Keep the whole family happy with a trip to Bristol during the school summer holidays.
The weather is warm, the city is alive, the events are plentiful, and there's a whole host of ways to have fun. So get some holiday inspiration from us and feel the summer in the city love for a family trip to Bristol.
Highlights
- See how many of the Gromit Unleashed 3 sculptures you can find across the city, there are 53 in total...
- Don't miss three of Bristol's biggest family-friendly festivals - Bristol Harbour Festival (18 - 20 July), Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (8 - 10 August) and Old City Sounds (23 August) - all are free to attend!
- Celebrate summer the Victorian way at Brunel's SS Great Britain with giant games, deckchairs, magic shows, face painting, a new family trail and stories from Mr Brunel himself!
- Go on a globetrotting adventure at Bristol Aquarium and discover marine life from different countries.
- Wander around the Andy's Adventures: Explorer Trail at Bristol Zoo Project, or watch the zoo come alive at night in their Summer Lates events.
- Get up close with planes, buses, trams and more at Aerospace Bristol
- Check out the new rooms being added to Wake The Tiger this summer, with the design being inspired by the winner of their Go Anywhere Art Competition! Under 5s can visit for free, and there is a 20% discount on peak tickets throughout the summer holidays.
- Watch a brand new circus and magic show at Wookey Hole Caves, or visit their new Dinosaur Experience.
- Head to The Grand Pier in Weston-Super-Mare, where for just £15, you can enjoy non-stop, all-day access to a huge selection of thrill rides and attractions with Unlimited Ride Wristbands. Grab 10% off ALL Unlimited Ride Wristbands online when you use code ‘DANIDONKEY’ at checkout!
For all-year-round family events, head to our family events page.
Don't forget to check out the best summer offers too, including free entry to Brunel's SS Great Britain for children throughout the school holidays, and a free return to Avon Valley Adventure Park!
Outdoor attractions
Bristol is a green city, surrounded by countryside with many outdoor attractions and things to do in the open air. Summer holidays are the perfect time to explore these attractions and activities.
Visit the new lion habitat at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, or take part in dragonfly-themed activities at WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
Make the most of the sunshine at one of Bristol's many free parks, grand gardens, or beautiful estates. Tyntesfield, Dyrham Park, and Westonbirt Arboretum, just outside the city, all have outdoor trails that are fun for all ages to explore!
Check out our full list of family-friendly things to do.
Family food favourites
Bristol has plenty of choice when it comes to family-friendly places to eat, with favourites being world buffet Za Za Bazaar, burger boat Three Brothers Burgers, or the new Moomin Boba House from CUPP. Some of the best kids' menus include tapas at Bar 44, fish and chips at Noah's, burgers at Mollie's Diner, or sushi at KIBOU.
Where to stay
And if you wanted to take the little ’uns away for a longer summer holiday, then scoot over to our family-friendly accommodation section and book a break in Bristol. We've also rounded up our top places to stay with kids.
Getting to and around Bristol
It's easy to get to Bristol by public transport, with rail one of the most convenient and green options. Temple Meads railway station has direct services from London, Scotland, Wales, Manchester and Birmingham.
Children and young people under the age of 16 can travel for free on buses across the West of England this summer - no bus pass or registration is required. Travel around Bristol with First Bus.
Book a GWR Family Ticket in advance for reduced fares. If you are travelling in a group of between 3 and 9 adults, you can get a 1/3 off Standard Off-Peak tickets when travelling together with the GroupSave ticket.
Kids go free with National Express this summer! Using the code KIDSFREE, whilst travelling by coach between 1 July - 30 September 2025, up to 3 kids can go free with one paying adult (up to 15 years old). National Express offers routes to Bristol from towns and cities across the UK.
FlixBus also has 20% this summer. You can also use coach services from Megabus and Falcon from locations across the UK. If you're thinking of bringing the car, consider using the Park & Ride services for day trips.
Join in the conversation with us on social media and tag your posts, photos and videos of you having fun and soaking up the city this season with #SummerInBristol.
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