The Christmas Steps is not just for Christmas. But at Christmas it tends to be even more delightful. Today’s top-five Bristol favourites are chosen by Jayne Marshall from SHOP on the Christmas Steps, which is much more than just a shop, but as a shop sells men’s and women’s vintage clothing, accessories, homeware, books, vinyl and games.

The Christmas Steps
Okay, so we might be considered a bit biased, but the Christmas Steps are particularly lovely, aren’t they? “Steppered and done” in 1669, and still working it 343 years on. Not only that, on what other street could you find a combination of a bow makers, a philatelist and a wedding dress maker alongside a cider shop, a vintage lounge and arts venue, and a hairdressers? Oh, and an industrial cleaning company.

The view from the Christmas Steps Arch
Bristol is all spread out before you from this vantage point on Perry Road (below). Early morning light shows it at it’s best and on a clear day you can see the back of your own head on the horizon.

The Christmas lights on the Christmas Steps
Again, we might be a bit biased, as we put them up every year, but we’ve had their utter charm independently verified by The Internet. If you search for the Christmas Steps on Twitter, the amount of people taking photos of the lights is literally about to reach double figures.

Christmas Steps beer by Butcombe
See, it’s not just us that likes The Christmas Steps – Butcombe named their Christmas beer after them! Complete with a picture of Santa superimposed over a photo of the Steps – even Santa likes the Steps! Although, that is understandable, as he was born here.

The Christmas Steps Arts Quarter
The Christmas Steps are not a beautiful oasis, they are in fact the cranberry sauce in the Christmas Steps Arts Quarter bubble and squeak sandwich. Upwards from The Christmas Steps, you will find the other seven streets of the Christmas Steps Art Quarter and all of the fiercely independent creative traders and businesses that live within them.

Photo by @mingize