Last week we were lucky enough to receive our idea of a Golden Ticket, a ten day pass for all of Bristol’s amazing family attractions to see and sample their festive offerings, courtesy of Visit Bristol. How kind! If you follow us on Instagram you will understand exactly how exciting this was for us. We have two very active toddlers who are happiest when they are exploring, so we really went for it and used the pass as a great opportunity to discover new places to take the girls. It was so fabulous that we’re seriously considering asking Santa for membership for several of the attractions. Here are our ho ho highlights!
First Up, Tyntesfield! From now until 2nd January Tyntesfield will be stepping back to Christmas past by having ‘A Very Victorian Christmas’ indeed. Now, we’ve both been to the National Trust grounds before but we were absolutely taken aback by just how beautiful the house itself is inside. We would definitely recommend collecting a ticket at the entrance and enjoying the traditional decorations (including the best Christmas tree we’ve ever seen!), storytelling, carols and a whole lot more. You can even ride in a horse drawn carriage!
If you are in the centre of town, then head for a browse of the outdoor Christmas markets. They seem to get bigger and better every year! We like to feast on all of the festive treats on offer with our firm favourites being the chocolate fountain and the Bratwurst, but if you are more adventurous, embrace your inner Torvil and Dean and head to We The Curious for a skate around their ice rink.
We also heartily recommend hopping on board a Bristol Ferry Boat for a delightful trip around the harbour. If you really want to push the boat out (ho ho ho), for £13 a head you can join them for a Santa Cruise (why they didn’t call it that is a mystery), which promises lots of festive treats for those big and small. You can find out more about it here.
Last but not least, and slightly further a field, is Slimbridge Wetland Centre. This is our top tip for a Christmas day trip to please all generations. This was just as big a hit with the Grandparents as it is with the toddler and it well worth the drive. As well as admiring the wildlife, you can join Slimbridge for a multitude of festive activities. You can breakfast with elves (!) as well as pay a visit to Santa in his magical grotto. Other festive frivolity includes the opportunity to ice your own gingerbread man, build an elf den, toast marshmallows or send a letter to the North Pole at their post office! I think we can all agree it all sounds pretty excellent and you can find out more here
Merry Bristmas, everyone!
J&V x