I spent a really pleased 12 months residing in Bristol again in my 20s, and whereas I wasn’t paying an excessive amount of consideration to the issues to do in Bristol with youngsters on the time, I’ve since been again a number of occasions with my daughter to rectify that.
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As a result of Bristol right this moment is a good cooler metropolis than after I lived there, with huge regeneration down by the waterfront and one in every of my daughter’s all-time favorite science centres, together with enjoyable road artwork, nice museums and animals galore.
Which all goes to make it a terrific household metropolis break – simple to succeed in by prepare, in addition to by automotive because it sits close to the M4 and M5 motorways. And as you’ll see from my decide of the very best issues to do in Bristol with youngsters, there’s greater than sufficient to fill go to after go to.
Look out for the brand new Gromit Unleashed 3 path, operating till August 31, 2025, with statues that includes characters from the current movie, Vengeance Most Fowl (plus one Shaun the Sheep), dotted throughout town
We The Curious
How might I begin with anyplace however this fabulous science centre – one in every of my daughter’s all-time favourites, We The Curious is all the time our first port of name, and we’ve finished some very enjoyable actions like making our personal mannequin Gromit in addition to the same old shows.
At Bristol’s science museum and planetarium, every thing is designed to get you questioning, experimenting, puzzling about the best way the world works.
And it’s not simply youngsters who’ll have enjoyable taking part in with valves, levers, switches and pumps plus electrical energy, water and air (not all collectively) and seeing the outcomes.
The displays cowl every thing from how the human physique works, to our perceptions of house, helps you to play with completely different forces, plus after all the reveals on the planetarium to whisk you from our planet into the celebs. Our newest go to, shortly earlier than her thirteenth birthday, proved there’s loads for teenagers as nicely (and that you simply’re by no means too previous to need to make big bubbles).
Bristol Zoo Venture
The Bristol Zoo Venture (previously the Wild Place Venture) is about round quarter-hour outdoors town, and residential to the animals beforehand at Bristol Zoo Gardens, which closed its web site close to Clifton Suspension Bridge in 2022.
Recognized for its conservation and training efforts, its a whole bunch of animals, lots of that are endangered, discovered a brand new dwelling there, together with meerkats, gorillas, crimson pandas, Asiatic lions and African penguins alongside the bigger animals which had all the time lived on the sister web site.
So in addition to having the ability to spot giraffes and cheetahs, plus zebras, lemurs and extra, you will get near bears: Bear Wooden is likely one of the highlights of a go to, designed to move you again to 8000BCE when Britain was dwelling to European brown bears, in addition to wolves.
There are additionally loads of different family-fun actions, together with the Explorers Basecamp, a brand new conservation-themed play space, together with woodland walks and exquisite gardens to discover, plus a barefoot path and butterfly maze, and even luxurious tenting pods at Camp Baboon for an in a single day keep.
Bristol Aquarium
Should you’re visiting Bristol with youngsters who love animals, the Bristol Aquarium ought to undoubtedly be in your checklist too, with hundreds of various aquatic creatures to find in a string of various shows.
One of many highlights is the underwater tunnel, the place you possibly can watch among the marine life swimming throughout, and it’s additionally the one aquarium within the UK to characteristic a large botanical home. With unique crops and tree species from around the globe (together with bananas!), you’re transported straight to the jungle.
It’s additionally dwelling to tiny seahorses and rays, in addition to piranhas and puffer fish, plus tropical fish from around the globe within the big Coral Seas show, together with these discovered offshore within the UK, together with within the Sunken Shipwreck.
One of many different huge bonuses is that your ticket is legitimate all day, so you possibly can come and go, or determine to return later within the day. Set simply off the waterfront close to We The Curious, you’re strolling distance from retailers and eating places in addition to different Bristol household points of interest.
Climb to the highest of Brandon Hill and Cabot Tower
Sitting on the high of Brandon Hill Park, the oldest park in Bristol, you’ll uncover Cabot Tower, a Grade II listed constructing and one of many metropolis’s most well-known landmarks.
The 105ft tall tower was in-built 1897 to mark the four-hundredth anniversary of John Cabot’s voyage from Bristol on The Matthew which led to the invention of North America.
It’s fully free to climb the twisting stone staircase to succeed in the highest of the tower, the place you’ll get to expertise wonderful 360 diploma views over town skyline – the park is strolling distance from Park Avenue and town centre.
There are 109 steps to the highest so not the very best one to attempt for those who’re on the lookout for issues to do in Bristol with toddlers, however there are nice views from the park itself too.
Brandon Hill Park additionally has a number of different enjoyable issues to do with kids, together with a youngsters play space, ponds and water options, and loads of wildlife – deliver some unsalted nuts and also you’ll be an instantaneous hit with the park’s many pleasant squirrels.
Bristol Museum & Artwork Gallery
The enjoyable little Bristol Museum & Artwork Gallery has collections on nature and historical past, in addition to artwork – and gained’t price a penny to get into, for those who’re on the lookout for free issues to do in Bristol with youngsters.
One in all my favorite components is the Historic Egypt part on the bottom ground, together with mummies (and mummified cats!) plus loads of gods and rituals – all the time fascinating and nice in case your youngsters are finding out Historic Egypt in school too.
However you’ll discover a entire string of different household pleasant shows, protecting a billion years of historical past, from the pure world – together with dinosaurs! – to human invention, not least the well-known Bristol Boxkite biplane which hangs above your heads as you enter.
There’s additionally an under-fives discovery space for those who’re visiting with youthful youngsters, plus different interactive areas reminiscent of Superb Animal Diversifications aimed toward main college aged kids. Look out for additional occasions throughout college holidays as nicely.
Step on board Brunel’s SS Nice Britain
Uncover the ship that modified the world – it’s fairly a declare, however the SS Nice Britain was a revolutionary creation, the start line for right this moment’s fashionable ships.
Wandering round, you possibly can study not solely concerning the ship’s historical past, but in addition among the individuals who sailed on her, and there’s an opportunity to decorate up in Victorian costume.
You possibly can wander right down to the hull degree, stroll by the cabins and stroll alongside the primary deck – when you have youngsters aged 10 and above, you possibly can all clamber up the rigging as nicely.
Subsequent door, there’s additionally a particular exhibition about Isambard Kingdom Brunel, known as Being Brunel, with extra concerning the man behind the well-known engineer. Should you suppose that sounds a bit boring for youths, you’d be incorrect, as we found after we visited.
Try my journey to Bristol with youngsters to see the Being Brunel exhibition when it opened in 2018
Go to the M Shed Museum
M Shed is a incredible free museum on Bristol Harbourside protecting the social historical past of town, and simply top-of-the-line free issues to do with youngsters in Bristol.
Set in a transformed 1950’s dockside transit shed, you’ll discover a great deal of uncommon and interactive shows on the historical past, individuals and locations that make Bristol such an thrilling metropolis.
Children can meet Bristol’s very personal dinosaur Thecodontosaurus, uncover buried treasure, climb on board a disused double-decker bus and loads of different enjoyable immersive actions.
Through the holidays, you may as well take a prepare or crane journey alongside the dockside, or a visit on the water in one of many museum’s a number of historic ships.
Take a pirate cruise on The Matthew
One other vital a part of Bristol’s maritime heritage that may be discovered within the Harbourside is The Matthew, a precise reproduction of the ship on which John Cabot sailed from Bristol to find North America within the fifteenth century.
For youths, this mainly implies that it appears lots like a pirate ship with its towering masts and historic look… It’s free to go on board and discover whereas The Matthew is docked, and even higher, you possibly can sail off on a cruise too.
Select from a brief 45-minute cruise across the Harbour or an extended 3-4 hour journey down the River Avon, with a river cruise that takes you beneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge and alongside the Avon Gorge.
Should you time your go to proper, youngsters may also love the Captain Barnacle Pirate Panto! Journey or the Fish & Chips Journey with Pirate People Music.
In its place, you may as well attempt a Bristol Packet Boat journey, together with quick harbour cruises and longer excursions
Take a tour
It doesn’t take lengthy to get your bearings in Bristol, however for those who’d like to seek out just a few of town’s secrets and techniques as you discover the primary highlights, there are some enjoyable excursions of Bristol for households.
This self-guided audio tour begins you off with some Bristol historical past earlier than taking you thru the streets and on to the current day, together with stops to see a few of Banksy’s works (scroll down for some concepts of extra methods to see Bristol’s road artwork).
Or this guided tour takes you underground in addition to overground, together with an air raid shelter, a historic market, and a venue which hosted the Rolling Stones. Should you’re visiting with older youngsters (150cm+), you possibly can even hop in your bike to see extra of town’s highlights on a motorcycle tour of Bristol.
Each the Tootbus and Metropolis Sightseeing bus excursions of Bristol are at the moment unavailable for those who’re on the lookout for hop-on hop-off bus excursions of Bristol
Stroll throughout the Clifton Suspension Bridge
The Clifton Suspension Bridge spans the whole width of the Avon Gorge and is one in every of Bristol’s most well-known landmarks. In-built 1835 by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it marked a turning level within the historical past of engineering.
Older youngsters will get pleasure from taking within the views over the spectacular bridge, earlier than attending to stroll throughout it and look down over the Gorge beneath. There’s additionally an fascinating customer centre with loads of historical past concerning the bridge.
For youthful kids, don’t miss the Clifton pure rock slide close by. The enjoyable and strange rock slide is a strip of rock that has been smoothed by hundreds of bottoms sliding down it over the a long time.
There are some nice views from round Clifton Observatory close by or take a look at extra concepts of the very best views of Clifton Suspension Bridge right here
Discover Clifton Observatory and the Big’s Cave
A straightforward one to mix with a go to to Clifton Suspension Bridge, sitting above the Avon Gorge, is the Clifton Observatory and caves.
The historic Observatory is dwelling to one of many few digital camera obscuras nonetheless open to the general public within the UK, with wonderful panoramic views over the bridge and surrounding space.
Adventurous youngsters are positive to like descending by the small underground passageway into the Big’s Cave the place they’ll study concerning the legend of Goram and Vincent the giants – it’s not appropriate for youngsters beneath 4 although.
From the cave you’ll additionally discover one other lookout space for extra incredible views over the Gorge.
Take a road artwork tour
Should you love road artwork, Bristol is likely one of the finest locations to discover within the UK – not solely town the place Banksy was born, however dwelling to works by a string of artists in addition to someplace to check out your individual inventive skills.
To search out among the finest, this guided tour from Blackbeard2Banksy covers greater than 1,000 years of historical past together with road artwork, together with Banksy – add in some pirate historical past, tales of protest, the slave commerce, actors and authors and it’s a incredible gallop by Bristol historical past with a big serving to of road artwork alongside the best way.
Or you possibly can mix road artwork with sightseeing on a scavenger hunt-style sport that’s nice for older tweens and teenagers, with quirky tales, native historical past and Banksy alongside the best way.
We examined out a family-friendly stencil artwork session with The place the Wall which is a superb choice in Bristol with youngsters, creating our personal spray paint masterpiece. The place the Wall additionally runs its personal road artwork excursions of Bristol too.
Wake the Tiger
There’s nothing else fairly like Wake The Tiger – calling itself the UK’s largest immersive artwork expertise and the world’s first Amazement Park, you step by a portal into one other world at this attraction simply outdoors Bristol metropolis centre.
There’s loads to trick the eyes, explosions of color and light-weight, quirky shows galore and much hidden behind secret doorways and inside cabinets – in whole, you’ll wander by greater than 40 immersive areas, with additional challenges, lots of interactivity, and even a slide and style of VR.
In actual fact, it’s fairly laborious to sum up in phrases what a go to entails – because the expertise says, flip up with an open thoughts and soak all of it up. There’s loads to entertain youthful youngsters, nevertheless it’s weirdly great sufficient for teenagers and tweens as nicely.
Experience the mannequin railway at Ashton Courtroom Property
You’ll discover numerous family-friendly issues to do at Ashton Courtroom Property, a historic nation home with a powerful 850 acres of gorgeous woodland and grassland.
Topping the checklist for youthful youngsters is the mannequin railway with two tracks, however there are additionally strolling routes, bike rent and cycle trails across the grounds, a disc golf course and play space for youths.
Simply outdoors town centre (20 minutes by bus, or there’s parking for those who’re travelling by automotive), it’s free to enter (though there’s generally a cost for particular occasions) and you may as well spot deer residing throughout the massive park too.
Go to throughout August, and Ashton Courtroom Property can be the start line of Bristol’s annual Balloon Fiesta, Europe’s largest sizzling air balloon occasion and a terrific day trip in Bristol with youngsters.
See Concorde at Aerospace Bristol
One other of the very best issues to do in Bristol with youngsters is a go to to the thrilling Aerospace Bristol, a captivating aviation museum full of aeroplanes, helicopters, rockets, satellites and loads of hands-on exhibitions.
The museum is finest identified for being dwelling to the ultimate Concorde to be constructed and the final of the supersonic jets to fly, and you may step aboard the well-known aircraft to get a style of what it will need to have been prefer to fly Concorde.
Different exhibitions embrace every thing from the position of plane in each world wars to the technological advances of the house race.
Children are positive to like the various enjoyable interactive displays and video games, in addition to the aerospace-themed out of doors play space. Households can even now comply with the model new time-travelling path to assist preserve little ones engaged too.
Get tickets with free cancellation for Aerospace Bristol right here
Leigh Woods
This Nationwide Belief web site is a stunning place for a household stroll, in addition to having extra nice views to the Avon Gorge and out to town – in addition to wandering by the woodland above the gorge, there are paths on the base wanting as much as the suspension bridge too.
In spring, Leigh Woods is an ideal place to identify bluebells, or to benefit from the golds and reds of autumn leaves later within the 12 months, to not point out seeing wildflowers and large previous bushes
Should you go to with youngsters, there’s additionally a stunning household path to comply with, in addition to possibilities to tick off a few of your 50 issues to do earlier than you’re 11 3/4.
And it’s one other enjoyable place to find a few of Bristol’s myths and legends, particularly concerning the two giants who supposedly constructed the gorge.
Avon Valley Journey Park
Should you’re visiting Bristol with youthful youngsters, or combining time in Bristol with a go to to Bathtub, it’s nicely value trying out Avon Valley Journey Park with its whopping 90 acres of enjoyable.
In addition to a petting zoo and plenty of farmyard favourites, there are indoor play areas in addition to the out of doors playground, plus the possibility to courageous the animatronic dinosaurs of Dino Valley and the toddler village for little ones to discover.
Or hop in mini jeeps and on the mini prepare to discover extra, take a look at out the electrical quad bikes, journey the carousel, attempt the climbing wall, play mini golf and a complete lot extra.
Round 25 minutes drive from Bristol, on the highway in direction of Bathtub, there’s free parking on web site. Should you aren’t coming by automotive, the journey park is on bus routes, though there’s additionally a stroll on the finish.
For extra inspiration of issues to do round Bristol with youngsters, take a look at my high issues to do in Bathtub with youngsters in addition to concepts for a highway journey alongside the Nice West Means which runs from London to Bristol
*final up to date 2025*
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Disclosure: This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Photographs: The Matthew courtesy of Nick Greville (& Go to Bristol), We The Curious/aquarium/museum/SS Nice Britain/M Shed/road artwork copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy of Depositphotos
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