Bristol is one of the best UK city breaks for families, and having lived here for many years, we’re always thanking our lucky stars for how much child-friendly entertainment we have on our doorstep. As well as top Bristol attractions, historic landmarks and captivating theatre shows, there are year-round family-friendly festivals, plenty of playgrounds, baby cafes, wide-open green spaces and budget-friendly activities.
There are SO many things to do in Bristol for families – here are the best Bristol landmarks to see with kids.
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Best Bristol attractions for families
1. Brunel’s SS Great Britain
So you’re pondering what to do with kids in Bristol? Put one of the most important historic ships in the world, on your list of places to visit. Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Britain sits on Bristol Harbourside, ‘floating’ on a glass sea. Restored to her former magnificence, the ship is now an interactive museum alive with sights, sounds and smells of life on the ocean in Victorian times – from the stench of a fish kitchen, to the whiff of animals on board, it’s great fun exploring every nook.
Discover how you would have fared as a Victorian sailor and climb the rigging with Go Aloft! (for an extra fee) – bravery is rewarded with epic Harbour views. Being Brunel, the accompanying museum that examines the life of the ingenious engineer, is next door (and included in the ticket price).
It tells the story of Brunel in a similarly exciting way, letting visitors go ‘inside’ his mind and have a go at drawing a perfect circle in a moving train carriage.
2. Bristol Zoo Gardens
*Sadly one of my favourite Bristol tourist attractions, Bristol Zoo is now closed and will be moving to the site of its sister zoo, Wild Place Project*. Watch this space…
3. Fire your curiosity at We The Curious, Science Centre
*We The Curious is currently closed for repairs due to a fire that took place in 2022*
We The Curious is Bristol’s curiosity-electrifying science centre and on of the city’s best attractions for children. London-dwelling family members of ours have declared this Bristol attraction better than London’s Science Museum! Inside you’ll find two floors of interactive, mind-bending, hands-on activities designed to get all ages excited about how and why things happen in the world around them.
From shooting parachutes in the sky, to watching your skeleton dance, sending messages through giant whisper dishes, blowing giant bubbles to building a giant lego wall and trying your hand as an Aardman animator, it’s a thrilling day out.
One of the highlights is journeying deep into the solar system in the UK’s first 3D planetarium, located in Bristol’s recognisable gigantic silver ball (although under 6s have to stick to 2D shows).
You can easily spend a whole day here and the attraction will give you wristbands so if you fancy popping out for lunch and coming back, it’s no problem (although there is also an onsite cafe). Look out for ‘We the Curious Toddler Takeover’ days when entry is discounted. for little ones
4. Bristol Aquarium
Bristol Aquarium is an exciting underwater world that takes visitors on a journey through exotic marine waters to Britain’s coastline, freshwater creatures, mangroves, rainforest pools and more. Our favourite parts of the attraction are the re-creation of Bristol Harbourside and neon jellyfish!
In school holidays, you can often meet a real-life pirate or mermaid or take part in specially-themed activities. It’s all based indoors and there is a cafe with little play area for kids to play in while you have a coffee.
5. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
This free museum is one of my go-to things to do on a rainy day in Bristol for children. The beautiful building is filled from floor to ceiling with interesting exhibits. On the ground floor we’re big fans of the local wildlife displays, Ancient Egyptian artefacts, a couple of pieces by Banksy, the interactive play area for young kids and the spectacular Pliosaurus hanging from the ceiling.
There are several floors to explore – upstairs houses dinosaur skeletons and a vast selection of taxidermied animals – Alfred the gorilla (previously resident of Bristol Zoo), a giraffe, zebra and even a stuffed dodo (not real…although I confess I had to double-check). There’s also a gypsy caravan, a treasure trove of Chinese and an art gallery.
The museum regularly runs family events and enthralling exhibitions so keep an eye on their What’s On page for up-to-date information.
6. Discover the city’s past at M Shed
One of the great free things for kids in Bristol, this converted 1950s transit shed is now a Harbourside museum that showcases Bristol’s social history. Kids love the interactive exhibits, including an old-fashioned double decker bus, air raid shelter, giant aerial map of the city and an old-school shop. Head upstairs for killer panoramic views over the Harbourside from the roof, or feed your tummy (as well as your mind) in the onsite cafe.
On certain dates, you can take a ride on an old steam train which trundles up and down the length of the Floating Harbour, from just outside M Shed (and only costs a few quid to ride). Equally occasionally, you can have a go on one of the working cranes, take to the water on a Pyronaut or the Mayflower (believed to be the oldest surviving steam tug in the world).
7. Clifton Suspension Bridge
You can’t visit Bristol with kids and not check out its iconic attraction, the breath-taking, Brunel-designed, Clifton Suspension Bridge. Spanning the Avon Gorge and looking back towards the architecturally-aesthetic Clifton, rolling Mendip hills and leafy Ashton Court Estate, it’s one of the city’s most picturesque spots from whatever angle you view it (here are 10 of the best).
Snap a selfie, pop into the Visitor Centre for a bit of history and have a go on the nearby natural Clifton rock slide – polished smooth by years of sliding botties.
8. Clifton Observatory
Perched on the edge of the Avon Gorge, gazing over one of the best views of Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, is Clifton Observatory. As well as being a breath-taking viewpoint, the Bristol attraction hides a Giant’s Cave (so-called after mythical Bristol giants Goram and Ghyston who, according to folklore, are said to have created the gorge) and a Camera Obscura.
Under 4s are not allowed down to the Giant’s Cave, which descends 27 metres into the rock, opening out, some might say slightly terrifyingly, on a yellow balcony in the middle of the cliff face.
Above ground, there’s also the 360 Cafe with a roof terrace where you can soak up those bedazzling views over cake and coffee.
9. University of Bristol Botanic Garden
One of a handful of Bristol kids attractions that you can simultaneously visit and need to pinch yourself that you’re actually in the middle of a city, so quiet and leafy are these gardens. Entering this gorgeous little nature oasis is like stepping into tropical climes, some kind of Jurassic age and an English country garden all at once. Hunt down a dinosaur skeleton, sculptures, medicinal plants, an African Rondavel, giant lilies, many beautiful flowers and people revelling in the peaceful vibes.
10. Ashton Court Estate
A short hop over Clifton Suspension Bridge is the humongous estate of Ashton Court. If you’re stuck for where to take the kids, this place is brilliant for cycling, horse riding, kite flying, scooting, mountain biking, dog walking, running, hot air ballooning and generally being at one with nature. It’s hard to believe you’re so close to a city (although there are lovely views over it from here).
Bristol Model Engineers run the miniature railway here on certain weekends between March to October (plus a Santa special in December). It’s a firm favourite with local families. Take a picnic and make a day of it!
11. Brandon Hill and climb Cabot Tower
Brandon Hill surrounds one of the most famous landmarks in Bristol, Cabot Tower. It’s a beautiful, hilly park with a lovely playground and stupendous views gazing down over Bristol’s Floating Harbour and out to the countryside beyond. And a lot of squirrels.
I know this because I was once paid to go ‘squirrel fishing’ by a well-known Bristol TV production company. It involved placing a nut on the end of a hand-made ‘fishing rod’ to try and coax the little creatures over. We needn’t have made things so complicated, they’re so tame here that they’ll come and eat right out of your hand – to the squeals of delighted children. If you’re feeling energetic afterwards, climb the steep winding steps to the top of Cabot Tower for some phenomenal views.
Cabot Tower was constructed to celebrate the 400th anniversary of John Cabot’s voyage from Bristol and subsequent ‘discovery’ of North America on The Matthew (a replica of which can be seen on Bristol Harbourside) in 1497.
Steep, winding steps lead to the top of the tower, but climbing them with young kids can feel a bit precarious. For those that dare, the reward at the top is stupendous 360 degree views over the whole city.
12. The Matthew
This ship is a replica of the caravel in which John Cabot sailed across the Atlantic and discovered North America in 1497. With its masts and general olde worlde ship appearance, it exudes some pretty strong pirate-y vibes that kids adore. It’s moored on Bristol Harbourside, just outside M Shed, is free to hop aboard and fascinating to look around. Look out for Floating Harbour-faring adventures, they often run special fish and chips or afternoon tea cruises and school holiday pirate pantomimes – check their website for dates.
13. See best attractions in Bristol from an open-top Toot Bus
For the purposes of entertaining pre-schoolers, you could jump on any Bristol First Bus and just cruise up and down Gloucester Road for a bit, my kids would definitely consider that a fun day out.
However, if you’d like to make sightseeing in Bristol infinitely more interesting, then seek out an open-top Bristol Toot bus.
Toot Bus Bristol stops are located at most of the main Bristol attractions and you can hop on and off as you please while listening to fascinating facts about the city. It’s a great introduction if you don’t know Bristol that well and you’ll always learn something new if you do!
Click here to check prices and the Toot Bus Bristol route
14. Family attractions Bristol: theatre
Bristol is brilliant for kid’s theatre and there are always lots of family shows taking place at the city’s many cultural venues. You’ll find awe-inspiring West End and Broadway productions at Bristol Hippodrome. Bristol Old Vic regularly puts on kids shows and Dragonbird Theatre always sell-out their interactive play adventures around the city – so book early!
Historic music venue, Bristol Beacon presents concerts from all genres of music, a family favourite is their Hoo-Ha festival in August.
The Old Market Assembly is a great independent restaurant, onsite bakery, drinks venue, live music hub and theatre all rolled into one. Family-friendly performances take place throughout the year in their intimate venue.
Keep an eye out for Kid Carpet’s performances and check out the What’s On pages for Tobacco Factory Theatres and Redgrave Theatre.
15. Treasure Island trail
This mile-long family-friendly trail highlights the city’s connections with Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, Bristol’s maritime heritage and other literary associations. To follow the route, download the app to be led around eight Black Spots dotted about Bristol’s Floating Harbour from King Street to M Shed.
If you’re in Bristol with kids during the summer holidays, it’s possible to witness the story brought to life on a Treasure Island story walk with Show of Strength Theatre Company.
16. Blaise Castle House Museum & Estate
Blaise Castle House Museum on the vast Blaise Estate is located in the mansion house and contains a dressing up area, fascinating old-fashioned toys and an old school room.
Outside the museum walls are sprawling green grounds, forested gorge walks and a folly castle sitting atop a hill. It’s said Bristol’s Giants (them again) left their mark here and if you look closely you can find ‘Goram’s Chair’ and his ‘footprint’ stomped into the rocks. The children’s playground in the grounds is one of the largest in Bristol.
Discover Bristol’s best playgrounds
17. Children’s farm Bristol
Wholesome Bristol attractions St Werburgh’s City Farm and Windmill Hill City Farm are fantastic places to take kids keen to see farm animals. There’s something quite lovely about finding goats, pigs and chickens roaming in an urban environment.
Strongly community-minded, both farms have lovely cafes featuring wholesome food and locally-grown produce on the menu as well as playgrounds for kids to mess about in.
18. Aerospace Bristol
Looking for Bristol family attractions for plane-mad youngsters and engineering enthusiasts? This aeronautical museum houses historical memorabilia from over a century of powered flight.
Of course, the star of the show is that beautiful old bird, Concorde Alpha Foxtrot – the last of her kind to be built (in Bristol, I might add) and fly. You can go aboard the legendary plane, peek into the cockpit and get an insight into what supersonic jet travel would have been like for passengers. This Bristol attraction also has an outside play area and a cafe.
Click here to check latest prices
19. Wild Place Project
Wild Place’s new Bear Wood has returned four ‘extinct’ British species – European brown bears, lynx, wolves and wolverine – to UK woodland for the first time in hundreds of years. It’s incredible to get so close to the animals while strolling along a raised walkway through the trees and venturing into 180-degree, floor-to-ceiling glass viewing areas. From here, you can watch the animals clambering along branches or trotting through the forest in what feels like a very natural enclosure.
There are many other animal habitat-themed zones and exotic beasts wandering the wilds here too, including cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, eland, geladas and okapi. My daughters would spend the entire time scampering shoeless along the Barefoot Trail if they could, but it’s also amazing to get within an arm’s length of a lemur, talk to giraffes almost face to face or run free in the vast green meadow. There’s also a number of play areas, plus an indoor Fun Fort (handy if the weather isn’t playing ball).
Adrenaline-loving families can test their nerve on the ‘Leap of Faith’, an outdoor climbing adventure. The course takes around an hour to complete and includes a giant 25ft swing.
*Watch a video of our visit to see the bears at Wild Place Project here.
20. Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
A few miles outside Bristol, this countryside attraction is home to big zoo animals including tigers, rhinos, giraffes, bears and elephants as well as smaller animals, like bunnies, goats and guinea pigs (which you have the opportunity to pet at certain times of day.
As well as wildlife, there are adventure playgrounds (including a very unique-looking elephant slide) giant maze and ginormous indoor soft play complete with beehive maze, slides, ball pit and ride-on tractor area. The zoo has been criticised for its creationist undertones, although these are fairly discrete nowadays and it’s easy to enjoy the animals and kiddy entertainment.
21. National Trust Tyntesfield
This handsome gothic-style Victorian mansion sits in beautiful National Trust-protected grounds, surrounded by countryside. There’s acres of space to explore with kids, plus a natural play area, logs to balance on and excellent family-friendly activities that take place all year-round. From themed trails and storytelling to a magnificent pumpkin display, Victorian Christmas and family workshops, it’s a gorgeous place to escape to for a nature-filled day.
22. Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park
Half an hour away from Bristol, set in a beautiful riverside park, Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park has is one of the best local animal attractions for kids. Visitors can meet animals of all shapes and sizes, watch animals racing, hop on tractor and train rides, play in the adventure parks, take a mini jeep for a spin, head out on the boating lake and go wild in the soft play.
During school holidays, the attraction puts on enchanted trails (we’ve got up close to an actual unicorn before! Well…a pony with a rainbow mane, but still!), lambing events, meet and greets with beloved characters like Peppa and a Christmas extravaganza among other things.
23. Avon Valley Railway
Travel back in time to the golden age of steam travel. This exciting locomotive adventure take you along three miles of track through spectacular South Gloucestershire countryside (mainly at weekends and during school holidays). Throughout the year the attraction runs themed events, ranging from Hound of the Baskervilles, to Teddy Bear’s Picnics, Wizard Adventure Weekends, Chocolate Sundays and their popular Santa Specials!
24. The Wave Bristol
Bristol has always been ‘cool’ in my eyes, and then they went and built an inland surf lake. Gnarly, rad, epic, pumping, sick, The Wave Bristol is all the surf adjectives …and family-friendly! There are 6 different surfing areas and kids over 6 years old can have a go at catching a wave. Beginner lessons are available (and encouraged if you’ve never surfed here before) and prices include the use of a surfboard and wetsuit, plus optional hood and boots if you would like them. All you need to bring is your swimming costume and a towel!
For younger kids, check out their ‘Play in the Bay’ sessions, or head over on a Saturday to take part in kids’ activities on dry land such as Wilderness Explorers, eco arts and crafts and storytime sessions.
Booking is essential, so do plan ahead rather than drop in on the off-chance. If you’d rather just soak up the stoke than dip your toes in the water, it’s £2 to visit the lovely cafe/bar, onsite surf shop, viewing deck (free for under 6s).
*Watch my video of the first surfers taking to the water at The Wave Bristol in October 2019. For sure one of the coolest places in Bristol!
25. Airhop Bristol
One of the more energetic children’s things to do in Bristol! Let little legs ping, boing, leap and launch themselves in every direction at the world’s largest indoor trampoline park, Airhop, based out at Cribbs Causeway. Under 5s can get involved in special ‘Mini Airhopper Takeover’ sessions which run on weekdays out of school holidays (10am-12pm) and at weekends (from 9am-10am).
Kids have have a ball launching themselves into a foam pit, racing around a dodgeball court and jumping on wall to wall trampolines.
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