It’s week 3 of the Summer holidays and Bristol doesn’t disappoint with lots of great free (or very cheap) events and activities for kids to enjoy!
The free fun includes Drag Queen Storytelling, the Ashton Court Balloon Fiesta, All About Cats workshops at libraries across Bristol, creative fun at Bristol Museums, pop-up play in the park events and activities at the farm.
There are even shooting stars to see in the sky one night this week!
Here’s this week’s list of free fun and please do also check out my Facebook page for even more ideas and inspiration this week…
MONDAY
Find out about Cats: Bedminster Library
Stories and activities with a cat theme for children.
- 10.30am – 12 noon
- Free
- More details
Find out about Cats: Fishponds Library
Stories and activities with a cat theme for children.
- 2 – 3.30pm
- Free
- More details
A welcoming non-profit community café for parents/carers and young children.
Large play area for children, plus space for babies and crawlers. Reasonably priced drinks, cakes and light lunches.
- Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 10am – 2pm (drop-in)
- Free entry
- Cairns Café, Cairns Road Baptist Church, Westbury Park
- More details
Children’s free Summer Holiday Activities: Westbury-on-Trym Village
Summer Holiday Activity Sheet for children to do. Children must find wonderful knitted toys and creatures hidden in shop windows, on trees and around the village – owls, butterflies, cats, fairies, teddies, caterpillars and more!
- Children’s activity sheet to download and print: WoT 1300 childrens activities
- Free
- More details
TUESDAY
Children’s Storytelling & Crafts: Henleaze Library
Free storytelling and craft activities with Angus Management, animal detective extraodinaire. Ideal for 4-8 years. Drop-in, no need to book.
- 11.30am – 12.30pm
- Free
- Henleaze Library, Northumbria Drive, BS9 4HP
- More details
Kids’ Bike Workshops: Lawrence Weston Community Farm
Children can bring their bikes along to the farm to learn how to mend, adjust and clean them. All ages.
- 2 – 4pm
- Free
- Saltmarsh Dr, BS11 0NJ
Woodland Play: Lawrence Weston Community Farm
With APE Project CIC. An adventure play trail and swing balance scramble in the Water Vole Woodland. Please wear long sleeves/trousers. All ages.
- 2 – 5pm
- Free
- Lawrence Weston Community Farm, Saltmarsh Dri, BS11 0NJ
- More details
Find out about Cats: Hillfields Library
Stories and activities with a cat theme for children.
- 2 – 3.30pm
- Free
- More details
Find out about Cats: Marksbury Road Library
Stories and activities with a cat theme for children.
- 10.30am – 12 noon
- Free
- More details
Meet a Pliosaurus at Bristol Museum
A chance for children and families to dive into Bristol’s Jurassic sea, travel back in time 150 million years and come face to face with a real life 8 metre long Pliosaurus!
Children can touch her skin, listen to her heartbeat and smell her disgusting breath! Ideal for children aged 3 – 11.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
- ‘Pay what you think’ – tickets can be collected from museum’s Box Office on the day
- Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Queens Road, BS8 1RL
- More details
Skeletons: Our Buried Bones at M Shed
An exciting new free exhibition at M Shed Bristol revealing how Bristolians lived thousands of years ago, Skeletons: Our Buried Bones will display six skeletons discovered in Bristol alongside six skeletons from the Museum of London’s 20,000-strong collection, bringing to life stories long hidden beneath the ground.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm
- Pay what you think
- Drop-in
- More details
Children’s free Summer Holiday Activities: Westbury-on-Trym Village
Summer Holiday Activity Sheet for children to do. Children must find wonderful knitted toys and creatures hidden in shop windows, on trees and around the village – owls, butterflies, cats, fairies, teddies, caterpillars and more!
- Children’s activity sheet to download and print: WoT 1300 childrens activities
- Free
- More details
WEDNESDAY
Pop-up Play in the Park: Blaise Castle Estate
Free fun and creative drop-in session for kids aged 3+. Games, activities and crafts. All welcome!
- Two sessions: 10 – 11.30am or 12 – 1.30pm
- Free
- Blaise Castle Estate, Kings Weston Road, Lawrence Weston BS10 7QS
- More details
Join the St Anne’s community for a BIG picnic in the park. Meet other residents, find out about local events and meet local groups. Bring a picnic and something to share if you wish.
- 11.30am – 2.30pm
- St Anne’s Park, BS4
- More details
Animal Story Factory: Blaise Castle House Museum
Create your own animal story with local children’s author Rachel Carter. Invent a character, plan your plot and write an amazing adventure using the gardens and woodlands around Blaise Castle House as an inspiration.
Craft activities will be taking place and refreshments will be served in the amazing Community Gardens which will be open to explore especially for this event.
Ideal for ages 3 – 10.
- 11am – 3pm (drop-in)
- Pay what you think
- More details
Find out about Cats: Bishopsworth Library
Stories and activities with a cat theme for children.
- 11.15am – 12.45pm
- Free
- More details
Find out about Cats: Henbury Library
Stories and activities with a cat theme for children.
- 2 – 3.30pm
- Free
- More details
A welcoming non-profit community café for parents/carers and young children.
Large play area for children, plus space for babies and crawlers. Reasonably priced drinks, cakes and light lunches.
- Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 10am – 2pm (drop-in)
- Free entry
- Cairns Café, Cairns Road Baptist Church, Westbury Park
- More details
Meet a Pliosaurus at Bristol Museum
A chance for children and families to dive into Bristol’s Jurassic sea, travel back in time 150 million years and come face to face with a real life 8 metre long Pliosaurus!
Children can touch her skin, listen to her heartbeat and smell her disgusting breath! Ideal for children aged 3 – 11.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
- ‘Pay what you think’ – tickets can be collected from museum’s Box Office on the day
- Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Queens Road, BS8 1RL
- More details
Skeletons: Our Buried Bones at M Shed
An exciting new free exhibition at M Shed Bristol revealing how Bristolians lived thousands of years ago, Skeletons: Our Buried Bones will display six skeletons discovered in Bristol alongside six skeletons from the Museum of London’s 20,000-strong collection, bringing to life stories long hidden beneath the ground.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm
- Pay what you think
- Drop-in
- More details
Children’s free Summer Holiday Activities: Westbury-on-Trym Village
Summer Holiday Activity Sheet for children to do. Children must find wonderful knitted toys and creatures hidden in shop windows, on trees and around the village – owls, butterflies, cats, fairies, teddies, caterpillars and more!
- Children’s activity sheet to download and print: WoT 1300 childrens activities
- Free
- More details
THURSDAY
Wonderful Windows: Bristol Cathedral
A free drop-in activity morning – all ages welcome. Arts and crafts (ideal for 1 – 11 year olds), a new children’s trail, plus refreshments available at the Cathedral’s café.
- 10am – 12 noon
- Free
- Bristol Cathedral, College Green, BS1
- More details
Traditional Tales from around the World: Bristol Cathedral
Join Chip Colquhoun for an afternoon of fun and engaging stories from all over the world. Puppetry, songs and lots of joining in! Ideal for 5 – 11s.
- 1.30 – 3pm
- £2 per person, under 5s free
- Tickets available on Eventbrite/on door
- Bristol Cathedral, College Green, BS1
- More details
Join the St Anne’s community for a BIG picnic in the park. Meet other residents, find out about local events and meet local groups. Bring a picnic and something to share if you wish.
- 11.30am – 2.30pm
- St Anne’s Park, BS4
- More details
Find out about Cats: Central Library
Stories and activities with a cat theme for children.
- 10.30am – 12 noon
- Free
- More details
Find out about Cats: St Paul’s Library
Stories and activities with a cat theme for children.
- 2 – 3.30pm
- Free
- More details
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2017: Ashton Court Estate
The launch of Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2017, Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons and four days of free family-friendly fun.
There will also be great trade stands, fairground rides and entertainment.
- Free entry
- Ashton Court Estate, Long Ashton, BS41 9JN
- More details
Meet a Pliosaurus at Bristol Museum
A chance for children and families to dive into Bristol’s Jurassic sea, travel back in time 150 million years and come face to face with a real life 8 metre long Pliosaurus!
Children can touch her skin, listen to her heartbeat and smell her disgusting breath! Ideal for children aged 3 – 11.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
- ‘Pay what you think’ – tickets can be collected from museum’s Box Office on the day
- Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Queens Road, BS8 1RL
- More details
Skeletons: Our Buried Bones at M Shed
An exciting new free exhibition at M Shed Bristol revealing how Bristolians lived thousands of years ago, Skeletons: Our Buried Bones will display six skeletons discovered in Bristol alongside six skeletons from the Museum of London’s 20,000-strong collection, bringing to life stories long hidden beneath the ground.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm
- Pay what you think
- Drop-in
- More details
Children’s free Summer Holiday Activities: Westbury-on-Trym Village
Summer Holiday Activity Sheet for children to do. Children must find wonderful knitted toys and creatures hidden in shop windows, on trees and around the village – owls, butterflies, cats, fairies, teddies, caterpillars and more!
- Children’s activity sheet to download and print: WoT 1300 childrens activities
- Free
- More details
FRIDAY
Drag Queen Storytime: Bristol Central Library
Fun storytelling for children.
- Friday 11th August, 11am
- Free
- Bristol Central Library, Deanery Rd, BS1
- More details
Pop-up Play in the Park: Blaise Castle Estate
Free fun and creative drop-in session for kids aged 3+. Games, activities and crafts. All welcome!
- Two sessions: 10 – 11.30am or 12 – 1.30pm
- Free
- Blaise Castle Estate, Kings Weston Road, Lawrence Weston BS10 7QS
- More details
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2017: Ashton Court Estate
Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons and four days of free family-friendly fun. As well as 150 hot air balloons, there will also be great trade stands, fairground rides and entertainment.
- Free entry
- Ashton Court Estate, Long Ashton, BS41 9JN
- More details
Meet a Pliosaurus at Bristol Museum
A chance for children and families to dive into Bristol’s Jurassic sea, travel back in time 150 million years and come face to face with a real life 8 metre long Pliosaurus!
Children can touch her skin, listen to her heartbeat and smell her disgusting breath! Ideal for children aged 3 – 11.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
- ‘Pay what you think’ – tickets can be collected from museum’s Box Office on the day
- Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Queens Road, BS8 1RL
- More details
Skeletons: Our Buried Bones at M Shed
An exciting new free exhibition at M Shed Bristol revealing how Bristolians lived thousands of years ago, Skeletons: Our Buried Bones will display six skeletons discovered in Bristol alongside six skeletons from the Museum of London’s 20,000-strong collection, bringing to life stories long hidden beneath the ground.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm
- Pay what you think
- Drop-in
- More details
A welcoming non-profit community café for parents/carers and young children.
Large play area for children, plus space for babies and crawlers. Reasonably priced drinks, cakes and light lunches.
- Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 10am – 2pm (drop-in)
- Free entry
- Cairns Café, Cairns Road Baptist Church, Westbury Park
- More details
Children’s free Summer Holiday Activities: Westbury-on-Trym Village
Summer Holiday Activity Sheet for children to do. Children must find wonderful knitted toys and creatures hidden in shop windows, on trees and around the village – owls, butterflies, cats, fairies, teddies, caterpillars and more!
- Children’s activity sheet to download and print: WoT 1300 childrens activities
- Free
- More details
SATURDAY
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2017: Ashton Court Estate
Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons and four days of free family-friendly fun. As well as 150 hot air balloons, there will also be great trade stands, fairground rides and entertainment.
- Free entry
- Ashton Court Estate, Long Ashton, BS41 9JN
- More details
Take a steam train ride on Bristol Harbour Railway from M Shed. The train will be pulled by the locomotive Portbury.
- 11am – 4pm (buy tickets on board on the day)
- Single £2 / Return £3 (M Shed to ss Great Britain) / Under 6s travel free
- M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, BS1 4RN
- More details
Meet a Pliosaurus at Bristol Museum
A chance for children and families to dive into Bristol’s Jurassic sea, travel back in time 150 million years and come face to face with a real life 8 metre long Pliosaurus!
Children can touch her skin, listen to her heartbeat and smell her disgusting breath! Ideal for children aged 3 – 11.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
- ‘Pay what you think’ – tickets can be collected from museum’s Box Office on the day
- Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Queens Road, BS8 1RL
- More details
Skeletons: Our Buried Bones at M Shed
An exciting new free exhibition at M Shed Bristol revealing how Bristolians lived thousands of years ago, Skeletons: Our Buried Bones will display six skeletons discovered in Bristol alongside six skeletons from the Museum of London’s 20,000-strong collection, bringing to life stories long hidden beneath the ground.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm
- Pay what you think
- Drop-in
- More details
Children’s free Summer Holiday Activities: Westbury-on-Trym Village
Summer Holiday Activity Sheet for children to do. Children must find wonderful knitted toys and creatures hidden in shop windows, on trees and around the village – owls, butterflies, cats, fairies, teddies, caterpillars and more!
- Children’s activity sheet to download and print: WoT 1300 childrens activities
- Free
- More details
This one’s a late one but just in case the kids have you up in the night, it’s worth looking out of your window as tonight will be the annual Perseid meteor shower!
- 11pm – 5am
- Free!
- More details
SUNDAY
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2017: Ashton Court Estate
The last day of Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2017, Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons and four days of free family-friendly fun.
As well as 150 hot air balloons, there will also be great trade stands, fairground rides and entertainment.
- Free entry
- Ashton Court Estate, Long Ashton, BS41 9JN
- More details
Take a steam train ride on Bristol Harbour Railway from M Shed. The train will be pulled by the locomotive Portbury.
- 11am – 4pm (buy tickets on board on the day)
- Single £2 / Return £3 (M Shed to ss Great Britain) / Under 6s travel free
- M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, BS1 4RN
- More details
Meet a Pliosaurus at Bristol Museum
A chance for children and families to dive into Bristol’s Jurassic sea, travel back in time 150 million years and come face to face with a real life 8 metre long Pliosaurus!
Children can touch her skin, listen to her heartbeat and smell her disgusting breath! Ideal for children aged 3 – 11.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
- ‘Pay what you think’ – tickets can be collected from museum’s Box Office on the day
- Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Queens Road, BS8 1RL
- More details
Skeletons: Our Buried Bones at M Shed
An exciting new free exhibition at M Shed Bristol revealing how Bristolians lived thousands of years ago, Skeletons: Our Buried Bones will display six skeletons discovered in Bristol alongside six skeletons from the Museum of London’s 20,000-strong collection, bringing to life stories long hidden beneath the ground.
- Open Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm
- Pay what you think
- Drop-in
- More details
Children’s free Summer Holiday Activities: Westbury-on-Trym Village
Summer Holiday Activity Sheet for children to do. Children must find wonderful knitted toys and creatures hidden in shop windows, on trees and around the village – owls, butterflies, cats, fairies, teddies, caterpillars and more!
- Children’s activity sheet to download and print: WoT 1300 childrens activities
- Free
- More details
Bristol Mum 