After a fairly quiet Christmas last year, Bristol has come back with a bang! If you love the festivities of Christmas carols and concerts, these are some of the best ones to head to and get into that Christmas spirit.
1. The Bristol Cathedral
Address: College Green, Bristol BS1 5TJ
Attending Christmas carols at the Bristol Cathedral is certainly a popular way to start the festive season. The Cathedral will be opening in December with a Viennese Christmas performance on Saturday 4 December. As its title suggests, the London Concertante, renowned for having travelled around the world with their music, will be playing a number of traditional Viennese carols including Strauss and Tchaikovsky.
The Cathedral will also once again be putting on their famous Carols by Candlelight demonstration on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 December. The beautiful Cathedral lit up by hundreds of candles will definitely have you in awe. Ticket costs range from £7 to £20.
2. St. George’s Church
Address: Great George St, Bristol BS1 5RR
Holding one of Bristol’s best acoustics, St George’s Church, dating back to the 1820s, hosts a variety of Christmas concerts each year. The local orchestra, the Bristol Ensemble is making a number of appearances at the Church this year. On Saturday 18 December they will perform a variety of classic carols and modern arrangements alongside the City of Bristol Choir in their Christmas Spectacular show. They will also be playing on Wednesday 22 December in their more light-hearted Festive Fiesta spectacle where there will be plenty of sing-along opportunities. Tickets range from £14 to £28.
Other events include the Children’s Christmas Carnival on Sunday 19 December which will bring you back to your magical Christmas days as a child. St George’s Church will be playing a number of songs that encapsulates children’s Christmas songs, such as those from the film The Snowman. Tickets cost £14.
3. Bristol Beacon
Address: Trenchard St, Bristol BS1 5AR
If you are looking to really treat yourself and be blown away by a music spectacle, then be sure to check out Bristol Beacon’s Handel’s Messiah, showcased by the Bristol Choral Society and Corelli Orchestra. The Choral Society has been performing Handel for over 120 years, and with a staggering 180 members today, they have continued to present incredible sounds that fill every corner of the large venue. Every performance of theirs is different as they often partner with professional soloists during their concerts. It surely is one of the best christmas concerts and carols in Bristol this year.
4. The Cube
Address: Dove St S, Avon, Bristol BS2 8JD
For those of you who want to enjoy Christmas carols and concerts in a more homely environment, The Cube may just be the place for you.The Cube is an independent cinema but its interior and small stage makes for a great cosy music venue also. Be sure to check out their Crick Crack Club Christmas Carol Show on Thursday 2 December, with tickets costing only £10.
5. The Lord Mayor’s Chapel
Address: College Green, Park St, Bristol BS1 5TB
If you appreciate the traditional carols over the rehashed modern versions, Music for Advent and Christmas at The Lord Mayor’s Chapel will be the one for you. Located just a few minutes away from the Cathedral, the Chapel will be hosting a programme which takes you through history, starting at the Tudor period on Thursday 11 December. Not only do you get to indulge in a bit of history, but you can do it on a budget as tickets are only £10.
6. St. Albans Church
Address: Bayswater Ave, Redland, Bristol BS6 7NS
Taking a more theatrical route to Christmas concerts, St Albans Church is showcasing their Bethlehem Christmas Concert and Singalong on Thursday 11 December. The Church will be performing live extracts from the 1915 Christmas carol drama Bethlehem by Rutland Boughton. There will even be singalong carols at the end for you to join in on the action and sing to your heart’s content.
With so many Christmas carols and concerts in Bristol coming up, this winter looks set to be one of the best so far. If you’re looking for more activities to do in Bristol then check out our list of things to do here.
