10 min readWorried about keeping teenagers entertained during a visit to Bristol? Don’t be! There’s an endless amount of fun and adventure on offer for their age group, thanks to exciting attractions and activities.
Whether they’d be happiest in a wetsuit, on roller skates or holding a spray paint can, here are some of the best ways to spend a break in the city with your teens.
Tickle your senses at Wake The Tiger
Enter a portal to the world of Meridia at the world’s first Amazement Park®. Wind your way through a series of fantastical themed rooms and discovering solutions to world issues. The artwork, interactive gadgets and secret passageways will captivate even the most hard-to-impress teens.
Image - Wake The Tiger, credit Andre Pattenden
Learn to surf at The Wave
You don’t have to go as far as the North Devon or South Wales coast to take your teens surfing. There are consistent, safe waves to ride at The Wave, with lessons for all ages and abilities. If you prefer to keep dry, watch their lesson from the Clubhouse where there’s great food, coffee and a chilled-out beachy vibe.
Image - The Wave
Go on a shopping spree
Cabot Circus in the city centre has a great selection of well-known brands to choose from, including Zara, Pull and Bear, H&M, Stradivarius, Monki and Urban Outfitters. For lunch or dinner, there's a huge mix of much-loved chain restaurants to pick from, such as wagamama, Five Guys, Nando's and YO! Sushi.
Image - Cabot Circus
Gloucester Road is a dream for anyone who wants to pick up vintage threads and charity shop gems, and you can also pick up some pre-loved bargains on Park Street.
Teens will love wandering around the huge shopping mall at Cribbs Causeway, which has over 150 stores, including River Island, Fatface, Skechers, H&M, JD Sports, New Look, Pandora and Lush. There's also plenty of choice for food and drink or activities, including jumping around the UK's largest trampoline park at AirHop.
Image - Cribbs Causeway
Become a mountain bike adventurer with Pedal Progression
Hit the mountain bike trails of Ashton Court Estate for an exhilarating outdoor experience. There are two trails: the blue grade Nova is suitable for less experienced riders, while the red grade Super Nova is more challenging.
Mountain biking experts Pedal Progression are based on the estate and offer cycle hire as well as Skills Academy sessions for kids aged 11 to 14, to build up biking confidence and skills. They also run maintenance and trailside repair courses for the same age group, preparing young riders to safely enjoy trails.
Image - Pedal Progression
Float along the harbour with SUP Bristol
See if your balance is any better on water with SUP Bristol, who will lead you on a paddleboarding trip around the harbour, past many of Bristol's most iconic sights. All ages and abilities are welcome. Even if you're a complete paddleboard newbie, tips and tricks from the expert instructors will have you standing up in no time!
Image - SUP Bristol, credit Carolyn Eaton
Inspire future Banksys with street art experiences
Join Where The Wall’s street art tour to discover the story behind Bristol’s graffiti culture and the making of the world’s most famous undercover artist, Banksy. Artists in the making will love getting their hands on spray cans in the graffiti workshops too. You can also book stencil sessions with Graft, who run their workshops in a unique creative space inside former police cells.
Spend a day mural spotting around Southville and Bedminster, one of the city's most colourful pockets. That's largely thanks to Upfest, Europe's largest street art festival, using the area as a canvas every year. Visit the festival's permanent shop on North Street for artwork and merch from local artists.
Image - Banksy's Mild Mild West on Stokes Croft
Fly a hawk at The Bird of Prey Project
Not only can you see over 20 species of hawks, owls, falcons and more, there's also the opportunity to meet a hawk or owl up close in a private session, or book a guided flying session!
Image - Bird of Prey Project
Take to the water
Get you teen to develop a new skill - whether it's sailing with All Aboard Watersports in Bristol's harbour, canoeing around the city's waterways with the Adventurous Activity Company, or kayaking with Mendip Activity Centre in Somerset.
Get your game on at Roxy Lanes
Have an afternoon of friendly competition at Roxy Lanes, where under 18s are welcome with an adult before 5pm. Make the most of bowling lanes, batting cages, shuffleboard, duck pin bowling, karaoke, ice-free curling, arcade games and pool tables for off-peak prices. Snack on pizzas and sides before, during or after your gaming.
Image - Roxy Lanes Bristol
Compete in a virtual game at MeetspaceVR
Play with up to six people all in the same game in warehouse-scale, untethered virtual reality. Choose to compete against each other or co-operate to survive your mission. Players must be over 12 years old to play, and anyone aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, even if the adult does not take part in the game. With a wide selection of games to choose from, what adventure will you choose?
Cheer on the local teams
Would they love watching some live sport? Football fans are well catered for in the city, whether you choose to watch a Championship game with Bristol City FC at Ashton Gate Stadium, or Bristol Rovers play at the Memorial Stadium just off Gloucester Road.
More into rugby? Watch world-class players including Ellis Genge, Harry Randall and Kalaveti Ravouvou play with Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate Stadium.
If you’re visiting during cricket season, watch Gloucestershire County Cricket Club at the Seat Unique Stadium. Basketball team Bristol Flyers play at SGS Wise Campus, while ice hockey team Bristol Pitbulls are based at Planet Ice, where you can also get your skates on for public skate sessions.
Image - Bristol City at Ashton Gate Stadium
Take a trip to the coast
Have a day by the seaside and enjoy the Weston Wallz street around Weston-super-Mare, before heading to The Grand Pier for go-karting, amusement arcades and thrilling rides.
Just along the coast, Brean Theme Park has over 40 rides, including rollercoasters, log flume, dodgems, crazy boats and a ghost train! Make sure to also have a go on at the Go-Kart Race and 18-hole Congo Golf.
Image - Go-Karts at The Grand Pier
Brush up on all things Bristol at M Shed
M Shed tells the story of Bristol, from prehistoric times to the present day. This thought-provoking and fun living museum delves into the past and sparks debate about the future, perfect for switched-on teenagers interested in history, culture and politics. Look out for Banksy's Grim Reaper artwork, which was salvaged from the nearby Thekla, and the Protest exhibition which includes the Edward Colston statue which was toppled during a protest in June 2020.
Once you've walked around the exhibitions, have a wander around the shipping containers of Wapping Wharf next door to find something tasty to eat - you've got plenty to choose from, including hotdogs, fish and chips, burgers, pizza and lots more!
Image - M Shed, credit Paul Box
Join Yuup for original Bristol experiences
Yuup curates activities and experiences led by local experts and there are heaps that teenagers will love. Explore the local area in new ways by booking themed tours about street art or local history; learn a new skill like foraging, breadmaking or pottery; or enjoy unique Bristol experiences like movie nights in Redcliffe Caves.
Image - Yuup
Gather your mates for a Treasure Hunt
Even if you’ve been to the city centre a million times, with Treasure Hunt Bristol’s self-guided adventure you’ll discover places, people and things you never knew about Bristol. Use your collective brainpower to solve riddles from Captain Bess and unearth fascinating facts and stories.
Get among the wildlife at Bristol Zoo Project
Animal-mad teenagers will love the Bristol Zoo Project. The conservation park is themed around different habitats ranging from ancient British woodland to the wilds of Cameroon. Spot giraffes, bears, lemurs, baboons and much more.
While you’re there, take a Leap of Faith, home of Bristol’s only giant swing plus several climbing walls. Adventure Bristol also have a tree tops high ropes course in Ashton Court Estate to the south of the city.
Image - Bristol Zoo Project, credit Andre Pattenden
Hit for Six at Sixes Social Cricket
Gather your friends or family for the thrill of cricket at Sixes Social Cricket on Bristol Harbourisde. Fast paced, live scoreboards and finger lickin' menus. Take on a batting challenge powered by world class sports technology that tests hand eye skill, upper body reflexes, power and speed.
Image - Sixes Social Club
Take a break for sweet treats
When it’s time for a treat, Bristol has plenty of sugary goodies to sample, from Swoon’s epic gelato and Fluffy Fluffy's souffle pancakes, to Chez Marcel’s traditional crêpes.
Image - Fluffy Fluffy Bristol
Go supersonic at Aerospace Bristol
Impressive feats of engineering are also on show at Aerospace Bristol, the museum celebrating the city's aeronautical achievements. This place sparks wonder and inspiration as you journey from the earliest days of powered flight to cutting edge modern technology. A highlight is always the chance to step on board the iconic Concorde Alpha Foxtrot.
Image - Aerospace Bristol
Discover your inner engineer at Brunel's SS Great Britain
Take a voyage on Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the history-making ship turned award-winning family attraction. Explore the ship and see what life would have been like for its Victorian passengers, learn about the celebrated engineer (and honorary Bristolian) behind its build, and take on some engineering challenges, from drawing the perfect circle in a shaky train carriage to Top Trump cards with Brunel's greatest projects!
Just around the corner, you'll find Banksy's famous artwork The Girl with the Pierced Eardrum, plus one of Bristol's most Instagrammable views of Bristol Marina, the Grain Barge and the colourful houses of Cliftonwood.
Image - Brunel's SS Great Britain
Play golf with a twist at Ashton Court Estate
Ever played FootGolf? How about DiscGolf? There are no clubs in these family-friendly takes on the game, but the rules are essentially the same: get the football or frisbee in the hole in as a few shots as possible.
Go on thrilling woodland adventures at Go Ape
Fly down zip-wires, leap off a Tarzan Swing and tackle obstacles on the Tree Top Challenge course at Go Ape in the Forest of Dean (just under an hour's drive from Bristol). For those who aren’t great with heights, the Forest Segway experience might be more enjoyable, rolling through woodland trails on a rugged all-terrain segway.
Image - Go Ape
Getting to Bristol
It's easy to get to Bristol by public transport, with rail one of the most convenient and green options. Temple Meads Station the largest rail hub in the west of England, with direct services from London, Scotland, Wales, Manchester and Birmingham.
Alternatively, hop on a coach service from National Express, Megabus, FlixBus and Falcon. If you're thinking of bringing the car, consider using the Park & Ride services for day trips.
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