Christmas at Gloucester Quays: markets, rink and shopping

If you are after a festive day out that does not require driving all over the place, the Gloucester Quays Christmas line-up is hard to beat. It is built around three things that sit right next to each other down by the docks: the Christmas markets, the outdoor ice rink, and the outlet shopping, with seasonal menus at the restaurants to round it off. Because it is all in one place, you can realistically do the lot in a single afternoon or spread it across a couple of weekends.

The markets are the obvious place to start. Run by Channnell Events, it is the largest Christmas market in the Southwest, with more than 120 traders from across the region selling craft gifts, locally made food, street food and pop-up bars. Entry is free, which is a nice touch when you are already planning to spend money on presents. It runs every weekend from Saturday 7 November to Sunday 20 December, with Saturdays 10am to 6pm and Sundays 10am to 5pm, so there are seven weekends to choose from rather than a one-off date.

The ice rink is the other big draw, and it sits right in the heart of the docks. It opens from Friday 20 November and runs through to Sunday 3 January, so it is there well past the markets have packed up. Sessions are not just for the confident skaters, either: there are toddler and sensory-accessible sessions on selected dates for younger or less mobile skaters. Prices are £15 for adults, £13 for juniors aged 11 to 15, and £12 for children aged 3 to 10, with family tickets starting at £49. Wheelchair users are £12 and get a free carer ticket. Skates hire is £5 and the cloakroom is £2 for two items, and you can book a slot at gloucesterquays.co.uk/outdoor-ice-rink or on 01452 338933.

Then there is the outlet shopping, which is the part that keeps the Quays going year round. You can get up to 70% off RRP on high-street and high-end brands like Adidas, AllSaints, Ben Sherman, H. Samuel, Hotel Chocolat, Jack Wills, Joules, Le Creuset, Levi's, Lindt, Puma, Søstrene Grene, The Cosmetics Company, The Fragrance Shop and White Stuff. Christmas shopping nights run every Thursday, and from 12 November the shops stay open until 8pm on Thursdays, while Saturdays from 7 November open an hour earlier than usual at 9am. The last-minute push is Wednesday 23 December, 10am to 7pm, before Christmas Eve 10am to 5pm, and it reopens Boxing Day 10am to 6pm.

To keep you going between the stalls, the rink and the shops, the restaurants around the Quays all run seasonal menus over the period, including Banchina Italian, Bill's, Brewhouse & Kitchen, Coal Kitchen, Muse Brasserie Gloucester, Pizza Express, Portivo Lounge and Zizzi. With a multiplex cinema and plenty of bars nearby, it is an easy place to turn a bit of shopping into a full day or evening. The whole site is on St Ann Way, GL1 5SF, and it is easy to reach from the M5 at Junction 12, so it works as well for a quick trip as it does for a proper festive outing.