Looking for family-friendly events in Bristol this summer?
From stepping back in time at historical re-enactments and archaeology adventures to enjoying horse festivals, miniature train rides, puppet shows, free craft sessions and outdoor family fun, I’ve rounded up some of the best things to do with kids across Bristol and the surrounding area during the 2026 summer holidays.
Whether you’re looking for free activities, days out or something a little different, there’s plenty to keep children of all ages entertained!
🌞 July
🎸 Read to the Beat
📅 Friday 24 July
🕙 10.30am–12pm
📍 St Mary’s Centre, 8 Quaker Lane, Thornbury, BS35 2AD
💷 FREE
Kick off the summer holidays with a morning of music, stories and creativity at St Mary’s Centre in Thornbury.
Children can take part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, enjoy arts and crafts, listen to story time and watch a lively K-Pop dance performance.
A fantastic free event for younger children and families.
🏺 Bristol’s Brilliant Archaeology
📅 Saturday 25 July
🕙 11am–4pm
📍 Blaise Castle Estate, Henbury Road, BS10 7QS
💷 FREE (donations welcome)
Discover Bristol’s fascinating past with a family day packed full of archaeology-themed activities.
Young explorers can enjoy mini excavations, Iron Age coin hammering, weaving, pot making, face painting and hands-on demonstrations while meeting archaeologists, re-enactors and local heritage organisations.
Perfect for children with curious minds.
🐴 Horse Fest 2026
📅 Saturday 25 July
🕙 10.30am–4pm
📍 HorseWorld, Keynes Farm, BS14 0QL
💷 Adults £8 | Under 16s FREE with a paying adult
🚗 Free parking
HorseWorld’s popular annual Open Day returns with a fantastic family programme.
Meet the rescue horses, enjoy demonstrations, browse stalls, tuck into food and drink, have a go at the Hobby Horse Gymkhana and discover more about the charity’s incredible work.
Please note: dogs are not permitted, except assistance dogs.
🚌 Bristol Bus Show
📅 Sunday 26 July
🕙 10am–4pm
📍 Brislington Park & Ride
💷 FREE
If you have a little one who loves buses, this is a brilliant free family day out.
Climb aboard beautifully restored buses, enjoy free heritage bus rides, browse bus-themed stalls and enjoy refreshments throughout the day.
A free feeder bus will also run from Bristol City Centre and the Park & Ride.
🎻 Little Folk Music
📅 Monday 27 July
🕜 1.30pm
📍 Wick Road Library
💷 FREE
Join Tidal Tales Collective for a beautifully crafted folk music performance designed especially for children and families.
This gentle, interactive musical adventure features traditional songs from around the world and is sure to spark young imaginations.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
🏛️ Visit the Villa for the Festival of Archaeology
📅 Wednesday 29 July
🕙 10am–2pm
📍 Kings Weston Roman Villa, Blaise Estate, Henbury Road, BS10 7QS
💷 FREE
Step back nearly 2,000 years and discover life in Roman Britain.
Families can explore the remains of a genuine Roman villa, complete with mosaic floors, underfloor heating and a bath suite, before enjoying archaeological activities including mini excavations, dressing up, crafts and family trails.
A brilliant day for budding historians.
🧺 Picnic in the Park
📅 Thursday 30 July
🕙 11am–3pm
📍 Blaise Castle Estate
💷 FREE
Pack up a picnic, bring a blanket and enjoy a relaxed summer day with Extraordinary Links.
Children can play outdoors while families meet others in a welcoming and inclusive environment. There will be games, plenty of space to explore and the opportunity to visit Blaise Museum while you’re there.
Designed especially for disabled children, young people and their families, but everyone can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.
🌿 Fun and Feel Good Family Event
📅 Friday 31 July
🕙 10am–2pm
📍 Hartcliffe City Farm, Lampton Avenue, BS13 0QH
💷 FREE
Enjoy a fun-filled family day at Hartcliffe City Farm with children’s activities, the chance to meet the farm animals and plenty of wellbeing advice for adults.
Families can also take advantage of free health checks and enjoy a delicious complimentary lunch.
A lovely way to round off the month while spending time outdoors together.
☀️ August
🍔 Grills, Tails & Ales
📅 Saturday 1 August
🕙 1pm–4pm
📍 The Wellington Pub, Gloucester Road, Horfield, BS7 8UR
💷 £10 (includes a drink on arrival)
Enjoy a relaxed afternoon of fundraising, delicious food and family fun in support of Bristol A.R.C.
The Wellington will be serving a BBQ menu, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to support the charity, and dogs are welcome too. Every ticket sold helps care for rescue animals.
🚂 Miniature Train Rides
📅 Sunday 2 August
🕙 12pm–5pm
📍 Ashton Court Railway
💷 £1.75 per ride or five rides for £7.50
Hop aboard one of Ashton Court’s much-loved miniature steam and electric trains.
Suitable for all ages, it’s a classic Bristol family day out that’s always popular during the summer holidays.
🏛️ Summer Family Fun
📅 Tuesday 4 August
🕙 11am–3pm
📍 Georgian House Museum, 7 Great George Street, Bristol
💷 FREE
Step back in time with a fun-filled family session at the Georgian House Museum.
Children can enjoy hands-on activities, trails and crafts while discovering what life was like in Georgian Bristol.
A lovely mix of history and creativity for primary-aged children.
🎉 Playday 2026
📅 Wednesday 5 August
🕚 11am–3pm
📍 Horfield Common (BS6), Redcatch Community Garden (BS4) and Eastville Park (BS5)
💷 FREE
Celebrate Playday 2026, the UK’s national day for play, with a fantastic programme of free family activities taking place across three Bristol parks.
Children can enjoy arts and crafts, build a giant cardboard city, try circus skills, take part in games, music, cricket and much more.
This year’s theme, ‘Play – Here, There and Everywhere’, celebrates the importance of giving children opportunities to play wherever they are.
Bring a picnic, drop in anytime between 11am and 3pm, and enjoy a fun-filled day for the whole family.
♻️ Recycling-themed Messy Church
📅 Thursday 6 August
🕙 10.30am–12.30pm
📍 Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church, 46 Westbury Hill, BS9 3AA
💷 FREE
Bring the whole family along for a morning of creative crafts, messy play, songs, worship and lunch together.
This special summer session explores caring for God’s creation through fun activities suitable for all ages.
Booking is recommended.
🎨 Crafty Cathedral – Mythical Beasts and Beings
📅 Thursday 6 August
🕙 10am–12pm
📍 Bristol Cathedral, College Green
💷 FREE
Crafty Cathedral returns with four free family craft mornings throughout August.
This week’s theme is Mythical Beasts and Beings, inviting children to create imaginative crafts inspired by the Cathedral’s fascinating history and architecture.
No booking required—simply drop in.
🧸 Scrapstore Fun at M Shed
📅 Friday 7 August
🕙 11am–3pm
📍 M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road
💷 FREE
Get creative with Scrapstore and transform recycled materials into amazing works of art.
Perfect for children who love making, building and getting imaginative while learning about reusing everyday materials.
👗 All Dressed Up!
📅 Thursday 13 August
🕙 11am–3pm
📍 Blaise Museum, Henbury Road, BS10 7QS
💷 FREE
Have fun trying on replica historic costumes and discover how people dressed through the centuries.
Families can explore Blaise Museum while taking part in this interactive dress-up experience.
Ideal for children who enjoy history and imaginative play.
⚔️ Crafty Cathedral – Knights and Monks
📅 Thursday 13 August
🕙 10am–12pm
📍 Bristol Cathedral, College Green
💷 FREE
Travel back in time to discover the lives of medieval knights and monks through fun family craft activities.
Drop in at any time during the morning and enjoy creating together.
🎉 Hartcliffe Community Fun Day
📅 Thursday 13 August
🕙 11am–3pm
📍 Hartcliffe Community Centre
💷 FREE
Enjoy a fantastic community celebration with family entertainment, children’s activities, games, stalls and plenty of opportunities to meet local organisations.
A great free day out for families living in south Bristol.
🌍 Mini Worlds
📅 Friday 14 August
🕙 11am–3pm
📍 M Shed
💷 FREE
Let your imagination run wild as you build your own miniature worlds using a variety of creative materials.
This fun hands-on workshop encourages children to invent tiny landscapes, characters and stories.
Perfect for budding artists and creators.
✈️ Model Plane Flying Experience
📅 Friday 14 August
🕙 10am–1pm or 2pm–5pm
📍 Woodspring Wings Model Aircraft Club, near Yatton
💷 £10 per participant
Young aviation enthusiasts aged 8–16 can build their own rubber-powered plane, try flight simulators and even fly a model aircraft with the help of experienced club members.
Booking is essential and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
🛡️ Wardlaw’s Dragoons
📅 Saturday 15 August
🕙 11am–4pm
📍 Red Lodge Museum, Park Row, Bristol
💷 FREE
Step into the world of the English Civil War as Wardlaw’s Dragoons bring history to life at Red Lodge Museum.
Meet soldiers in period costume, discover historic weapons and equipment, and learn what life was like during the seventeenth century through interactive displays and demonstrations.
A fascinating day out for families with curious young historians.
🎨 Summer Family Fun at Red Lodge Museum
📅 Sunday 16 August
🕙 11am–3pm
📍 Red Lodge Museum, Park Row, Bristol
💷 FREE
Get creative with a selection of family-friendly crafts and activities inspired by the beautiful Red Lodge Museum.
Children can explore one of Bristol’s hidden historic gems while enjoying hands-on fun throughout the day.
☀️ August (continued)
🌿 Crafty Cathedral – Creation Spotter Trail
📅 Thursday 20 August
🕙 10am–12pm
📍 Bristol Cathedral, College Green
💷 FREE
Discover the natural world hidden within Bristol Cathedral during this week’s Creation Spotter Trail.
Families can enjoy fun crafts while exploring the Cathedral’s fascinating carvings, architecture and wildlife-inspired details.
No booking is required – simply drop in.
👗 All Dressed Up!
📅 Thursday 20 August
🕙 11am–3pm
📍 Blaise Museum, Henbury Road, BS10 7QS
💷 FREE
Try on replica costumes from different periods in history and discover how fashion has changed through the centuries.
A fun, interactive museum experience where children can dress up, explore the museum and imagine life in years gone by.
🏛️ Summer Family Fun
📅 Friday 21 August
🕙 11am–3pm
📍 Georgian House Museum, 7 Great George Street, Bristol
💷 FREE
Explore one of Bristol’s hidden historic treasures with a family-friendly day of crafts, trails and hands-on activities.
A wonderful opportunity to discover what life was like in Georgian Bristol while enjoying creative fun together.
📖 Marvellous Magical Stories with Marcus Fagon
📅 Tuesday 25 August
🕙 11am & 1pm
📍 Georgian House Museum, Bristol
💷 FREE
Award-winning storyteller Marcus Fagon brings magical tales to life in this enchanting storytelling session.
Perfect for younger children and families, expect plenty of imagination, laughter and audience participation in the beautiful surroundings of the Georgian House Museum.
⛵ Craft Picnic
📅 Wednesday 26 August
🕙 10.30am–12pm
📍 Pill Community Centre, Pill
💷 FREE
Pack a picnic and enjoy a relaxing morning of crafts and creativity with other local families.
Children can get stuck into fun art activities while enjoying the fresh air and making new friends.
A lovely community event for all ages.
🎨 Crafty Cathedral – Cathedral Art
📅 Thursday 27 August
🕙 10am–12pm
📍 Bristol Cathedral, College Green
💷 FREE
Round off the Crafty Cathedral summer series by taking inspiration from Bristol Cathedral’s stunning architecture and stained glass.
Families can create their own artwork before exploring one of Bristol’s most iconic buildings.
Everyone is welcome and no booking is needed.
👗 All Dressed Up!
📅 Thursday 27 August
🕙 11am–3pm
📍 Blaise Museum, Henbury Road, BS10 7QS
💷 FREE
Another chance to step into history by trying on replica costumes and discovering how people dressed throughout the centuries.
A brilliant family activity alongside a visit to Blaise Museum and Blaise Castle Estate.
🎨 Summer Family Fun at Red Lodge Museum
📅 Saturday 29 August
🕙 11am–3pm
📍 Red Lodge Museum, Park Row, Bristol
💷 FREE
Enjoy another day of family-friendly crafts and activities inspired by the fascinating history of Red Lodge Museum.
A great opportunity to combine creative fun with exploring one of Bristol’s oldest surviving Tudor houses.
🏺 Festival of Archaeology at Kings Weston Roman Villa
📅 Saturday 29 August
🕙 10am–2pm
📍 Kings Weston Roman Villa, Blaise Estate, Henbury Road, BS10 7QS
💷 FREE
Celebrate the Festival of Archaeology with a visit to one of Bristol’s best-preserved Roman sites.
Children can enjoy archaeology-themed activities, mini excavations, crafts and family trails while learning how Romans lived nearly 2,000 years ago.
Ideal for young history enthusiasts.
🚂 Miniature Train Rides
📅 Sunday 30 August
🕙 12pm–5pm
📍 Ashton Court Railway
💷 £1.75 per ride or five rides for £7.50
Round off the bank holiday weekend with a ride on Ashton Court’s popular miniature railway.
Miniature steam and electric trains provide fun for children and adults alike.
🚂 Miniature Train Rides
📅 Monday 31 August
🕙 12pm–5pm
📍 Ashton Court Railway
💷 £1.75 per ride or five rides for £7.50
Celebrate the final day of the summer holidays with one last ride on Ashton Court’s miniature railway.
A lovely family tradition and the perfect way to round off the school break.
Looking for more family events?
New events are being added all the time, so don’t forget to check my What’s On page for even more family-friendly activities taking place across Bristol throughout the summer holidays.
Bristol Mum 