Christmas light displays are well and truly magical, especially for families with children, or even just those of us who really really love Christmas. Going on adventures in the local neighbourhood to find the best and brightest houses have become, to some, a bit of a pastime and Christmas tradition.
Luckily for us here in Bristol, there are dedicated individuals who really go all out to impress their neighbours and visitors from further afield. Many decorate their homes in tens of thousands of brightly coloured bulbs, and adorn their gardens with inflatable Santa Clauses, reindeer, snowmen, Nativity scenes and even the more obscure creatures, be it for fun or to raise money for good causes.
This year there are already a fair few festive homes in and around the city and so we've put together a list of some of the best, to help you plan your tour of Christmas light displays. Some allow you to wander through the gardens, take photos together and even donate digitally, if you're someone who doesn't carry much cash on them these days.
What's more, with the extra pressure of rising energy costs this year, you may find that there are fewer homes taking on the challenge of creating festive light displays - all the more reason to make a note and pay a visit to some of these. We'll be adding to the list as we discover more festive homes, so if you'd like to be included on this list, send your name, address, photos and any more information to ellie.kendall@reachplc.com.
Brailsford Christmas lights display
Brothers behind one of Britain's most festive Christmas homes have covered their house with 50,000 lights this year. Builders Lee and Paul Brailsford have spent 27 years turning their mum Rosemary's house into an idyllic winter wonderland.
They have even raised over 90K for charity with the festive effort. The cash goes to Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal who help children at Bristol Children's Hospital.
The display includes lights as well as life-size Santas, snowmen, rope-light shapes, trains, elves and a large reindeer family in the garden. Recognised as one of the largest private Christmas lights displays in the UK it takes six weeks to carefully piece together the display.
The brothers said: ''This year we are doing our famous cookie cabin, with hot chocolates, raffles, cookies & cakes.'' A switch on took place on December 1 at the family home in Brentry, Bristol.
The Brailsford home will light up every night through Christmas. See Facebook for event times and days its open and to donate visit the Brailsford’s Just Giving page or just the collection boxes outside the property.
The Brentnall's Christmas lights
The Brentnalls are lighting up their house in Patchway this Christmas period to raise money for St Peter's Hospice, following the death of a relative who was diagnosed with an aggressive, inoperable brain tumour and died just eight weeks later. On their JustGiving page, they said: "We know things are tricky this year with the cost of living sky rocketing, however we really hope you will continue to support our chosen charity and enjoy our Christmas light display.
"Every donation will make a real difference and help support other local patients and their families when they really need it. The Brentnall's." Their lights are on everyday between 4:30pm - 10pm until January 2 at BS34 5RE and people are welcome to sit in the sleigh for a photo.
You can donate to their Just Giving page here.
Jefferies Christmas lights display
Kieran and Kim Jefferies, who live in Eastland Avenue, have been creating their festive light displays for five years now and hope to raise money for their two chosen charities, Cancer Research UK and Jigsaw Thornbury.
Their display this year features multiple Santas, reindeer, snowmen, the Nativity scene and even a festive dragon which are all lit up daily between the hours of 4:30pm-9:30pm. The Jefferies family also welcome visitors and families to walk into the garden to take photos and accept both cash and digital donations, even having their own QR code.
The couple said: "We love Christmas and putting smiles on visitors' faces and getting them into the Christmas spirit while, at the same time, raising money for two charities. One hundred per cent of the donations given by visitors are shared between the two charity groups and our neighbours are very supportive and we are very thankful to them.
If you would like to visit Kieran and Kim's light display, simply type BS35 1DU into your Sat Nav, or follow directions to Eastland Avenue, Thornbury and keep your eyes peeled for a festive scene.
Jake Skinner's Downend Christmas lights
Jake Skinner, 15, from Downend lost his sister Stacie to anaphylactic shock on Christmas Day in 2015 and has spent every year since lighting up his family's home after learning how much she loved decorating her work desk at this time of year. This year, in memory of his nan who he lost to spleen cancer last year, he'll be raising money for Macmillan.
He said: "It means a lot to have so many followers supporting us each year and you get a few familiar faces who contribute towards fundraising. Seeing people stop to admire the lights is a great feeling.” The official switch-on, held at the end of last month, saw more than 200 people attend as the Salvation Army Band played Christmas carols.
Last year Jake’s incredible fundraising efforts were recognised when he won BBC Radio 1’s Teen Award, presented by Prince William at Kensington Palace. He was nominated as part of the Bristol Young Hero Awards in 2019 and won the Enterprise Young Hero Award.
To date, Jake has raised £12,000 for people living with cancer. Jake hopes to go even bigger next year with possible plans for Santa’s grotto. Visitors can check out Jake’s festive illuminations every day from 5pm to 8pm until December 27 at 26 Sutherland Ave, BS16 6QJ.
Tea and hot chocolate will be served on weekends with mince pies, chocolate and music. You can support Jake’s festive light display and Macmillan here.
California Road Christmas lights display
Trina Hodges and her husband Steve are in their third year of decorating their house on California Road in Christmas lights. Trina says: "It started out in lockdown as a way to cheer people up and it's just grown since."
Wanting a Christmas display that can be enjoyed both during the day and at night, the couple have made log snowmen, log reindeer, pallet trees and even have a projector in the window - so passers by may even catch a glimpse of Santa waving. What's more, it's all been done to raise money for The Grand Appeal for Bristol Children's Hospital.
You can donate, either in the collection bucket at the address (BS30 9PP), via QR code or on the Just Giving page here.
Ashley Hellings' Christmas lights display
Ashley Hellings is also raising money to support Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal, with lights adorning 83 Ravenglass Crescent in Southmead (BS10 6EH). Lights are switched on every day from 4:30pm until 9:30pm until January 2.
Stickers, pin badges and sweets are available for those who visit and donate and you can do so here on the Just Giving page, too.
Coopers Light Show
Coopers Light Show is situated at number 25 Andover Road, Bristol, BS4 1AJ. Here you will find lights synchronised to music and even a snow machine and interactive selfie wings where you push a button to decide on your favourite colour.
All donations this year are going to Guide Dogs Bristol Fundraising. You can find out more on their Facebook page here.
102 Down Road charity Christmas display
Last year the people behind the charity display in Winterbourne Down created their first lights, dubbing it a "soft launch" as it was their premier work. Even so, they managed to raise £800 for Bristol Children's Hospital and have decided to up their game this year.
The 2022 display has doubled in size, with over 70 sockets and more than 20,000 LED lights. They even held a switch-on event with Elsa and Olaf actors for the children, as well as Christmas music, mince pies and mulled wine and raised £650 on their opening night.
Organiser Ricky told us: "We will be holding Christmas music nights every Friday and Saturday in December (up until December 23) where our lights will be flashing and music playing. With our display, rather than chucking as many lights and silhouettes on to the house as possible, we've created themed areas, including a wooden structure for the Nativity, the North Pole with a miniature Santa's workshop and lit Santa figure as well as toys that have escaped, naughty elves (elf on a shelf toys) messing around on our display for children to spot and we have a Christmas train that travels around our 13ft digital Christmas tree - we even have a sleigh on the roof.
"We also have a lit up enchanted forest themed area, which is slightly less Christmas themed but still breathtaking nonetheless and visitors seem to really enjoy it. We will soon have a lit up Shaun the Sheep, which will be fantastic given that we're raising money for the Grand Appeal, hence the tie ins with Wallace and Gromit."
You can visit the light display here at 102 Down Road in Winterbourne Down, BS36 1DG, with lights on daily between 4:30 and 8:30pm.
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