SATURDAY 10th OCTOBER
Train Rides: Bristol Harbour Railway
When: 11am-5pm
Where: Rides from M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, BS1 4RN
Tickets: Single £3.50 / Return £5
Take a steam train ride on Bristol Harbour Railway from M Shed. The train will be pulled by the locomotive Henbury.
Our two Bristol-built steam locomotives, Henbury and Portbury, served their working lives on the docks railway system at Avonmouth. The wagons are types once commonly seen on the docks at Avonmouth and here in the old City Docks.
Buy tickets on the day from the ticket office by the M Shed platform.
Mini-Museum Hunt! 50 Years of Aardman
When: 10am-5pm
Where: Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Queens Rd, BS8 1RL
Cost: Free, donations welcome
A free family-fun trail around Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.
To celebrate the main exhibition at M Shed, here at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery we have tiny treasures from the beloved animation studio hidden around the museum for you to discover.
Families and curious explorers of all ages can pick up a free detective map from Bristol Museum & Art Gallery to help them track down and tick off all the secret treasures.
Drop-in, no booking needed.
Clifton Suspension Bridge Weekend Tour
When: 2-3pm
Where: Meet your volunteer guide at the Clifton Toll Booth (Bristol side of the Bridge)
Cost: Free with a suggested £5 donation to support the Clifton Suspension Bridge Charitable Trust
A free family-friendly walk covering the history, construction, and maintenance by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
No advance booking needed – simply show up and meet the guide wearing the high-vis jacket by the toll booth.
We Are Family Workshop: Arnolfini
When: 11am-6pm
Where: 16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA
Cost: Free
The rather marvellous Stiling’s Workshop created Arnolfini’s Arnold Art Cart for families and everyone to use for free while visiting.
Arnolfini’s fabulous Makers in Residence, Let’s Make Art ensure it is kept topped up with a range of creative materials and exhibition-inspired activities. There are also table top easels to use too.
Available Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm on the second floor at Arnolfini.
SUNDAY 11th OCTOBER
Train Rides: Bristol Harbour Railway
When: 11am-5pm
Where: Rides from M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, BS1 4RN
Tickets: Single £3.50 / Return £5
Take a steam train ride on Bristol Harbour Railway from M Shed. The train will be pulled by the locomotive Henbury.
Our two Bristol-built steam locomotives, Henbury and Portbury, served their working lives on the docks railway system at Avonmouth. The wagons are types once commonly seen on the docks at Avonmouth and here in the old City Docks.
Buy tickets on the day from the ticket office by the M Shed platform.
Mini-Museum Hunt! 50 Years of Aardman
When: 10am-5pm
Where: Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Queens Rd, BS8 1RL
Cost: Free, donations welcome
A free family-fun trail around Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.
To celebrate the main exhibition at M Shed, here at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery we have tiny treasures from the beloved animation studio hidden around the museum for you to discover.
Families and curious explorers of all ages can pick up a free detective map from Bristol Museum & Art Gallery to help them track down and tick off all the secret treasures.
Drop-in, no booking needed.
Clifton Suspension Bridge Weekend Tour
When: 2-3pm
Where: Meet your volunteer guide at the Clifton Toll Booth (Bristol side of the Bridge)
Cost: Free with a suggested £5 donation to support the Clifton Suspension Bridge Charitable Trust
A free family-friendly walk covering the history, construction, and maintenance by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
No advance booking needed – simply show up and meet the guide wearing the high-vis jacket by the toll booth.
We Are Family Workshop: Arnolfini
When: 11am-6pm
Where: 16 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA
Cost: Free
The rather marvellous Stiling’s Workshop created Arnolfini’s Arnold Art Cart for families and everyone to use for free while visiting.
Arnolfini’s fabulous Makers in Residence, Let’s Make Art ensure it is kept topped up with a range of creative materials and exhibition-inspired activities. There are also table top easels to use too.
Available Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm on the second floor at Arnolfini.
MONDAY 12th OCTOBER
Toddler Takeover: M Shed
When: 10am-2pm
Where: M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, BS1 4RN
Cost: Combined ticket for one adult & one child: £8 / Additional child ticket: £4
A relaxed day at the museum, specially designed for under 4s, where we’ll celebrate all forms of transport. Whether your little one loves trains, planes or bikes, there will be something for everyone. This is a family session where children and adults can have fun, learn and get creative together:
- Enjoy full access to M Shed on a day when the museum is normally closed
- Take part in transport-themed games and craft activities
- Join an interactive story time with musical instruments and puppets
- Your ticket includes access to all the permanent displays at M Shed
Craft activities available as part of your visit are drop-in on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure a safe and high-quality experience, we will ask people to return later if the session becomes too busy.
Please note that M Shed café and shop will not be open for Toddler Takeover. You are welcome to bring your own picnic as there will be a space available for families to eat.
SUNDAY 18th OCTOBER
Miniature Train Rides: Ashton Court Railway
When: 12-5pm
Where: Access railway by car via Clifton Lodge Gatehouse on the A369
Tickets: Available from the ticket office at £1.75 per ride or five rides for £7.50 (cash and card accepted)
Miniature steam and electric train rides for all ages.
Run by BSMEE, there are regular public running days from spring – autumn.
Sow and Soup Volunteer Saturdays: Hillfields Park
When: 11am – 1pm
Where: Thicket Ave, Hillfields, BS16 4EP
Cost: Free
Supported gardening activities (no experience needed), children’s nature activities (all ages), provided soup and drinks (donations welcome).
This group is part of the campaign A Million Acts of Hope. We’ll be planting lots of new plants ready for the summer!
SATURDAY 24th OCTOBER
Train Rides: Bristol Harbour Railway
When: 11am-5pm
Where: Rides from M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, BS1 4RN
Tickets: Single £3.50 / Return £5
Take a steam train ride on Bristol Harbour Railway from M Shed. The train will be pulled by the locomotive Henbury.
Our two Bristol-built steam locomotives, Henbury and Portbury, served their working lives on the docks railway system at Avonmouth. The wagons are types once commonly seen on the docks at Avonmouth and here in the old City Docks.
Buy tickets on the day from the ticket office by the M Shed platform.
SUNDAY 25th OCTOBER
Miniature Train Rides: Ashton Court Railway
When: 12-5pm
Where: Access railway by car via Clifton Lodge Gatehouse on the A369
Tickets: Available from the ticket office at £1.75 per ride or five rides for £7.50 (cash and card accepted)
Miniature steam and electric train rides for all ages.
Run by BSMEE, there are regular public running days from spring – autumn.
Train Rides: Bristol Harbour Railway
When: 11am-5pm
Where: Rides from M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, BS1 4RN
Tickets: Single £3.50 / Return £5
Take a steam train ride on Bristol Harbour Railway from M Shed. The train will be pulled by the locomotive Henbury.
Our two Bristol-built steam locomotives, Henbury and Portbury, served their working lives on the docks railway system at Avonmouth. The wagons are types once commonly seen on the docks at Avonmouth and here in the old City Docks.
Buy tickets on the day from the ticket office by the M Shed platform.
TUESDAY 27th OCTOBER
Freshwater Lab: Mundy Playing Fields, Thornbury
When: 11.30am-2pm
Where: Mundy Playing Fields (by the former splashpad)
Cost: Free
Dive into the hidden world of freshwater! 
What tiny creatures are living in our streams? And what can we do to help protect them? Come along to our Freshwater Lab at Mundy Playing Fields this half-term and find out!
Join Thornbury Town Council and the Linking the Levels project for a fun, hands-on session exploring the fascinating world beneath the surface. 
You can:
Discover the tiny animals that call our freshwater habitats home
Find out how we can all help care for our streams and ponds
Have a go at some watery-themed nature crafts and activities Find out how you can become a Water Guardian or River Detective
Hear more about the work of the Town Council’s Climate and Nature Committee Get an update on plans for a new natural water play facility at the Mundy Playing Fields
Biodiversity Officer Sally Pattison will be there to share some of the wonders of the underwater world and answer your questions.
No booking needed – and it’s completely FREE! Just drop in at the Thornbury Town Council gazebo.
SATURDAY 31st OCTOBER
Train Rides: Bristol Harbour Railway
When: 11am-5pm
Where: Rides from M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, BS1 4RN
Tickets: Single £3.50 / Return £5
Take a steam train ride on Bristol Harbour Railway from M Shed. The train will be pulled by the locomotive Henbury.
Our two Bristol-built steam locomotives, Henbury and Portbury, served their working lives on the docks railway system at Avonmouth. The wagons are types once commonly seen on the docks at Avonmouth and here in the old City Docks.
Buy tickets on the day from the ticket office by the M Shed platform.
SUNDAY 1st NOVEMBER
Train Rides: Bristol Harbour Railway
When: 11am-5pm
Where: Rides from M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, BS1 4RN
Tickets: Single £3.50 / Return £5
Take a steam train ride on Bristol Harbour Railway from M Shed. The train will be pulled by the locomotive Henbury.
Our two Bristol-built steam locomotives, Henbury and Portbury, served their working lives on the docks railway system at Avonmouth. The wagons are types once commonly seen on the docks at Avonmouth and here in the old City Docks.
Buy tickets on the day from the ticket office by the M Shed platform.
SATURDAY 14th NOVEMBER
Sow and Seed Volunteer Saturdays: Hillfields Park
When: 11am-1pm
Hillfields Park Community Centre, Thicket Ave, BS16 4EH
Cost: Free
Supported gardening activities (no experience needed), children’s nature activities (all ages), provided soup and drinks (donations welcome).
This group is part of the campaign, ‘A Million Acts of Hope’. We’ll be planting lots of new plants ready for the summer!
