3 min readA day out at Bristol’s surprising science experience, We The Curious, is the perfect way to enjoy some time out together over the busy winter holidays.
You’ll find We The Curious right in the heart of Bristol’s historic harbourside. Step out of the cold and through the rainbow-coloured entrance to two floors full of things to do.
Come with friends or family, toddlers or teenagers. Solve puzzles, climb inside a giant bubble, enjoy tasty seasonal experiments and festive live shows.
Curious questions
Downstairs, you’ll find the intriguing Project What If exhibition, which is inspired by questions people have asked and explores some of life’s big mysteries. Have a go at turning invisible, send a message into space, zoom out to the edge of the universe, and take a peek into the TARDIS.
Creative, indoor fun for all ages
Head through the archway to the North Gallery to celebrate the science in our everyday lives. Chat to a robot chef, waggle-dance like a bee, and investigate the science of spice and scent in experiments in the Winter Kitchen. Pop into the Greenhouse to make a taste test of your own.
Then head upstairs to make colourful winter scenes in the Tinkering Space and dream up stories in the Aardman-inspired ‘Animate It’ area. The first floor is also home to bubbles, brains, ball runs and under-8s area ‘Build -it’, as well as topsy-turvy mirrors and musical pipes.
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Interactive festive shows
How do you get a genie out of a tight squeeze? Or help a dragon with bad breath? These are just some of the conundrums puzzling the helpline operator in our science-meets-panto show ‘Fairytale SOS’.
Visitors can expect dazzling demos and plenty of audience participation as scientific solutions are used to solve some rather magical mishaps. Shows run twice a day (weekends and holidays only) and you can just drop in, no need to book a slot.
Trips to the stars
For more winter sparkle and a spot of escapism, add a Planetarium show to your visit.
If you’re coming with little ones, set off on an adventure with the resident friendly alien in ‘Spin the Spaceship’. For kids over 6 and their grown-ups, you can set out on a search for alien life in ‘Life in the Universe’. Older children and adults can opt for the mesmerising winter stargazing show, The Story of Stars. Tickets to the presenter-led planetarium shows are £4 each in addition to your day entry ticket.
During the Christmas holidays, younger families can also enjoy a festive journey with Father Christmas himself in ‘What Santa Sees’, a short 2D film combining storytelling and astronomy. This one is a drop-in with no extra charge, playing towards the end of each day.
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Image - We The Curious planetarium. Credit Lee Pullen
Opening times
The science centre is open every day of the Christmas holidays (Saturday 20 December to Sunday 4 January) apart from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Location
You’ll find We The Curious on Bristol’s historic harbourside, surrounded by bars and restaurants and next to the colourful Vintage Winter Wonderland, with its Big Wheel, outdoor Après Bar and old-fashioned fairground rides.
Tickets and prices
We recommend booking ahead as the centre does become fully booked at peak times.
Adult standard ticket (16+): £20.40
Child standard ticket (2+): £15.30
See the We The Curious website for a full list of tickets and prices.
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This content was kindly sponsored by We The Curious.
