Free family fun at Bristol Museums this summer
If you’re looking for something fun to do with your kids this summer, Blaise Museum, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, M Shed, and Kings Weston Roman Villa have got you covered. They’ve got an awesome lineup of activities and events that will keep your little ones entertained all summer long.
From art workshops to nature walks, from historical exhibits to train rides, from dinosaur adventures to Lego building sessions – they’ve got it all! And the best part? The museum curators, resident crafters, and storytellers will be there too, making sure your family has an absolute blast.
Councillor Craig Cheney, Deputy Mayor of Bristol and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Finance, Performance, Governance and Culture, said: “Historic sites such as Blaise Estate and Kings Weston Roman Villa are fantastic places for inspiring creativity, letting young imaginations run wild and for families to play and learn together. A lot of the events this summer link to our collections and sites so it’s also a great way of engaging in the stories and artefacts we care for in Bristol Museums. As many of these sessions are free and spread over four sites, I hope lots of families come and enjoy these family fun activities.”
Here is a roundup of what’s on this summer for families:
Blaise Museum
Every Thursday throughout August there will be a different theme for family-friendly craft activities with Zoe, storytelling with Isy, trails and much more. Suitable for children of 4 years+ and their families.
Kings Weston Roman Villa
Explore where Romans used to live right on Bristol’s doorstep and discover amazing mosaic floors, underfloor heating and the only Roman bath suite in Bristol. There’s plenty to do throughout the day with artefacts, craft activities, games and terrific tales told by storyteller, Michael.
M Shed
At M Shed you can take part in a merry medley of Medieval-themed activities, be a Roman for the day, try out some new skills in an interactive family workshop delivered by professional puppeteers, and build a Lego Bristol. M Shed is also the perfect harbourside spot to make a day of it, with the working exhibits (train rides, crane visits, John King tug trips) running on various dates over the summer.
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Making good use of the dinosaur and fossil collection and Ancient Egypt Gallery, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery has some hands-on activities for budding palaeontologists and Egyptologists. There are also four themed sketch and draw sessions taking place on 2, 9, 16 and 23 August. Inspired by artefacts and specimens in the museum these free drop-in activities are suitable for all ages. Two other Bristol museums, the Red Lodge and The Georgian House are within walking distance of Bristol Museum and Art Gallery if you have energy and time to spare! Check opening days and times as they vary.
Throughout the summer you can pick up children’s trail maps at Blaise Museum and M Shed.
To help make life easier for families, we have a free picnic room available at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. If your child finds the museum environment challenging, you can pick up a Little Bag of Calm from M Shed reception, which includes ear defenders and fidget toys.
Many of the activities are free and drop in. Others will need to be paid for and booked in advance. Check individual activities for age suitability, dates, times and booking information. For a full list of events this summer visit What’s on | Bristol Museums and Archives. Filter to ‘Families’ for more info on family fun this summer.
