the alpine Bar Glissè, two bookable hot‑air‑balloon basket booths, an expanded plastic‑free artisan zone on Merchant Street, and weekly après‑ski DJ sets.
9. Where can I park and what does it cost?
Pre‑booked spaces within five minutes’ walk start at £1.40 per hour—or about £2 per hour in The Galleries multi‑storey—via JustPark.
10. Can I get a reusable mug discount on hot drinks?
Yes—pay a £3 refundable deposit for the souvenir mug and enjoy 50‑p refills on mulled wine or hot chocolate at participating stalls.