Straddling the River Avon in southwest England, Bristol has earned a world-spanning reputation for its progressive culture and outstanding maritime heritage. But bars, restaurants, and art galleries aside, there’s no shortage of family-friendly activities here, many of which are ideal for those rainy-day visits.

So, where should you head to when the rain clouds gather? Here’s our complete guide on things to do in Bristol for families when it’s raining.

Bristol Aquarium

Where else to start than Bristol Aquarium? Sure, we may be biased, but for our money, this is the best family attraction in Bristol for wet weather days – or any day for that matter!

Fully covered and brimming with colourful marine animals, Bristol Aquarium is sure to delight the little ones, helping them forget all about the drizzly conditions outdoors. And with seven unique exhibits to explore, there’s certainly plenty to keep you all occupied, no matter how long the showers last.

From the Sunken Shipwreck to the Bay of Rays, each zone of Bristol Aquarium is designed to mimic habitats found in our seas and oceans, all while showcasing the incredible animals that live there. Expect to see everything from the smooth-hound shark to the Atlantic wreckfish, before paying a visit to the Learning Lab to get up close to the aquarium’s cute-as-a-button nursery displays.

Tickets to Bristol Aquarium are available to book in advance on our website and it is possible to pay on the door if you’ve experienced a sudden downfall! If rain is forecast during your visit to Bristol and you’re keen to visit the aquarium, we’d strongly advise you to prebook, as lots of people may have the same idea.

Bristol Hippodrome

If you’re looking to stay clear of the bad weather for a good few hours, heading to the theatre for a mid-afternoon matinee is always a great option. And it just so happens that Bristol is home to one of the largest and most successful theatres outside of London – the irreplaceable, irresistible Hippodrome.

Opening its doors in 1912, the Bristol Hippodrome instantly became one of the largest theatres with one of the largest stages in the country. Since then, it’s earned a reputation for its award-winning stage shows and musicals, many of which come straight from London’s West End to the affectionately named “Bristol West End Theatre”.

Recent big-name shows to grace the boards of the Hippodrome include The Lion King, The Mousetrap, Shrek the Musical, and Annie, with tickets still available throughout 2023. There are, of course, plenty of child-friendly matinee showings too – ideal if you need to keep the kids occupied when the weather has taken a turn for the worse.

Check out the official Bristol Hippodrome website for further information and to book your tickets.

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

If you’ve done Bristol Aquarium and are keen to keep the engaging, kid-friendly fun coming, the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery should be next on your rainy-day hitlist. Located in the heart of the city, this expansive visitor centre offers a huge array of exciting exhibits, many of which are interactive – enough to keep even the most restless of young daytrippers busy.

Remarkably, Bristol Museum features over 20 unique gallery spaces, each packed to the rafters with incredible objects and exhibits. While younger visitors may not find every gallery as exciting as the last, there is still enough here to occupy families for hours on end.

Young dino enthusiasts are well catered for here, with the ferocious and frankly terrifying “Sea Dragons” exhibit offering a snapshot of what might have been found swimming off Bristol’s shores millions of years ago.

Elsewhere, a dedicated exhibit for under-fives called Curious offers a perfect blend of performance, games, and interaction, while the Egyptology collection is ideal if the kids are currently covering the Pharaohs in school.

The Georgian House Museum

Immersive visitor attractions like Bristol’s The Georgian House Museum are always a huge hit with children, so we’d definitely recommend a visit whether it’s raining or not. This impressive site offers a life-like look at what a Bristolian manor house looked like in the 18th century, with a collection of expertly preserved and recreated rooms to explore.

Downton Abbey fan? The Georgian House Museum may have a familiar feel. Because while it can’t match the grandeur of Highclere Castle – Downtown’s original filming location – it has the same upstairs, downstairs feel. Visitors can tour the house’s grand upper chambers which were once home to Bristol’s well-heeled gentry, before descending to the lower levels where the cooks, cleaners, and chambermaids spent much of their time.

The Georgian House Museum has 11 explorable rooms in total, spread over four floors in their original configuration. Families can enjoy wandering from room to room imagining what life was like all those years ago, with special exhibits that tell the story of some of the house’s former and at times infamous inhabitants. This includes John Pinney, the original owner of The Georgian Museum, who made his fortune as a sugar merchant and slave owner.

M Shed

One of our favourite family attractions in Bristol – aside from our aquarium, of course – has to be M Shed. This charming museum tells the story of Bristol from its earliest origins right up to the present day, with a wonderful collection of interactive exhibits for families to enjoy. And best of all? Much of it is under cover – ideal for those rainy afternoons that can make city breaks tricky for those with young’uns in tow.

M Shed consists of three unique galleries, each shining a light on Bristol’s curious and compelling origins. Your journey begins in the prehistoric period, with a spectacular Thecodontosaurus skeleton to marvel at, before you move through history, learning the story of the city’s proud maritime past.

Of course, the attention spans of younger visitors can wander quickly, so to solve this, M Shed offers up plenty of exhibits that keep the fun and stimulation coming. That includes working cranes, trains, and boats that can all be ridden and explored, moving audio and visual shows, and tons of interactive displays that encourage viewer participation. The result of all this leaves a lasting impression, making M Shed a must-visit destination whatever the weather.

Flying Saucers The Painting Pottery Cafe

Should the rain show no sign of letting up during your family holiday in Bristol, you and the little ones can while away a relaxing and creativity-packed hour or two at Flying Saucers The Painting Pottery Cafe.

This unique visitor centre tells the story of Bristol’s rich pottery-producing past, before encouraging you to get creative with your own wares. Visitors can spend a couple of hours designing and painting their own traditional Bristolian pottery piece, which, once fired by specialists in the cafe’s on-site kiln, is perfectly usable and the ideal souvenir to remember your trip.

No skill, tools or specialist knowledge are required to paint and design your own piece of pottery. The cafe provides everything you’ll need, and the helpful staff are always on hand to help or provide inspiration. There’s no upper or lower age limit on who can get involved in the pottery design, either, so the whole family are welcome to join in and show off their creative side.

Of course, spaces are limited at Flying Saucers, so if it’s something you’re keen to try during your visit to Bristol, it’s worth booking in advance. Pottery painting sessions are available to book in two-hour slots, ideal if the weather’s starting to look a little grim. Visit the official website to learn more.

Whatever the weather, Bristol is a fantastic place to visit for a day, a weekend or even a week, with so much to see and do indoors and out. Keen to add Bristol Aquarium to your travel itinerary? Access up-to-date visitor information about the aquarium and book your tickets.

Learn about some of the features and behaviors that make these creatures so strange, as well as the challenges they face in todays ever threatened marine environment. Filmed in-house around our very own seahorse tanks, with production, editing, and narration all done by one of our Guest Experience Assistants and amateur filmmaker Billy Tonkin.

Piper has been in quarantine for 5 weeks, being trained and getting prepared to enter their new home. Piper, short for Maris Piper, is named to carry on the theme of potatoes! Our other pufferfish’ are called King Edward and Spud.

This month, Piper took the plunge as our Aquarists moved it from the acclimation tank to the Coral Seas tank.

Jennifer Vowles, our brilliant Displays Supervisor said: “Piper is doing really well in its new home! It’s a very cute and curious creature, Piper only took a day to pick up our hoop training so it’s very clever too.

“Piper is a Porcupine Pufferfish, so it has spines on its body. Piper sucks in water to its stomach, and that’s how it inflates. We’re all proud of Piper for settling into their new tank so well.

Click here to watch a previous pufferfish after being hoop trained!

Enjoy a mythical day of fun this February half-term at Bristol Aquarium! Meet our favourite mermaid and hear about her magical ‘tales’ of the sea. Or, prepare to walk the plank with our playful pirate, Captain Cannonball!

Join us and take part in our Flags Ahoy competition, craft treasures mermaids would be delighted by, and complete our mermaid’s purse trail!

You can Meet the Mermaid from the 11th of February to the 19th between 10 am and 3 pm! Our Pirate will be lurking around from the 20th – the 26^th of February between 10 am and 3 pm.

This is all included in the usual admission price and tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the ticket desk.

Bristol Aquarium does not operate on a ticket booking system so you do not need to choose a date for a visit, simply turn up on a date of your choosing. Tickets are valid for redemption for 6 months from the purchase date.

The film follows the story of Johnny and his aircrew from March 1943, on joining a newly formed squadron, for a top-secret, special operation that has the potential to shorten the war in Europe.

Johnny describes the dangerous low-flying training and events leading up to the operational briefing on May 16 1943.

Johnny and his crew finally discover what they are expected to do and are presented with what seems like an impossible task. They are to fly at 100 feet in a four-engine Lancaster bomber at night, over many miles of occupied enemy territory. On reaching the target, they need to drop a new weapon that has never before been tried operationally, with pinpoint accuracy, in a way they had not practiced, and then make their way back home safely. Nothing like this had ever been attempted.

Johnny provides a fascinating insight from an aircrew perspective of what it was like to be a part of one of the most famous RAF’s bombing operations of World War 2, the Dambusters raid.

Our doors open at 6:30 pm and the film and question and answer session runs from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. The main feature (which is an hour long) is followed by a second shorter film (10 minutes) together with Q&A with the Director Andrew Panton and other members of the production team.

Click here to watch the film trailer.

Click here to learn more about the film.

Tickets Available at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/attack-on-sorpe-dam-premiere-george-johnny-johnsons-dambusters-story-tickets-501293180397

Tickets are £25 each. Please note that we have unreserved seating at this event. This cinema is accessible for all, with access for wheelchair users. Please bring along your confirmation email, which will be your ticket for the evening.

The focus of Alicia’s art is marine life. Untamed uses art to explore our oceans – wild, untamed, and unexplored ecosystems, which are increasingly under threat from us. 

The exhibition will showcase around 35 art pieces, primarily exploring marine artivism as well as pieces that showcase the wider natural world.

We caught up with Alicia to ask her a couple of questions about Untamed!

Why did you want to exhibit Untamed at Bristol Aquarium?

In October Chloe, [Chloe O’Dell, Operations Supervisor – Catering and Functions at Bristol Aquarium] and I were chatting about the importance of engaging people with marine life and conservation through art. I mentioned that I had several pieces exploring marine wildlife, and Chloe was excited about the prospect of putting together an exhibition together at the aquarium!

When putting together “Untamed”, I wanted to focus on marine life, but include some pieces from the wider natural world. As I was curating the exhibition off the back of my first solo wildlife art exhibition “Exploring Artivism”, it was important to me that “Untamed” felt like it was building on some of the areas explored previously – namely artivism – as well as introducing new concepts and artworks.

Do you have a favourite piece that is on display at Bristol Aquarium?

That’s such a difficult question! I think all of my pieces have been favourites at some point, and I think whenever I first finish a piece, that artwork automatically becomes my favourite for a while. Having said this, I think I have three pieces which I really love at the Bristol Aquarium:

“Losing their Spot” is one of my most recent pieces – I started drawing cheetahs regularly when producing animations for my short film “The Watchman”; since then I’ve enjoyed exploring cheetahs in my artwork too. I loved painting “Losing their Spot” as I found working on a round canvas really fun, and I enjoyed using bright colours to draw attention to the piece.

I also really love “The Slow Dance”. As it’s such a big piece, consisting of 8 A2 panels, I’d not seen it up before exhibiting it, so it’s been a really special experience finally seeing it come together.

And of course, “When the Whale Sang” has a really special place in my heart, as a pivotal piece which gave me the confidence to delve into artistic science communication and artivism.

‘When the Whale Sang.’ Won the ‘Human Impact’ category in David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the year 2021. Can you tell us what inspired this piece and the message exploring marine life you hope people will take away from it?

“When the Whale Sang” was created in June 2020 using biro – I was doing the British Ecological Society (BES)’s undergraduate summer school, and one of our assignments was to write a blog post communicating a scientific research paper. I decided to do mine on how noise pollution affects cetaceans, as it’s an issue which has always fascinated me; filmmaker Annie Moir create a beautiful short film “A Voice above Nature” which explored this area – she visualised noise pollution in her film, and I thought this was a really different approach!

I knew that I wanted to illustrate my blog post as part of the summer school, and I had recently been exploring the work of Martin Aveling, and was particularly struck by a beautiful artivism piece of his where a tiger turns into a barcode, reflecting the fur trade. So the piece was a combination of inspiration from the BES, Annie, and Mart!

The aim of the piece is to illustrate the effect noise pollution has on cetaceans such as humpback whales. Anthropogenic marine noise pollution affects their communication, meaning they struggle to navigate, find food, avoid predators, and locate potential mates. Noise pollution is caused by everything from fishing practises to military sonar, and it is an issue which is all too often overlooked due to its invisible nature – so I hope that by visualising the noise pollution in a dramatic but beautiful way, it will provoke people to think about this issue, and focus on what we can do to tackle it.

Why did you decide to study Biological Sciences at Oxford university?

I’ve wanted to work in the wildlife film industry since I was about 13, and so I wanted to study Biology, as I thought this would be the best foundation for me to do this. Additionally, I love Biology – specifically zoology, ecology, conservation, and ornithology – so I wanted to study it in-depth at degree level! Studying at Oxford has also always been an aspiration of mine. I liked the collegiate aspect of the university, and the fact the degree encourages and hones your writing skills through essays. I love writing and the arts – so the course at Oxford allowed me to incorporate these skills as much as possible within the science degree.

Studying a Master’s in Wildlife Filmmaking at UWE Bristol, have you been inspired by the nature at Bristol at all?

Absolutely! I used to live in Frenchay, so I was surrounded by wildlife – kingfishers, green woodpeckers, jays, foxes, buzzards, and lots of warblers and smaller bird species! Wildlife and nature can be very therapeutic and relaxing, as well as deeply inspiring. Often, I come back with art and writing ideas after walking in nature. Most notably, my illustrated poetry mini-collections are all inspired by the nature I’ve encountered on my doorstep – be that in Bristol or elsewhere. My most recent collection “Sing for me, your sweet, sweet song” was inspired by the birds I used to hear singing on Frenchay Moor.

Your exhibition ‘Untamed’ explores our ocean and marine life. What do you think the biggest challenge is for creatures of the deep?

There are lots of issues facing our marine and ocean life, and deep-sea species are no exception. Deep sea mining is one of the most prominent threats, causing habitat destruction, pollution, and noise pollution; as well as climate change causing warming waters around the globe. Chemical pollutants and oil spills are hugely damaging to marine life, suffocating reefs and mangroves, and dooming marine life to slow deaths. The biggest challenge faced for all marine life is humans – and our multi-pronged impact on their ecosystems.

Art is a powerful tool that gets important messages across in a creative way. What do you hope to achieve with ‘Untamed’?

I hope that “Untamed” makes people stop and think about our oceans. So often we forget about our seas – but they are our biggest form of carbon storage, home to over 240,000 known species, and over 80% unexplored. We have so much to learn from our wild, untameable ocean – and I hope that “Untamed” reflects this.

You can come to Bristol Aquarium to view ‘Untamed’ until the 10th of February. You do not need to buy a ticket to enter Bristol Aquarium to see Alicia’s artwork.

While Christmas fills many people with joy, it can be a time when the environment is impacted. If we all went out of our way to be more sustainable this Christmas, we can help the planet this holiday season!

Buy Smart, Not Hard

Some gifts will fill a practical need and will have to be bought new. However, there are lots of gifts that you can buy that are thoughtful keepsakes.

You can give more while spending less by giving gifts that are personal and unique. People tend to appreciate anything that shows thoughtfulness. It’s also a nice way to get creative in the run-up to Christmas too!

If your list of people to buy for is feeling like Santa’s ‘Nice’ list, organising a Secret Santa can be helpful! It’s a good way to save time, money, and unnecessary buying! Even though we won’t admit it, there are always a couple of presents we get at Christmas that will be buried in our drawer for years!

Shop Local

Sadly, a lot of gifts in today’s marketplace come from all around the world, and the impact of transportation contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions and global warming. Local craft fairs and artisan shops are a good source for gifts that come without the added costs of transportation. And gifts made locally often have a story that goes with the gift, since the artisan and the origin of the gift are known.

In Bristol, there are many independent shops that can offer thoughtful and sustainable gifts. The Bristol Christmas Markets are a good place to look. The stallholders are independent local traders, and there’s also no better place to get in the Christmas spirit!

Choose gifts made from recycled sources

Many individuals and small businesses have developed great products using recycled materials. Supporting these businesses helps reduce the waste stream while promoting the concept of making the best use of available materials.

Gifts at Bristol Aquarium

Here at Bristol Aquarium, our gift shop has lots of options for you! From fishy stocking fillers to big plushes, our gift shop has it all. Also, you don’t need to buy entry tickets for the aquarium to use the gift shop!

Or if you want to give the gift of Bristol Aquarium, you can now purchase an Annual Membership or a Day Ticket. To find out more, head to our Gift Shop page by clicking here.

The online dating app eharmony has taken a deep dive into the dating lives of Bristolians and has found that people have enjoyed having their first dates mingling with sea life.

On your first date, you can read our signage, listen to our talks, and point out our wonderful creatures.

We are currently running our Bon Voyage summer campaign, so if you’re looking for a break from the sun, dip into our aquarium to see how we have transformed our foyer into a port terminal hub! We’re excited to provide guests with an immersive experience where they can explore the world’s oceans.

You and your date can stamp your passport as you go around our talks and activities. You could even have a little competition between yourselves on who could come up with the best name for our new octopus!

You can also spot some of our residents that have a romantic side! Did you know that clownfish have a love hormone and choose to be exclusive with one partner?

Another romantic creature that you can find in our aquarium are seahorses! Seahorses find a companion that they’ll stay with for life. They’re monogamous creatures, meaning they only mate with one other seahorse for their entire lives.

Seahorses engage in a fascinating display of courtship. The male may spend days swimming tail in tail with a female. This display is believed to help the seahorses synchronize their movements with one another. They may also change colour during their ritual, varying between lighter and darker shades.

Following these rituals, the male begins to display his brood pouch to his partner. In their final display, the two release their hold from the sea grass and float toward the surface while the female deposits her eggs into the male. Then the male becomes pregnant and carries the young through gestation and delivery. Seahorses are the only species where the male gets pregnant, making these interesting creatures even more wonderful!

Throughout the male’s pregnancy, the female returns to the male each day and the two engage in a “morning greeting.” For a couple of minutes, they dance alongside one another to help reaffirm their bond. Once a seahorse has found a mate and made this bond, they usually are then a pair for life.

If you are lucky, on your date you may spot some newly born seahorses at the top of the tank!

Have you been on a date here? If your date has gone swimmingly well, please get in touch and let us know, we would love to hear your story.

Bristol Aquarium is made up of seven themed zones and is home to thousands of aquatic creatures, located on Bristol’s harbourside, right in the heart of the city.

Come and visit us at Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Road, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5TT.

We are open 10am daily (everyday except Christmas Day).

Call 0117 929 8929, or browse our website for more details.

The Zoological team have been busy transforming an unused corner of the Aquarium into the perfect habitat for these smiley looking Salamanders.

Josh Dance, Aquarist at Bristol Aquarium said: “This group of Axolotls are a great addition to Bristol aquarium. They have a unique life history and there are lots of fascinating facts to learn about.”

Axolotls are only found in one lake in the whole world, Lake Xochimilco, on the outskirts of Mexico City. This lake is at risk from pollution and habitat loss due to increasing urbanisation nearby and invasive fish that outcompete them for food and sadly feed on their young.

Sadly, it is thought that there are now less than 1,000 Axolotls in the wild and they are considered ‘Critically Endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

When most salamander species mature into adults they metamorphosise from ‘tadpoles’ into terrestrial land creatures. Axolotls don’t do this! They are obligate neotenes. This means that when they mature into adults they keep their juvenile characteristics.

Axolotls remain fully aquatic their whole life, keeping their fluffy looking external gills and living underwater! Axolotls are usually a brown colour but can also be albino and a few variations in between.

You can find our new Axolotl exhibit on the upper floor next to their amphibian relatives, the poison dart frogs, in our Edge of the Rainforest Zone.

Bristol Aquarium is made up of seven themed zones and is home to thousands of aquatic creatures, located on Bristol’s harbourside, right in the heart of the city.

Come and visit us at Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Road, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5TT.

We are open 10am daily (everyday except Christmas Day).

Call 0117 929 8929, and browse our website or find us on Facebook for details.

Sadly however, during closure the difficult decision was taken by the vet and the Aquarium’s expert Zoological team to put Gloria, the Giant Pacific Octopus to sleep. Gloria had reached the final stage of her natural life cycle; laying eggs and spending her time tending to those eggs, forsaking herself in the process.
Mark Iwachiw, Zoological Manager commented: “The closure has seen our team here at the Aquarium go through lots of ups and downs. The extremely saddening euthanasia of Gloria was the hardest, she has been missed so much by us all since her passing.
“But we have also experienced some really exciting things like re-theming tanks, getting some new species such as the Garden Eels added to our collection and seeing new baby seahorses being born!
“Keeping all the pumps in good working order and maintaining good quality water in all our displays, as usual, has kept us occupied but with all the little extra things we’ve completed we just can’t wait for visitors and members to admire our work!” Mark added.
Bristol Aquarium is open daily 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm) and has full Covid-19 safety measures in place.
Tickets can be purchased online HERE and are valid any one date within 6months from purchase. If you have online tickets purchased during our closure, the ticket validity for these have been extended to one year so you will still be able to use them for your visit.
Any annual members are welcomed to get in touch with our friendly team to discuss your membership on bristoladmin@bristolaquarium.co.uk or simply speak to our team on your first visit back to the aquarium – we can’t wait to welcome you back on an underwater adventure!!