Entertaining children can sometimes be pricey, especially if you have more than one child. However, often the best places to visit are free and this is certainly the case in and around Bristol. 

Here, Bristol24/7 puts the spotlight on 10 great places in Bristol to visit with kids – all of which are completely free. And don’t let any rainy or brisk winter days put you off from venturing out of the house; our list includes plenty of indoor as well as outdoor attractions that promise a fun trip for both you and your children. 

1. Leigh Woods
A wonderful place to take kids to discover and enjoy nature throughout the seasons, Leigh Woods is especially lovely in the autumn with its carpet of leaves of red, gold and yellow. A designated nature reserve which is open every day of the year from dawn until dusk, Leigh Woods boasts fantastic views across Bristol, a natural play area with balance beams, logs and swings and different paths to explore depending on the age and stage of your children. Leigh Woods offers an ideal opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city for a while. 

2. Ashton Court Estate
A great place to take your kids on finer days, Ashton Court Estate boasts spectacular views, scenery and nature in all its beauty within the estate’s 850 acres of grassland and woods. Kids can enjoy fresh air, deer spotting, great climbing trees and playing in the woods. Paths are pushchair friendly and there is also a natural play area which your kids will love, plus a Courtyard Café to stop for some refreshments. Ashton Court Estate is open daily from 8am throughout the year.

3. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
Kids will love exploring Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and discovering the marvellous items and objects that it houses. Kids can enjoy learning about dinosaurs, animals, paintings, Egyptians and much more! Situated on Queen’s Road in Clifton, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery is open every day of the week. On the ground floor of the museum sits ‘Curiosity’, a mini museum for children under seven years, which includes interactive activities and ‘exhibits’ which kids will love. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery is open Monday to Friday 10am-5pm and 10am-6pm at weekends and bank holidays.

4. Arnolfini
An international gallery and arts centre on Bristol’s Harbour, Arnolfini is a great place to take kids to learn about contemporary art and to explore creative ideas. Arnolfini staff are especially welcoming to families so a visit here will be worth it. Aside from regular exhibitions, Arnolfini also offers a free family film screening, plus free art craft activities for kids on the last Saturday of every month. It is open Tuesday to Sunday and bank holiday Mondays from 11am-6pm. Check out Arnolfini’s autumn family activities, here. 

5. Clifton Suspension Bridge
Offering beautiful views of the Avon Gorge, the Suspension Bridge is open at all times and has been used and enjoyed by children and adults alike for nearly 150 years. What’s more, the visitor centre on the Leigh Woods side offers children even more fun. Kids can enjoy free drawing activities, a giant puzzle of the the bridge, plus a Clifton Suspension Bridge penny souvenir machine which crunches pennies into coins with a picture of Brunel. 

6. Bristol Cathedral
A cathedral might not be the first place to visit with kids which springs to mind, but actually Bristol Cathedral promises to be an entertaining visit for kids as well as a visit with a difference. Bristol Cathedral is a grade 1 listed building and with its fantastic high ceilings, echoey open space, courtyard garden and interesting architecture, kids will have a great time exploring. There is also the reasonably priced Café 1542 to stop by for some refreshments. If you fancy visiting, Bristol Cathedral is open Monday to Friday from 8am-5pm and 8am-3.15pm at weekends.

7. Blaise Castle Estate
Blaise Castle comprises of 650 acres of parkland with woods, museum, castle and a great kids play area with specific areas for younger and older children. There are a variety of tracks to choose from depending on the challenge and length of the walk that you want, and your children will love den building, concocting mud pies, playing hide and seek, hopping over streams and the great outdoors at its best. Blaise Castle Estate is open daily throughout the year from 7.30am. 

8. Durdham Downs
On finer days, the Downs is a wonderful place for kids to roam to explore. With its acres of green space, it is ideal for kids to learn about the changes that each season brings to the great outdoors and is also a great place to come for a spot of conker hunting in the autumn. There are stunning views from the Sea Walls, a children’s playground near Sion Hill, plus a good café next to the Water Tower to stop by to enjoy a drink and a snack while visiting.

9. Bristol Central Library
Bristol Central Library on College Green includes a light, bright and interesting children’s library. As well as a vast collection of books, DVDs and comics, the children’s library also has a pirate ship for kids to sail and offers regular free weekly activities for babies and young children and a reading group for kids aged eight to 10. Bristol Central Library is open every day of the week so do pop in and enjoy a visit.

10. M Shed
Children will be fascinated by Bristol’s historic harbour with its boats of all sizes, statues, old railway tracks, buildings and all of the sights and sounds that it offers. While there, make sure that you visit M Shed, a museum all about Bristol and all the events, places and people that make it what it is today. Kids will enjoy interactive activities, boarding the old double decker bus, discovering the bomb shelter, meeting Bristol’s very own dinosaur and so much more. M Shed is open Tuesday to Sunday and is an absolute must-see.