Bristol is a great destination for a family trip and we pride ourselves on being a family-friendly city, offering entertainment for kids of all ages.
We've picked Bristol's family-friendly things to do and sorted them into the handy list below. We also have plenty of family events to enjoy as well as excellent family hotels and places to stay to make your break to Bristol extra special. So get making some memories and visit Bristol with your family.
Family days out
There is a whole city to explore with world-class attractions and exciting activities. Become a Bristol adventurer and search for Banksy on the walls, or sharks under the water at Bristol Aquarium. You could explore the World’s first great ocean liner at Brunel's SS Great Britain, travel through space in the Planetarium at We The Curious, or pilot Concorde at Aerospace Bristol.
Come face to face with a cheeky lemur at Bristol Zoo Project or even a dinosaur at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, visit the world’s first amazement park Wake the Tiger ®, or explore caves (and a whole lot more) at Wookey Hole. Bristol is also home to a multitude of parks and gardens which are free to visit - you can find more ideas for budget days out on our list of 60 Free things to do in Bristol.
Boat trips are a brilliant way to explore the city, with Bristol Ferry providing a service around the harbour and to Temple Meads station, or Bristol Packet Boat Trips running extra trips during the school holidays. You can also book a book onto The Matthew, a fabulous and faithful reconstruction of the ship used by the explorer John Cabot when he discovered Newfoundland in 1497. There are sailing trips either around the harbour or further afield. The Matthew is also free to visit when moored in her usual spot opposite M Shed at Princes Wharf.
Head to Out There Indoors Play Cafe in Paintworks, where little ones will love the dressing up area, book corner and mini climbing walls. Plan in a creative day by booking a workshop for the kids at Goldfinch Create and Play, or get some memorable photos of the family at the Upside Down House.
A perfect family base
Bristol has all the exciting bustle and culture you'd want from a city break but with countryside, seaside and green spaces all around and right on our doorstep, meaning it's a great base for families to explore not only the city itself but really let off some steam in nearby Somerset, South Gloucestershire and The Cotswolds.
You could spend some time in the English countryside and visit some amazing family attractions near Bristol including The Grand Pier in Weston-super Mare, Avon Valley Adventure Park, Longleat Safari Park, Cheddar Gorge & Caves, Chew Valley Animal Park, Noah's Ark Zoo Farm and Wolfridge Alpaca Barn.
For some outdoorsy activities, book the kids in for a surf or play in the bay session at The Wave, join a session with Mendip Activity Centre, Adventure Bristol or Adventurous Activity Company to try something new. See how many bird species you can spot from paddling a wild canoe safari at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
Or for some indoor fun to enjoy whatever the weather, bounce around at AirHop Bristol, practice your bowling skills at Roxy Lanes, or see who emerges victorious at Treetop Golf in Cabot Circus or Sixes Social Cricket on Bristol Harbourside.
If the kids need some sea air, then head to Weston-super-Mare or Clevedon in coastal Somerset for beaches, piers and seaside fun.
Family shows and exhibitions
Bristol’s theatres show family friendly shows throughout the year and in school holidays – from top West End hits to local productions as well as family fun and entertainment. Check the latest theatre listings before you visit.
Learn about the history of Bristol at M Shed, see what a Bristol sugar plantation and slave owner’s home might have looked like at The Georgian House Museum and step inside and experience more than 400 years of history at The Red Lodge Museum.
View the latest exhibitions at the RWA and spend some time at their Family Activity Space, or join a family workshop at Arnolfini. Want to create some art of your own? Join a spray session with Where The Wall, a graffiti workshop with Graft, or a nature-inspired workshop at Goldfinch Create and Play.
Accessible family attractions
Several of Bristol's attractions have won awards for their accessible facilities, including Bristol Zoo Project, WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, The Grand Pier and Noah's Ark Zoo Farm. Find out more about accessible family attractions on our Accessibility guide pages.
Children's play centres, playgrounds and soft play
Children’s play centres, soft play, indoor play centres, whatever you know them as, we all know that they are brilliant fun for kids. They are also perfect for when the weather isn’t on your side, to while away some hours undercover. The kids can let off some steam and have lots of fun in the ball pools, slides, soft shapes, trampolines, while the parents can grab a coffee and a slice of cake!
Brean Play is the ultimate indoor soft play extravaganza, conveniently located within Brean Leisure Park just a stone's throw away from the picturesque Brean Sands and only 10 minutes from M5 J22 in Burnham-on-Sea.
There are fun indoor play centres in both Wookey Hole Caves and Noah's Ark Zoo Farm and a giant family-friendly trampoline park at AirHop Bristol.
Check out Little Town Adventures Immersive Role Play Experience in Weston-super-Mare where children can fully immerse themselves inside this interactive little town. Or at Ocean Adventurers in Cheddar you'll find a multi-award winning indoor attraction. Further down the M5 there's Space Adventurers in Taunton.
Find out more about what else you can do in Bristol when the weather isn't on your side in our Rainy Days in Bristol section.
However, If you'd rather be outside in the fresh air then there are many playgrounds and parks in Bristol with swings, slides, climbing frames and more. Help the kids to burn off some of that boundless energy.
Family friendly restaurants
After you've been exploring and adventuring all day with your family, you'll need somewhere to refuel. Check out our section on family-friendly places to eat in Bristol to browse plenty of options across the city.
Still have questions?
Travelling with your family is wonderful, but the logistics can sometimes be tricky, and we want to make life as easy for you as we can. So if you have any more specific questions about pushchair access, changing facilities, children's menus, family rooms or anything else, please contact us.
