Off to the Christmas Market — yellow rubber duck in a festive hat and scarfGood trips start hereOff to the
Christmas Market
Bristol Christmas Market in November 2025; historical view

Bristol / Christmas 2026

Bristol Christmas Market

Broadmead and St Nick’s make two different Bristol market stops.

Main market: 6 November–23 December 2026; St Nick’s: 20 November–24 December 2026 · Free market entry; purchases and separate attractions cost extra.

By The Off to the… team · Updated 24 October 2026

See the 2026 dates

Archive 2025. Photo: Captain Galaxy / CC BY 4.0

At a glance

2026 dates
Main market: 6 November–23 December 2026; St Nick’s: 20 November–24 December 2026
Opening hours
Main market stalls 10am–7pm; food and bars 10am–10pm. St Nick’s Saturday 9.30am–6pm; Sunday 10am–4pm; For weekday St Nick’s visits, check the council’s daily hours before travelling.
Entry
Free market entry; purchases and separate attractions cost extra.
Rail / nearest useful station
Bristol Temple Meads
Best time to go
Daylight first, then return for the lights (our planning suggestion)
Setting
Main market in Broadmead; St Nick’s Christmas Market on Corn Street and Wine Street

Parking: See parking and park-and-ride

Dogs: Compare the published pet policies

Our verdict

Go if…

You want to compare separate city-centre market quarters.

Skip if…

You want one timetable to cover Broadmead and St Nick’s.

Best day to go

Choose a St Nick’s trading day if you want both markets in one trip.

Our top tip

Broadmead’s stalls and food bars have different closing times.

How we choose and check our guides

The market

Bristol’s Christmas markets make a good two-part day. Start in Broadmead, where more than 40 stalls bring festive gifts, street food and a cheerful evening gathering place into the shopping district. The main market runs until 23 December, with the shopping stalls closing before the food and bars. Give yourself a first circuit before buying lunch: a Yorkshire pudding wrap, a German bratwurst or a pot of hot fruit crumble may change your plans.

The Jäger Barn Bar is the social centre of the main event, with live entertainment and a programme worth checking before you arrive. The organiser also lists a daily 6pm snow moment, a Ferris wheel and Christmas bauble rides. Private gondolas and balloon seating can be booked as experiences; these have their own packages and conditions. You can enjoy browsing without booking a private table, then decide whether an extra attraction suits your group and budget.

From 20 November, add St Nick’s Christmas Market on Corn Street and Wine Street to your route. Its council-run Christmas offer includes ten wooden chalets and space for up to 25 umbrella pitches, bringing another shopping stop beside the Old City’s permanent market. It has a different calendar and opening pattern from Broadmead, so shop there earlier rather than expecting the same late food-and-bar hours. Finish back at Broadmead as the lights come into their own, or book dinner in the Old City after your final purchases. Keep the route flexible: a proper sit-down break and a little time beside the harbour can be just as valuable as one more shopping bag.

More about the market ↗ · More about the market ↗ · More about the market ↗ · More about the market ↗

Eat and drink

Official 2026 food category

Yorkshire pudding wraps

A substantial lunch option on Visit Bristol’s current market listing. Check fillings and allergens at the stall.

Official food categoryOrganiser food guide ↗
Official 2026 food category

Hog roast

Make this your warming savoury stop if it is on the day’s menu. Ask what accompanies the roast.

Official food categoryOrganiser food guide ↗
Official 2026 food category

Hot fruit crumble

A comforting pudding for a cold afternoon; check which fruit and toppings are being served.

Official food categoryOrganiser food guide ↗
Food type: churros with dark chocolate sauce from the Chocolatería San Churro.Churros with Chocolate Sauce - Choclateria San Churro
Food photograph. Photo: Alpha from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia / CC BY-SA 2.0
Official 2026 food category

Churros

A sweet pause between the shopping stalls. Choose from the toppings actually offered on the day.

Official food categoryOrganiser food guide ↗
Official 2026 food category

German bratwurst

A market classic listed by Visit Bristol; check the current menu before ordering.

Official food categoryOrganiser food guide ↗
Food type: Pizza — illustrative food photograph, not a named venue product
Food photograph. Photo: Shisma / CC BY 4.0
Jäger Barn Bar

Pizza at the Jäger Barn

The organiser advertises pizza alongside its bar experience. Check the available menu and seating when you arrive.

Official food categoryOrganiser food guide ↗
Food type: Three cups of mulled wine with citrus fruit
Food photograph. Photo: Loyna / CC BY-SA 2.5
Jäger Barn Bar

Mulled wine

Visit Bristol recommends a warming glass at the bar. Alcohol is for adults; ask about alternatives.

Official food categoryOrganiser food guide ↗

Where we’d stay

Old City and Corn Street

Handy for St Nick’s, independent shops and dinner; Broadmead is a separate walk.

Broadmead and Cabot Circus

Put the main Christmas market and shopping district at the centre of your stay.

Temple and the harbour

Useful for a wider city break; allow the mapped walk back after an evening at Broadmead.

See all stays in Bristol ↗

We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Book early for weekends. The walking times are measured routes to Broadmead Christmas Market; give yourself a little longer for a relaxed stroll through the market.

Map

Find the market streets, arrival points, parking and places to stay. The map loads as you approach this section; mouse-wheel scrolling stays with the page.

Map waiting to load. The places list below works without it.

Market streetsRail & coachParking & park and ridePlaces to stayAccessible toilets

Choose Explore the map to pan and pinch to zoom; choose Finish exploring or press Escape to return to page scrolling. Pins show places, not the precise position of individual stalls.

Open in Google Maps ↗

All map places, as a list

Coordinates: OpenStreetMap contributors. Organiser toilet and access information. Temporary toilet locations use the named street/site as a navigation point; ask staff for the exact unit.

A perfect day

  1. Morning

    Begin in Broadmead

    Start with Bristol’s main Christmas market, taking a first unhurried loop before deciding where to spend your gift budget.

  2. Late morning

    Follow the independent stalls

    Look closely at the small gifts and decorations, then pause over the food menus rather than joining the first queue you see.

  3. Lunch

    Make room for something hearty

    Compare the market’s warm food choices and save a little room for a sweet finish. Ask the trader directly about ingredients and allergens.

  4. Afternoon

    Add St Nick’s on the right date

    When its festive sessions are running, make St Nicholas Market the second part of your outing. Its Christmas dates are 20 November–24 December; the Broadmead market finishes a day earlier.

  5. Evening

    Return for the atmosphere

    Enjoy a shorter second circuit as the lights take over. Gift stalls and the food-and-bar area have different closing times; finish shopping before settling down for a last drink.

On Instagram

Archive views from 2019; attractions, traders and hours shown belong to that season. Use the 2026 guide above for planning.

A little festive inspiration from organisers, makers and visitors. Tap any tile to load all 4 Instagram posts on this page. Instagram may receive your IP address and set cookies; read the privacy note. Until then, nothing loads from Instagram.

@bristol_christmas_market

Archive: the organiser’s final market day, 23 December 2019.

Open this post on Instagram ↗

@bristol_christmas_market

Archive: a mulled wine and cider post from 21 December 2019.

Open this post on Instagram ↗

@bristol_christmas_market

Archive: a family-attractions post from 18 December 2019.

Open this post on Instagram ↗

@bristol_christmas_market

Archive: the festive market in a 17 December 2019 organiser post.

Open this post on Instagram ↗

Instagram is off until you choose to load it.

Practical information

Getting there and back

Bristol Temple Meads is the main rail arrival for the centre; Bristol Bus & Coach Station is a separate arrival point nearer Broadmead. Use the map for both. Bristol’s Old City includes pedestrianised streets, and the city has a Clean Air Zone: check your vehicle and planned route on the council website before driving. Cabot Circus offers a shopping-quarter parking option. Pick your return train before the evening bar stop; no dated 2026 last-train example is published here.

Compare Christmas market trips by train from five UK cities

Parking and park-and-ride

Use Brislington or Portway Park & Ride for Broadmead, or park centrally at Cabot Circus or NCP Broadmead.

Park-and-ride

  • TravelWest lists Brislington and Portway services via Cabot Circus/Broadmead, plus Long Ashton, Lyde Green, Parkway North and Yate sites. Its current guide lists parking as free, with a separate bus fare. Official park-and-ride source · checked 24 October 2026.

City-centre car parks

Pre-booking

  • NCP Broadmead advertises pre-booking on its property page. Availability for a particular visit is determined by its booking system. Official pre-booking source · checked 24 October 2026.

Blue Badge parking

Christmas services and changes

On the day

Begin with a first circuit in daylight, choose lunch after looking at the menus, then give the afternoon to the gifts that catch your eye. Keep a warm indoor break in reserve and enjoy a final look at the lights before closing.

Before and after

Make this a city break with room to breathe: arrive the evening before, leave luggage at your accommodation if agreed, and save a wider city walk for the following morning. Check each attraction’s own opening and ticket arrangements.

Accessibility

Check the organiser’s access information and contact the team about individual needs before travelling. Broadmead and St Nick’s are different venues, with streets and crossings between them. The route estimate is a general walking route, not a step-free audit. No confirmed 2026 market-specific accessible-toilet map or quiet session was found; ask the organiser for current arrangements.

Frequently asked questions

Questions before you go

When is Bristol Christmas market in 2026?

Main market: 6 November–23 December 2026; St Nick’s: 20 November–24 December 2026

Official market information →

What are the opening hours?

Main market stalls 10am–7pm; food and bars 10am–10pm. St Nick’s Saturday 9.30am–6pm; Sunday 10am–4pm; For weekday St Nick’s visits, check the council’s daily hours before travelling.

Check the organiser’s hours →

Do I need an entry ticket?

Free market entry; purchases and separate attractions cost extra.

Official entry information →

How can I arrive by train?

Bristol Temple Meads

Check the full guide and sources

Can I bring my dog?

Check the organiser’s current pet-dog rules before travelling. Assistance-dog arrangements are separate; use the accessibility guide for the published information.

Check the full guide and sources →

What access information should I check?

Check the organiser’s access information and contact the team about individual needs before travelling. Broadmead and St Nick’s are different venues, with streets and crossings between them. The route estimate is a general walking route, not a step-free audit. No confirmed 2026 market-specific accessible-toilet map or quiet session was found; ask the organiser for current arrangements.

Check the full guide and sources

Official links

Keep exploring

More market trips

Back to the full market calendar

How it compares: see our top 15 UK Christmas markets.

More market trips in this region

Christmas markets in south west