I spent a really joyful yr residing in Bristol again in my 20s, and whereas I wasnโt paying an excessive amount of consideration to the issues to do in Bristol with children on the time, Iโve since been again a number of occasions with my daughter to rectify that.
comprises affiliate hyperlinks*
As a result of Bristol immediately is a fair cooler metropolis than once I lived there, with large regeneration down by the waterfront and one in every of my daughterโs all-time favorite science centres, together with enjoyable road artwork, nice museums and animals galore.
Which all goes to make it an ideal household metropolis break โ simple to succeed in by prepare, in addition to by automobile because it sits close to the M4 and M5 motorways. And as youโll see from my choose of the most effective issues to do in Bristol with children, thereโs greater than sufficient to fill go to after go to.
We The Curious
How might I begin with anyplace however this fabulous science centre โ one in every of my daughterโs all-time favourites, We The Curious is at all times our first port of name, and weโve carried out some very enjoyable actions like making our personal mannequin Gromit in addition to the standard shows.
At Bristolโs science museum and planetarium, every thing is designed to get you questioning, experimenting, puzzling about the way in which the world works.
And itโs not simply children whoโll have enjoyable enjoying with valves, levers, switches and pumps plus electrical energy, water and air (not all collectively) and seeing the outcomes.
The reveals cowl every thing from how the human physique works, to our perceptions of area, allows you to play with completely different forces, plus after all the exhibits on the planetarium to whisk you from our planet into the celebs.
Bristol Zoo Mission
The Bristol Zoo Mission (previously the Wild Place Mission) is ready round quarter-hour exterior the town, and residential to the animals beforehand at Bristol Zoo Gardens, which closed its web site close to Clifton Suspension Bridge in 2022.
Identified for its conservation and schooling efforts, its a whole bunch of animals, lots of that are endangered, discovered a brand new residence there, together with meerkats, gorillas, crimson pandas, Asiatic lions and African penguins alongside the bigger animals which had at all times lived on the sister web site.
So in addition to with the ability to spot giraffes and cheetahs, plus zebras, lemurs and extra, you may get near bears: Bear Wooden is among the highlights of a go to, designed to move you again to 8000BCE when Britain was residence 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 delightful 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
If you happen toโre visiting Bristol with children who love animals, the Bristol Aquarium ought to positively be in your record 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 may watch among the marine life swimming throughout, and itโs 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!), youโre transported straight to the jungle.
Itโs additionally residence 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 massive bonuses is that your ticket is legitimate all day, so you may come and go, or determine to return later within the day. Set simply off the waterfront close to We The Curious, youโre 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, youโll uncover Cabot Tower, a Grade II listed constructing and one of many metropolisโs most well-known landmarks.
The 105ft tall tower was inbuilt 1897 to mark the four-hundredth anniversary of John Cabotโs voyage from Bristol on The Matthew which led to the invention of North America.
Itโs fully free to climb the twisting stone staircase to succeed in the highest of the tower, the place youโll get to expertise superb 360 diploma views over the town skyline โ the park is strolling distance from Park Avenue and the town centre.
There are 109 steps to the highest so not the most effective one to attempt if you happen toโre 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 children play space, ponds and water options, and loads of wildlife โ deliver some unsalted nuts and also youโll be an instantaneous hit with the parkโs 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 โ and receivedโt price a penny to get into, if you happen toโre on the lookout for free issues to do in Bristol with children.
One among my favorite elements is the Historical Egypt part on the bottom flooring, together with mummies (and mummified cats!) plus loads of gods and rituals โ at all times fascinating and nice in case your children are finding out Historical Egypt at college too.
However youโll discover a complete string of different household pleasant shows, protecting a billion years of historical past, from the pure world โ together with dinosaurs! โ to human invention, not least the well-known Bristol Boxkite biplane which hangs above your heads as you enter.
Thereโs additionally an under-fives discovery space if you happen toโre visiting with youthful children, plus different interactive areas resembling Wonderful Animal Variations geared toward major college aged kids. Look out for additional occasions throughout college holidays as effectively.
Step on board Brunelโs SS Nice Britain
Uncover the ship that modified the world โ itโs fairly a declare, however the SS Nice Britain was a revolutionary creation, the place to begin for immediatelyโs fashionable ships.
Wandering round, you may study not solely concerning the shipโs historical past, but additionally among the individuals who sailed on her, and thereโs an opportunity to decorate up in Victorian costume.
You possibly can wander right down to the hull stage, stroll by way of the cabins and stroll alongside the principle deck โ when you have children aged 10 and above, you may all clamber up the rigging as effectively.
Subsequent door, thereโs additionally a particular exhibition about Isambard Kingdom Brunel, referred to as Being Brunel, with extra concerning the man behind the well-known engineer. If you happen to suppose that sounds a bit boring for teenagers, youโd be unsuitable, as we found once we visited.
Try my journey to Bristol with children 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 the town, and simply probably the greatest free issues to do with children in Bristol.ย
Set in a transformed 1950โs dockside transit shed, youโll discover a great deal of uncommon and interactive shows on the historical past, individuals and locations that make Bristol such an thrilling metropolis.ย
Children can meet Bristolโs very personal dinosaur Thecodontosaurus, uncover buried treasure, climb on board a disused double-decker bus and loads of different enjoyable immersive actions.
In the course of the holidays, you can too take a prepare or crane journey alongside the dockside, or a visit on the water in one of many museumโs a number of historic ships.
Take a pirate cruise on The Matthew
One other vital a part of Bristolโs maritime heritage that may be discovered within the Harbourside is The Matthew, an actual reproduction of the ship on which John Cabot sailed from Bristol to find North America within the fifteenth century.
For teenagers, this principally implies that it appears to be like quite a bit like a pirate ship with its towering masts and historic lookโฆ Itโs free to go on board and discover whereas The Matthew is docked, and even higher, you may 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 underneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge and alongside the Avon Gorge.ย
If you happen to time your go to proper, children may even love the Captain Barnacle Pirate Panto! Journey or the Fish & Chips Journey with Pirate Folks Music.
As a substitute, you can too attempt a Bristol Packet Boat journey, together with quick harbour cruises and longer excursions
Take a tour
It doesnโt take lengthy to get your bearings in Bristol, however if you happen toโd like to seek out just a few of the townโs secrets and techniques as you discover the principle 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 Banksyโs works (scroll down for some concepts of extra methods to see Bristolโs 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. If you happen toโre visiting with older children (150cm+), you may even hop in your bike to see extra of the townโs highlights on a motorcycle tour of Bristol.
Each the Tootbus and Metropolis Sightseeing bus excursions of Bristol are at the moment unavailable if you happen toโre on the lookout for hop-on hop-off bus excursions of Bristol
Stroll throughout the Clifton Suspension Bridgeย
The Clifton Suspension Bridge spans all the width of the Avon Gorge and is one in every of Bristolโs most well-known landmarks. In-built 1835 by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it marked a turning level within the historical past of engineering.
Older children will take pleasure in taking within the views over the spectacular bridge, earlier than attending to stroll throughout it and look down over the Gorge beneath. Thereโs additionally an attention-grabbing customer centre with loads of historical past concerning the bridge.ย
For youthful kids, donโt miss the Clifton pure rock slide close by. The enjoyable and weird rock slide is a strip of rock that has been smoothed by hundreds of bottoms sliding down it over the many years.
There are some nice views from round Clifton Observatory close by or take a look at extra concepts of the most effective views of Clifton Suspension Bridge right here
Discover Clifton Observatory and the Bigโs 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.ย
The historic Observatory is residence to one of many few digicam obscuras nonetheless open to the general public within the UK, with superb panoramic views over the bridge and surrounding space.ย
Adventurous children are positive to like descending by way of the small underground passageway into the Bigโs Cave the place theyโll study concerning the legend of Goram and Vincent the giants โ itโs not appropriate for youngsters underneath 4 although.
From the cave youโll additionally discover one other lookout space for extra incredible views over the Gorge.
Take a road artwork tour
If you happen to love road artwork, Bristol is among the greatest locations to discover within the UK โ not solely the town the place Banksy was born, however residence to works by a string of artists in addition to someplace to check out your personal inventive skills.
To search out among the greatest, this guided tour covers greater than 1,000 years of historical past together with road artwork, together with Banksy.
Or you could possibly mix road artwork with sightseeing on a scavenger hunt-style sport thatโs nice for older tweens and youths, with quirky tales, native historical past and Banksy alongside the way in which.
We examined out a family-friendly stencil artwork session with The place the Wall which is a superb possibility in Bristol with children, creating our personal spray paint masterpiece. The place the Wall additionally runs its personal road artwork excursions of Bristol too.
Journey the mannequin railway at Ashton Courtroom Property
Youโll discover numerous family-friendly issues to do at Ashton Courtroom Property, a historic nation home with a formidable 850 acres of lovely woodland and grassland.
Topping the record for youthful children 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 teenagers.
Simply exterior the town centre (20 minutes by bus, or thereโs parking if you happen toโre travelling by automobile), itโs free to enter (though thereโs generally a cost for particular occasions) and you can too spot deer residing inside the massive park too.
Go to throughout August, and Ashton Courtroom Property can be the place to begin of Bristolโs annual Balloon Fiesta, Europeโs largest scorching air balloon occasion and an ideal day trip in Bristol with children.
See Concorde at Aerospace Bristol
One other of the most effective issues to do in Bristol with children is a go to to the thrilling Aerospace Bristol, a captivating aviation museum crammed with aeroplanes, helicopters, rockets, satellites and loads of hands-on exhibitions.ย
The museum is greatest recognized for being residence to the ultimate Concorde to be constructed and the final of the supersonic jets to fly, and you may step aboard the well-known airplane to get a style of what it will need to have been prefer to fly Concorde.
Different exhibitions embody every thing from the position of plane in each world wars to the technological advances of the area race.
Children are positive to like the numerous enjoyable interactive reveals and video games, in addition to the aerospace-themed out of doors play space. Households may now comply with the model new time-travelling path to assist hold little ones engaged too.ย
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 the town โ in addition to wandering by way of 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 yr, to not point out seeing wildflowers and big outdated timber
If you happen to go to with children, thereโs 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 youโre 11 3/4.
And itโs one other enjoyable place to find a few of Bristolโs myths and legends, particularly concerning the two giants who supposedly constructed the gorge.
Avon Valley Journey Park
If you happen toโre visiting Bristol with youthful children, or combining time in Bristol with a go to to Tub, itโs effectively price testing 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, check out the electrical quad bikes, journey the carousel, attempt the climbing wall, play mini golf and an entire lot extra.
Round 25 minutes drive from Bristol, on the street in the direction of Tub, thereโs free parking on web site. If you happen to arenโt coming by automobile, the journey park is on bus routes, though thereโs additionally a stroll on the finish.
For extra inspiration of issues to do round Bristol with children, take a look at my high issues to do in Tub with children in addition to concepts for a street journey alongside the Nice West Manner which runs from London to Bristol
*final up to date 2025*
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN BRISTOL WITH KIDS
Disclosure: This submit comprises affiliate hyperlinks โ 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
LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER