Family-friendly things to do in Bristol this summer

While the onslaught of the school summer holidays signals pure joy in the eyes of many a child, for those that have to look after them, things often become a little more menacing. Tasked with all-day entertainment, seven days a week, there are only so many arts and craft activities you can conjure up before succumbing to the ever-tempting glow of the television screens.

Here are some great things (many of which are free) to occupy young minds before term strikes up again...

Kids’ summer activities, Bristol Museums, Tue Jul 21 - Sat Aug 29, 11am - 3pm, Free
Throughout each week of the summer holidays, you’ll find brilliant activities for kids across Bristol’s museums and galleries, spanning arts, crafts, storytelling, dressing up and experiments. With rotating responsibilities shared across all sites – Tuesdays at M Shed, Wednesdays at Blaise Castle House Museum, Thursdays at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Fridays at The Georgian House Museum and Saturdays at The Red Lodge Museum – activities run from 11am to 3pm on a drop-in basis, and focused primarily at children aged between 7 and 13, are suitable for all. 

The Shaun in the City Trail, Free
Nice timing, this one, which was unveiled in early July just in time for that final dong of the school bell. As with our well-loved gorillas and Gromits, the premise is simple, urging you to hunt down as many of the uniquely decorated sculptures as possible while working your way around spots of Bristol that you might not have visited before.

Summer Animated Adventures, The Watershed, Fri Jul 17 - Thu 3 Sep, £6.50 / £4.50 concessions
Travel the world through cinema this summer as The Watershed hosts a series of six specially selected animated flicks from across the globe, including well-known gems like Japan’s Ghibli classics, ‘Kiki’s Delilvery Service’, ‘Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind’ and ‘Castle In The Sky’, plus two Oscar-nominated hand-drawn films from Ireland, ‘The Secret Of Kells’ and ‘Song Of The Sea’, and our very own ‘Shaun The Sheep’. Step away from Netflix… these screenings are definitely worth getting everyone out of the house for.

Family Foraging Walk with Andy Hamilton, The Downs, Sun Aug 23, 11am - 1pm, £8 / £5 concessions and under 12s
Suitable for anyone aged over five, join urban forager (and bloke off the telly) Andy Hamilton as he leads families on a foraging walk across Bristol Downs in search of edible plants. The next stage will then see participants make a batch of mocktails inspired by the hedgerows that bore them – why not bring a picnic along too and make a day of it?

Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, The Hippodrome, Wed Aug 26 - Thu Aug 27, 1pm / 4pm, From £16.40
You’ll probably be well-acquainted with these guys, but to indulge the uninitiated ‘Ben And Holly’s Little Kingdom’ is a BAFTA award-winning TV animation from the makers of kids’ big hitter ‘Peppa Pig’. Coming to Bristol’s Hippodrome live on stage this summer, children will be able to see Ben, Holly and their friends as a magical musical adventure unfolds right before their very eyes.

Shipwrecked Stories, Bristol Aquarium, Wed 5, 12, 19 and 26 Aug, 10.45am / 12.15pm, Free (entrance admission applies)
Take your young land-lubbers down to Bristol Aquarium this summer, where they can join Shipwrecked Sid in his storytelling sessions, hearing all about his shipwrecked tales and singing sea shanties, while helping him find messages in bottles hidden around the aquarium. Each storytelling session – suitable for children of all ages – lasts 45 minutes, and there are three throughout each day.

Kids Roam Free, Westonbirt Arboretum, 20 Jul – 31 Aug, Free
One of the best places to go when the summer holidays are actually summery enough to get outside, Westonbirt Arboretum is a great place near Bristol where visitors can get up close to nature. Throughout summer, they’re letting kids in for free, as well as putting on family-friendly events and activities including tree reading and making your own ‘cone creatures’.

Mini Maker Fair, At Bristol, Sat 22 Aug, 10am – 5pm, Free
A nationally touring event, the Mini Maker Faire is a family-friendly celebration of arts, crafts, science, technology and engineering. With an aim to showcase invention, creativity and resourcefulness, the fair is suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds – including your own young crafters and tinkerers, who might be able to learn a thing or two.

Withdrawn, Leigh Woods, Free
Think outside the box of the famed teddy bears’ picnic: if you go down to the woods today (Leigh Woods, specifically) you’ll find a fleet of boats stationed as part of Luke Jerram’s Withdrawn exhibition. It’s stunning, and the collection of strange and wonderful boats will act as a great way to break up a family walk.

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Ashton Court, Thu 6 - Sun 9 Aug, Free
Now celebrating its 37^th year, the Bristol Balloon Fiesta is not just one of the city’s key events in the summer calendar, it’s also Europe’s largest ballooning event. Promising four days of fun for the whole family at the beginning of August, it’s a stunning – and crucially free – way to spend some time outdoors.

Bristol Festival of Puppetry, Various venues, Thu 27 Aug - Thu 6 Sep (Carnival Fri 29 Aug, 1pm), Free
The only English festival to celebrate the art form of puppetry on stage and film, the Bristol Festival of Puppetry showcases local and regional companies alongside some of the best international puppetry and animation. While the events programme tends to target adults, there's still lots for kids, including a massive carnival towards the end of August (get involved with puppet-making carnival workshops – just check you’ve got the right day for the right age group).

Redfest, St George's Park, Sat 1 Aug, 11am - 9pm, Free
Bringing together music, arts, cabaret, kids’ activities and food and drink, Redfest is a free festival that takes over St George’s Park at the beginning of August. A good way to get everybody outside, we’re also sure you’ll be able to find a beer or two to alleviate the exasperation of school holiday hell.

Fair in the Square, Queen Square, Sat 22 Aug, 12 – 8pm, Free
A community event from Sustrans, a charity helping people choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys, Fair in the Square takes in Queen Square this summer to celebrate 20 years of the National Cycle Network. With live music, BMX stunt shows, cycling circus demos, bike check-ups, food stalls, a magical illuminated Lullaby Ride by artist Luke Jerram (yep, the Park Street waterslide guy), it’s got all the makings of a good family day out. 

Busy Buzzy Bees, Bristol Zoo, Wed 23 July, 10am – 3.30pm, £10
Busy Buzzy Bees is a day out for children aged between 8 and 12, where they’ll get to spend the morning bee spotting with Rhian Rowson from Bristol Museum and playing some amazing bee games, before making a bee home for their garden. With everything mapped out for a day taking them from 10am to 3.30pm (almost a full school day), all you need to do is supply the packed lunch.

Bristol International Kite Festival, Ashton Court, 22 – 23 Aug, Free
Another of Bristol’s best large-scale outdoor events, the annual Bristol International Kite Festival often gets overshadowed by the hysteria surrounding the balloon festival. Held this year at Durdham Downs, the event welcomes talent from across the globe.

Your little ones too young for all of this? Check our run-down of Bristol's best baby-friendly hangouts.