Steps into Christmas...

WHEN you think of Christmas shopping, you'll likely think of busy shopping centres, crowded high streets, city centre market stalls and other such places.

- Ellie KENDALL

Bristol's festive street Christmas Steps that's filled with independents - it's like 'stepping back in time'

But here in Bristol, we have a somewhat hidden 'stairway' of local independent shops and businesses and you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere more festive.

Why? The name, of course. For these businesses reside on the Christmas Steps a historic street in the City Centre dating back to the late 1600s.

While it's not adorned with tinsel and Christmas decor all year round, you'll often find a twinkle light or two. Lantern-style lampposts light the way in the dark, reminding many of us of scenes from a wintry Dickens tale, while the architecture here looks like it has come straight from the magical scenes of a Harry Potter movie.

But while it is filled with charm and that hard working community spirit of the city, it is also a place home to quirky and unusual businesses that make the Christmas Steps a must visit for anyone exploring Bristol even in this modern day, or in the middle of summer.

Whether you descend from top to bottom or climb from bottom to top, you'll be met with idyllic cobbles underfoot and olde-worlde signs for some of the shops, cafes and other establishments along this short but sweet stretch. There are cafes and bakeries, some serving up sweet treats in loaf form and others board games, while you tuck in.

(Francesca Grout)