Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th September 2026
Looking for something to do with the kids this weekend? There are lots of fun happening around Bristol including circus fun, arty activities, steam train rides, face painting, Roman history, and a walk across one of Bristol’s most famous landmarks!
Here are some of the best family-friendly events taking place around the city this Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September.
SATURDAY 26th SEPTEMBER
🌉 Clifton Suspension Bridge Weekend Tour
2pm–3pm | Clifton Suspension Bridge | FREE
Fancy finding out more about one of Bristol’s most famous landmarks? Join a volunteer guide for a free family-friendly walking tour of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
The tour covers the fascinating history, construction and ongoing maintenance of the bridge, including the work of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
There’s no need to book – simply turn up at the Clifton Toll Booth on the Bristol side of the bridge and look out for the guide wearing a high-vis jacket.
📍 Where: Clifton Toll Booth, Bristol side of the bridge
💷 Cost: Free, with a suggested £5 donation to support the Clifton Suspension Bridge Charitable Trust
Find out more about the Clifton Suspension Bridge Weekend Tour →
🎪 Circus Fun at St Paul’s Church
10am–3pm | St Paul’s Church, Portland Square | FREE
Roll up for a day of circus skills, music and creative fun at St Paul’s Church!
Children and young people can have a go at aerial hoop, trapeze, juggling and tightwire during the Youth Circus Have-a-Go sessions. There will also be African drumming and dance workshops with Rubba.
The activities are designed particularly for children aged 5–12, although everyone is welcome.
It’s a great opportunity for children to try something a little different – and it’s all free.
📍 Where: St Paul’s Church, Portland Square, BS2 8SJ
💷 Cost: Free
Find out more about Circus Fun →
🎉 September Fun Day at Hengrove Community Centre
12.30pm–3pm | Hengrove Community Centre | FREE entry
There’s a full afternoon of family fun at Hengrove Community Centre this Saturday, with games, activities, face painting, ice cream, live entertainment and community stalls.
There’ll also be a children’s tombola, special guests, street food and a raffle raising funds for the BS14 Foodbank Outlet, with prizes including tickets for Wake The Tiger, Mendip Activity Centre and Court Farm Country Park.
📍 Where: Fortfield Road, BS14 9NX
💷 Cost: Free entry
Find out more about the September Fun Day →
🏛️ Step Back in Time at Kings Weston Roman Villa
10am–2pm | Kings Weston Roman Villa, Blaise | FREE
Discover a little piece of Roman Bristol at Kings Weston Roman Villa, where families can explore the remains of a real Roman villa right on Bristol’s doorstep.
See the original mosaic floors, underfloor heating system and bath suite, and find out what life was like for the people who lived here nearly 2,000 years ago.
It’s part of the Festival of Archaeology, making this a lovely option for curious children who enjoy history, exploring and getting hands-on with the past.
📍 Where: Henbury Road, BS10 7QS
💷 Cost: Free
Find out more about Kings Weston Roman Villa →
🧩 Mini-Museum Hunt: 50 Years of Aardman
10am–5pm | Bristol Museum & Art Gallery | FREE
Aardman fans can take part in a free little treasure hunt around Bristol Museum & Art Gallery this weekend.
To celebrate 50 years of the much-loved Bristol animation studio, tiny Aardman treasures have been hidden around the museum for families to discover.
Pick up a free detective map and see how many you can track down. It’s a lovely way to add a little extra fun to a museum visit – and suitable for curious explorers of all ages.
📍 Where: Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Queens Road, BS8 1RL
💷 Cost: Free, donations welcome
📌 Booking: No booking needed
Find out more about the Mini-Museum Hunt →
🎨 Get Creative at Arnolfini’s Arnold Art Cart
11am–6pm | Arnolfini, Narrow Quay | FREE
If you’re heading down to the Harbourside, pop into Arnolfini and let the children get creative.
The Arnold Art Cart is stocked with free creative materials and exhibition-inspired activities, with tabletop easels available too. It’s been created for families and visitors of all ages and is a great little addition to a trip around the Harbourside.
📍 Where: Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA
💷 Cost: Free
Find out more about Arnold Art Cart →
🚂 All Aboard the Bristol Harbour Railway
11am–5pm | M Shed | £3.50 single / £5 return
For something that isn’t free but is sure to appeal to little train fans, hop aboard the Bristol Harbour Railway.
The steam train runs from M Shed along the harbourside, pulled by the locomotive Henbury. Both Henbury and her sister locomotive Portbury were built in Bristol and once worked on the docks railway system at Avonmouth.
Tickets can be bought on the day from the ticket office by the M Shed platform.
📍 Where: M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road, BS1 4RN
🎟️ Tickets: £3.50 single / £5 return
Find out more about Bristol Harbour Railway →
⛪ Come and See! Open Morning at Cotham Parish Church
10am–12.30pm | Cotham Parish Church | FREE
Cotham Parish Church is opening its doors this Saturday for a friendly community open morning.
Pop in for refreshments, displays about the history of Cotham, information from local community groups and some bunting making.
Everyone is welcome, making this a nice opportunity to discover a little more about the local area and meet some of the community groups based around Cotham.
📍 Where: Cotham Road, BS6 6DR
💷 Cost: Free
Find out more about the Cotham Open Morning →
SUNDAY 27th SEPTEMBER
🧩 Mini-Museum Hunt: 50 Years of Aardman
10am–5pm | Bristol Museum & Art Gallery | FREE
The Aardman mini-museum hunt continues on Sunday, with tiny treasures hidden around Bristol Museum & Art Gallery for families to find.
Pick up your detective map and see if you can track them all down!
📍 Where: Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Queens Road, BS8 1RL
💷 Cost: Free, donations welcome
📌 Booking: No booking needed
🎨 Get Creative at Arnolfini
11am–6pm | Arnolfini | FREE
The Arnold Art Cart will be available again on Sunday, with free art materials and exhibition-inspired activities for families and visitors of all ages.
It’s a handy option if you’re looking for something creative to do around the Harbourside without spending anything.
📍 Where: Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA
💷 Cost: Free
🚂 Bristol Harbour Railway
11am–5pm | M Shed | £3.50 single / £5 return
The steam train will be running again on Sunday, giving families the chance to take a ride along Bristol’s historic harbour.
The train is pulled by Henbury, one of two Bristol-built steam locomotives that once worked on the docks railway at Avonmouth.
📍 Where: M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road, BS1 4RN
🎟️ Tickets: £3.50 single / £5 return
🌉 Clifton Suspension Bridge Weekend Tour
2pm–3pm | Clifton Suspension Bridge | FREE
Finish the weekend with a stroll across one of Bristol’s most iconic landmarks and learn more about its history on this free guided tour.
The volunteer-led walk covers the bridge’s history, construction and maintenance, with plenty to discover about Brunel and this remarkable piece of Bristol engineering.
No advance booking needed.
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Please do see the Bristol Mum What’s On page for lots more upcoming events and activities for kids!
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