Bristol is one of those cities that may be overlooked when travelling with children- but in actual fact it’s one of the most child friendly cities in the UK. There is so much to do for both younger and older children alike, with an abundance of cafes, eateries, attractions and fun days out both in the city and in the immediate area. Plus Bristol is one of the most colourful cities we have stayed in- it’s definitely worth a trip if you haven’t been before.

There are so many things you can do with kids in Bristol, but here are our Top 5….

number-one  Go To At-Bristol.  At-Bristol is an amazing attraction that you could easily spend the whole day in.  In a nutshell, it’s an interactive science and discovery centre, where exploring and education go hand in hand. There are a large number of interactive experiments which both older and younger children will love- we especially liked ‘milking’ a cow, making giant bubbles and learning about magnets.  There is also the UK’s first 3D Planetarium opening in April 2015.

Staring in wonder at one of the interactive experiments at At-Bristol.

number-two  Take a visit to see the animals at Bristol Zoo.  We were pleasantly surprised at the sheer amount to do at Bristol Zoo- we didn’t realise just quite the range of animals and things there would be to do and enjoy before we went.  The zoo is the 5th oldest zoo in the world and has enough to do to keep children occupied all day- we especially liked the gorilla house and the flamingos.  There is also a great outdoor playground and cafe as well, plus it’s a large open space that’s great to run around in.

number-three  Take a trip over the Clifton Suspension Bridge.  The Bridge quite simply is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city- it opened in 1864 and links Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset.  Not only is it an impressive sight and a perfect photo opportunity, it also is great fun for children and adults alike to drive over.  Pay £1 each way and drive across and take in the beautiful views.  While you are there stop off in Clifton village- a cute little suburb bursting with independent shops, coffee shops and cafes.  Try and spot the pastel coloured rows of houses- another wonderful photo moment.

Beautiful views at the Clifton Suspension Bridge view point.

number-four  Simply wander around the city and have a spot of lunch.  Bristol is such a vibrant and multi-cultural city- with a fabulous mixture of independent stores, large department stores and the new Cabot Circus- which has a great range of chain eateries.  We definitely recommend just having a wander around the city- why not go and check out the street art in the artsy and diverse Stokes Croft area of the city, or go and chill out in one of the cities many parks and open spaces.  We went for lunch at Bordeaux Quay– a restaurant right on the harbour side (and next to At-Bristol) that is also a deli, cookery school and bakery all under one roof.  Exceptionally child friendly and the food was delicious!

Checking out the colourful street art in the Stokes Croft area of the city.

number-five  Marvel at the underwater world at Bristol Aquarium.  Being right on the harbour side, Bristol is definitely the place to have an aquarium, and the one in the city is certainly not a disappointment.  It’s home to over 4000 species of aquatic creatures- including jellyfish, sting ray, sea horses and piranhas.

These are just some of the great things you can do with kids in Bristol, but there really are so many more.  We absolutely loved the city and will definitely be going back again soon.  For more tourist info check out Visit Bristol.

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5 things to do in Bristol with kids

Bottom image of Bristol: Shutterstock