Bristol Light Festival 2025: Everything you need to know, including map, guided tours and offers

The free award-winning festival is set to return for 10 days of dazzling light-based artworks to brighten up the darkest nights of January and February at Bristol City Centre.

Last year’s edition attracted 275,000 visitors and brought a huge £8.7m of additional revenue to the area.

Bristol Light Festival is founded by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Redcliffe & Temple BID and Cabot Circus (festival Artwork Partner) and curated by multi award-winning Creative Director, Katherine Jewkes.

Vicky Lee, Director of Bristol City Centre BID, said: “We’re so looking forward to welcoming more visitors into Bristol later this month for the 2025 edition of the festival.

“There’s so much on offer in the city, with businesses ready to welcome visitors who want to stop for a bite to eat or something to drink as they explore the amazing artworks.”

Steve Bluff, Director of Redcliffe & Temple BID, said: “Partnering with the Bristol Light Festival is something our businesses truly value as it not only helps visitors discover new parts of the city, it is also a real treat for those that work and live here.

“This year’s stunning installations give everyone the opportunity to see Bristol at its best, showcasing creativity that will truly transform the spaces.”

When and where is Bristol Light Festival 2025 taking place

The free festival will run run each evening from January 31 to February 9.

All artworks will be illuminated from 5pm to 10pm.

The 10 stunning light installations for this year have been revealed, including the return of the popular Swing Song.

Physical copies of the festival programme can be found at Bristol Temple Meads, Sparks, Watershed, Bristol Beacon and St George’s from January 27 and at the Festival Hub on Queen Square during the festival.

A virtual map of the installations can be found at Bristol Light Festival’s website.

This year’s installations can be found in the following locations:

- C-Scales by Bruce Munro Studio at Castle Bridge

- Our Beating Heart by Studio Vertigo at St Stephen’s Church Garden

- Parallels by Architecture Social Club at Temple Church

- Ramandu’s Table by Bruce Munro Studio at City Hall, College Green

- Somnius by Illumaphonium at Amphitheatre

- Swing Song by Bristol Light Festival at Queen Square

- Tetra by Ottomata at The Podium, Broadmead

- The Whilers by Air Giants at St Mary Redcliffe Gardens

- Anthems: Volume One by Marcus Lyall & RUN Collective at Quakers Friars, Cabot Circus

- Bristol Is Always A Good Idea by Real Hackney Dave at Queen Square

Bristol Light Festival 2025 events

Crafting The Zero Moment with Ottomata

When: January 31 from 1pm to 2pm

Where: Pervasive Media Studio, 1 Canon's Rd, Bristol BS1 5TX and YouTube Live

Co-founders of experiential design studio Ottomata, Hugo Laliberté and Jonathan Jeanson, will share their approach to crafting personally reflective interactive installations.

More information at https://fave.co/3Wm8ILQ

Saturday Art Club

When: February 1 from 10.30am to 11.30am

Where: The Bristol Loaf, Beacon, Trenchard St, Bristol BS1 5AR

Join Colourful Minds for a special Bristol Light Festival edition of their monthly Saturday Art Club, perfect for kids aged 4-11.

In this fun-filled workshop, they will allow their creativity to shine as they make their own illuminated artwork in the form of paper stained glass windows, lanterns, and sculptures to celebrate the festival.

Tickets cost £7 per child and can be booked at https://fave.co/42c1u0U

Photo Tour

When: February 3 and 5 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm

Where: City Centre. Meeting outside the entrance of the Marriott Royal

Walk around the installations in Bristol’s city centre with award-winning professional photographer Adrian Wyatt, an avid night time photographer and course leader.

Adrian will be on hand to guide you with different ways to best capture them, from composition to bokeh and Intentional Camera Movement in this no-rush 2-hour tour.

The Photo Tour is suitable for all, no experience is needed and is designed to be enjoyed with any type of camera.

Tickets cost £25 (plus booking fees) and can be booked at https://fave.co/3WkfWQJ

Official Silent Disco Tour

When: February 5 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm

Where: Starting from Bristol Cathedral.

The Route: College Green/ Queen’s Square/ St Stephen’s Church/Castle Park

Boogie between art installations accompanied by hit tunes from across the decades at the Official Silent Disco Tour, organised in partnership with Bath Adventures.

The high tech headphones mean that however big your moves, you will be able to hear both the music and guides as you make your way around some festival highlights.

Tickets cost £16 (plus booking fees) and can be booked at https://fave.co/4h8ZrPC

Neon Kids Rave

When: February 6 from 4pm to 7pm

Where: Bambalan, Podium Level, Colston Tower, Colston Street, Bristol BS1 4XE

Enjoy a neon rave party for both adults and little ones to boogie with a live DJ, glow sticks and balloons and cocktail happy hour for adults.

Kids eat for free with a paying adult and adult ticket price can be redeemed against food.

Tickets cost £5 per adult and £2 per child and can be booked at https://fave.co/3WK6pCT

First Friday

When: February 7 from 5pm to 7pm

Where: Pervasive Media Studio, 1 Canon's Rd, Bristol BS1 5TX

These events are somewhere between the last meeting of the week and the first event of your weekend. You might meet an artist or an engineer, a school teacher or a city leader. It is a place to connect with someone you might not otherwise meet, and hear about stuff you didn’t already know. All are welcome - from inside and outside the city.

People joining will have the opportunity to have a look around Pervasive Media Studio and to find out more about some of the work that happens here. As well as the chance to socialise in the Studio, attendees joining the event will also get to see a selection of work by some of the Studio community.

Lights Under The Sea

When: February 8 from 10am to 7pm

Where: Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Rd, Bristol BS1 5TT

Experience the aquarium after dark with their botanical house magically lit with colourful lights.

Special UV animal crafts will also be available throughout the day, free of charge with your aquarium ticket.

John Sebastian Lightship Display

When: January 31 to February 9

Where: John Sebastian Quay, Bathurst Basin, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6SG

To celebrate the historic John Sebastian’s 140th birthday, Cabot Cruising Club have designed a beautiful light display to show off the ship during Bristol Light Festival.

The Club plans to open their doors on key festival days, offering visitors a unique chance to step aboard, soak in history, and full immerse themselves in the magic of the festival.

Guided Walking Tours

Enjoy the festival with an official walking tour.

The expert guides will lead you around several installations, sharing more about the artwork and their creators.

Tickets cost £15 an include a free drink at Left Handed Giant Brewing Co. You can choose between a half pint of the festival beer, ‘Shining Star’, or a a soft drink of your choice.

Three routes are available:

Waterfront Route

When: February 3, 4 and 6 from 5.30pm to 7pm

Where: Starting outside Bristol Cathedral, College Green

The Route: College Green/ Amphitheatre/ Queen’s Square/ St Stephens Church/ Left Handed Giant

Accessible Route

When: February 4 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm

Where: Starting by the access ramp leading into Lloyds Amphitheatre

The Route: Amphitheatre/ Queen’s Square/ St Stephen’s Church / Left Handed Giant

Central Route

When: February 5 from 5.30pm to 7pm

Where: Starting outside Costa Coffee, Broadmead

The Route: Broadmead & Cabot Circus/ St Stephens Church/ Left Handed Giant/ Temple Church

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Bristol Light Festival 2025 offers

Hotel du Vin’s Bistro du Vin

- Enjoy a complimentary glass of house wine when you make a booking at Bistro Du Vin

- Guests can enjoy a light festival exclusive cocktail, the Twilight Sour for £11.95

The Sugar House, Narrow Lewins Mead, Bristol BS1 2NU

Clayton Hotel’s Everard’s Restaurant

- 20% off food

- 2 for £18 on house cocktails

35, 37 Broad St, Bristol BS1 2EQ

Watershed Café & Bar

- Indulge in the light festival exclusive cocktail, ‘Cosmic Light’.

The unique cocktail is inspired by the vibrancy of the nearby Ramandu’s Table light installation.

1 Canon's Rd, Bristol BS1 5TX

6 O’Clock Gin at The Glassboat

- Enjoy a wide range of gins alongside the light inspired cocktail, ‘Out of the Darkness’.

The Bristol Light Festival exclusive cocktail blends their classic 6 O’clock Gin London Dry with simple syrup, lemon juice, Bramley & Gage’s Creme de Cassis and topped with soda.

Welsh Back, Bristol BS1 4SB

No.1 Harbourside

- Sample their exclusive light festival cocktail, ‘Chai Night Lights’, a creative twist om the classic White Russian.

The unique drink is created with Absolute Vodka, chai, Kahlúa and double cream.

1 Canon's Rd, Bristol BS1 5UH

Nutmeg Street Kitchen

- Enjoy 10% off when you book a table using the code ‘BLF’ during Bristol Light Festival

- Indulge in the light festival exclusive ‘Sunrise Chicken Korma’, presented under UV light for a glowing effect. The dish features a succulent chicken breast stuffed with spiced mince, wrapped in ham, and served with a flavourful korma gravy.

23 St Augustine's Parade, Bristol BS1 4UL

Toto’s By The River

- 20% off food and drink (subject to availability)

- Pizza and a pint for £15

The Landing, 125 Redcliff St, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6HU