Group Travel > Activities and Attractions > Shopping in Bristol

Shopping in Bristol

A shopper's paradise is no exaggeration. From top high street names to independent local labels, from markets and antique stalls to art and craft gift shops, there is something for everyone - and for pockets of all depths!

The Mall at Cribbs Causeway : Offers all that is best about high street shopping in the comfort of an exciting two level centre. Around 130 top name stores, 15 cafes and restaurants and a range of excellent facilities are all under one roof, giving you the finest shopping choice in the South West. Free coach parking is available. Located at J17 of the M5.

Broadmead and The Mall Galleries: Located in the heart of Bristol City Centre and offering the largest range of shops in the South West. All the big name stores can be found here and the Mall Galleries shopping centre provides three levels of shops and restaurants in a stylish setting.

Cabot Circus: Completed in September 2008, Cabot Circus represents a £500m city centre renaissance of Bristol. The scheme includes a new four-level House of Fraser department store and the introduction of Harvey Nichols. The development will also feature 15 major stores, a further 100 shops, 240 city centre apartments as well as a continental-style square, a 2,616 space car park built at the east end of existing Broadmead and a Cinema Lux with 13 screens and restaurants, including a Raymond Blanc brasserie. The shopping area will also be covered with a huge glass roof, protecting the streets below from the worst of the weather.

Clifton: The leafy Georgian crescents of fashionable Clifton and Whiteladies Road play host to delightful independent shops, galleries, boutiques and antique dealers. Clifton Village is the jewel of the area. There are plenty of boutiques, galleries, antique shops, cafes and wine bars. While in Clifton take a look at the Clifton Suspension Bridge, and Clifton Arcade on Boyces Avenue. Clifton Arcade originally a Victorian shopping mall houses antique jewellery and furniture shops and arts & crafts shops.

Bristol Markets: The Markets are a great feature of shopping in Bristol with a whole range of products on sale. Established in 1743, St Nicholas Market is open six days a week and encompasses the indoor market on outdoor markets on Corn Street. Stalls sell a range of food and deli produce, much organic, fruit & veg, cafes, second hand books, old clothes, records, pictures, fossils, candles, a huge range of unusual goods.

The Bristol Farmers Market takes place every Wednesday between 9.30 and 2.30 and is held outside in Corn Street adjacent to St Nicholas Market and was the first weekly Farmers Market in the country.

On Friday and Saturday's Corn Street is filled with the Bristol Gift Market selling clothes, jewellery, food, pictures and plenty of great ideas for gifts.

The UK's first Slow Food Market is held on Corn Street on the first Sunday of every month, and is a treat for real food lovers.

Bristol's West End: A thriving and diverse shopping area with a host of quality independent traders in large, elegant buildings, funky bars and top notch restaurants. The main pull here is Park Street, one of the steepest streets in Bristol and a favourite haunt for a spot of retail therapy or a sophisticated evening with friends. You will find here 'The Bristol Guild', one of the country's greatest independent retailers, originally set up during the early 20th century as a showcase for locally produced high quality craft goods.

Christmas Steps: Once a steep, muddy and narrow street which led up from the Frome Bridge, outside the city walls. The steps were constructed in September 1669 and were paid for solely by a wealthy wine merchant, Jonathan Blackwell. Set just off of Colston Avenue and the Centre, today this ancient and beautiful stepped hill is flanked by independent shops, galleries and cafes.

Bristol Blue Glass - This is the MUST BUY product on a visit to Bristol. The factory is based in the heart of Bristol and is open to the general public all year round with free entry. Visitors can watch Bristol blue glass being made by a skilled team of glassmakers and purchase directly form the factory shop. Authentic Bristol Blue Glass can also be purchased from outlets around the city - including The Guild. Group tours and demonstrations are available.

Bristol's East Side: Full of specialist stores selling food, fabrics and crafts of Asian and Caribbean influence, such as Sweet Mart, a family run business specialising in spices and ingrediants that are hard to come by. In this diverse inner city area there are restaurants serving food from around the world such as a Moroccan café, many small independent shops and a busy creative and cultural life.