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United Kingdom : Bristol - December 2009

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While the church of St. Mary Redcliffe may symbolise the ancient heart of Bristol with its roots to the slave trade, today the area bubbles with youthful creativity and a touch of revolutionary zest. As Bristol has grown into the effervescent hub it is today, so the city has embraced ancient and modern alike. Whether it’s festive lights or disco lights you seek, start with carols at Bristol Zoo (19-21 December) and let the Christmas spirit be your guideon- the-go. Sarah Ellis gets ready to sing

Getting around

Bristol International Airport

Bus: The Bristol International Flyer connects the airport to Temple Meads Rail Station and Bristol Bus Station, with drop-off points around the city centre including Clifton. Services run every 15-20 minutes between 5am and 12.10am from Temple Meads. A return ticket costs €10/£7.
Taxi: A single journey from the airport to the city centre costs around €23/£16 and takes about 30 minutes.
Tourist information: The central tourist information is at Wildwalk-At-Bristol, Harbourside (tel. , visitbristol.co.uk).

CITY CENTRE

Five years ago, Bristol’s centre looked a little tired but regeneration has given it an entirely new lease of life. Cabot Circus has made Bristol a key shopping destination and restaurants and bars have stepped up to the mark and followed suit.

Sleep soundly – The Cabot Circus Hotel (Bond Street South, tel. , futureinns.co.uk, rooms from €71/£64) has queen-sized suites, a steak house, an underground jazz bar and a Stateside feel.

Culture vultures – Bag a leather reclining seat at Cinema de Lux (Cabot Circus).

Must eat – Previously a summertime staple, Spyglass (Welsh Back, tel. ) is opening for its first winter. Go for Ski Sundays – après piste-style fun.

Must drink – The country’s most relaxed festival extends its remit with Bristol’s least stressful nightspot, The Big Chill Bar (15 Small Street).

WATERFRONT

The sophisticated harbourside is where to find good dining by day and non-stop partying by night.

Culture vultures – The Bristol Gallery (Millennium Promenade) is a new contemporary art space.

Must eat – Jacks Brasserie (1 Hanover Quay, tel. ) sits a little farther along the water, away from the bustle. Here, you can enjoy simple dishes, well done. Try the Devon crab cakes or the steamed Cornish mussels. Wrap up and bag a seat outside.

Must drink – Bsb (Canon’s Road) is a favourite with Bristol’s youth. Round the corner, the Mud Dock (Welsh Back) is generally a more civilised option at night.

CLIFTON

Up above the centre is Clifton with its tree-lined streets and majestic squares. Meander from the suspension bridge, through the village and down Park Street, to see the classy side of Bristol.

Sleep soundly – The Grade II-listed Victoria Square Hotel (Victoria Square, tel. , victoriasquarehotel.co.uk, rooms from €83/£75) is the perfect base from which to explore Clifton Village and the city beyond.

Culture vultures – Bristol Lido (Oakfield Place, Clifton, tel. ) houses a solar-heated outdoor pool in faithfully restored Victorian buildings, which are warm enough even in December. The inhouse spa offers luxurious treatments to prepare you for the party season.

Must eat – The Clifton Sausage (7-9 Portland Street, tel. ) has an excellent Christmas menu. The reindeer and cranberry sausages are a festive must. Follow up with the vanilla burnt cream, damson and sloe gin ice cream and shortbread biscuits.

GLOUCESTER ROAD

Sitting a little north of Cabot Circus, this high street is full of one-off cafés and quirky, independent shops.

Must eat – Canteen (Hamilton House, Stokes Croft, tel. ) is a newcomer that’s packed at lunchtimes. Menus change daily and local organic produce is used where possible.

Dance the night away – Metropolis (135-137 Cheltenham Road) is a new live venue. Burlesque group Hoochie Coochie hosts a Christmas Cabaret here from 8-9 December.

Shop til you drop – Do all your Christmas shopping on this one street. Try Rooted Records (9 Gloucester Road) for music, Playfull (87 Gloucester Road) for gorgeous children’s stocking fillers, and Bishopston Trading Company (193 Gloucester Road) for ethical, organic clothing. If you need pampering after all that, Leanne does great cuts at Sage Hair & Beauty (194 Cheltenham Road).

Compiled by Sarah Ellis