You shouldn’t ever be stuck for things to do in Bristol. Not even if you’ve run out of money. Be it gigs or galleries, there’s culture all over the city – especially at these brilliant Bristol museums. Many are actually free museums, but those where you have to pay won’t leave you feeling short-changed. You can learn all about Bristol – from the transatlantic slave trade to supersonic airliners – and so much more. So next time you’re a bit bored, low on funds, or trying to escape the rain, remember the best museums in Bristol.
1. M Shed
M Shed is dedicated to everything Bristol, particularly the people who shaped the city into what it is today. You’ll learn about everything from Bristol’s very own dinosaur, Thecodontosaurus, to the city’s links with the transatlantic slave trade. Plus, topics like music, art, industry and technology. Situated in Wapping Wharf, you’re not far from a plethora of the coolest shops, bars and restaurants either – though these will cost money.
M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, Bristol BS1 4RN
2. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
By far one of the best museums in Bristol. For exploring thousands, if not billions, of years worth of art, nature and history in Bristol, look no further than Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Across three floors of free exhibitions, discover Egyptian mummies, explore the wetlands of the southwest, meet extinct wildlife from the UK and soak up stunning collections of British and European art. It’s also home to Banksy’s iconic Paint Pot Angel!
Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1RL
3. Brunel’s SS Great Britain
Everyone’s heard of Brunel, but what do you know about his great ship? The ‘world’s first great ocean liner’, SS Great Britain, sailed around the world 32 times and travelled more than 1,000,000 miles at sea. Technically two museums, you’ll learn about the life and legacy of Britain’s greatest engineer at Being Brunel; the great ship itself at the Dockyard Museum; before boarding – where the SS Great Britain is brought back to life with the sights, sounds and smells of the past. Make sure to Go Aloft! and climb the rigging over 25 metres above ground level, too! An annual adult ticket starts at £22, while for a child, it costs £13.50, which can be purchased here.
SS Great Britain, Great Western Dockyard, Gas Ferry Rd, Bristol BS1 6TY
4. Aerospace Bristol
Did you know one of the initial prototypes of the Concorde was built by the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) in Filton? The first UK-built Concorde flew from Filton to RAF Fairford on April 9, 1969, while the supersonic airliner’s final flight landed in Filton again in 2003. You’d know this, of course, if you’ve visited Aerospace Bristol – where Concorde Alpha Foxtrot now sits on display.
It’s not all Concorde-related, however, with the aerospace museum covering over 100 years of aviation history. With a collection of 8,000 artefacts, there are several other Bristol-built aircraft too – including a Bristol Scout, a Bristol Fighter and a Bristol Bolingbroke, and the Canadian-built version of the Bristol Blenheim bomber. Tickets cost £19.50 for an adult and £12 for a child, which you can purchase here.
Aerospace Bristol, Hayes Way, Patchway, Bristol, BS34 5BZ
5. We The Curious
It’s been closed a long time, but We The Curious will reopen this July 2024. The return of Bristol’s science centre sees two floors of more than 200 interactive exhibits and plenty of shows in its 3D Planetarium – plus, a new programme of ‘impossible’ activities. To learn more about We The Curious’s reopening head here.
We The Curious, 1 Millennium Square, One Millennium Square, Anchor Rd, Bristol BS1 5DB
6. Blaise Castle House Museum and Estate
Blaise Castle is most famous for being mentioned in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. With a trip to this magnificent folly castle, surrounded by 400 acres of parkland, you’ll understand why it captured the author’s imagination. At the free museum, you can learn how people lived through time – what they wore, the toys they played with and how they managed their household chores. The woodlands are equally worth exploring too.
Blaise Castle House Museum and Estate, Henbury Rd, Henbury, Bristol BS10 7QS
7. Clifton Suspension Bridge Museum
No trip to Bristol is complete without seeing the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge. You can learn all about Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s first bridge at the volunteer-run museum – like its unique construction, how suspension bridges actually work, and how the bridge is maintained today. You may also want to check out its Hard Hat Tours too.
Clifton Suspension Bridge Museum, Bridge Rd, Leigh Woods, Bristol BS8 3PA
8. Palestine Museum and Cultural Centre
Founded in 2013, the Palestine Museum and Cultural Centre provides a permanent exhibition of Palestinian heritage, culture and daily life. Inside, you’ll find a historical account of Palestine; a display of artefacts, photographs, and paintings; a reference library full of books, journals and DVDs; as well as several Palestinian fair-trade products for sale.
Palestine Museum and Cultural Centre, 27 Broad St, Bristol BS1 2HG
9. The Red Lodge Museum
The name of this place always reminds us of Twin Peaks, but the free museum has nothing to do with the David Lynch classic. So what does lie behind the red door? The Red Lodge is a historic Elizabethan house, originally a lodge to the Great House, where Queen Elizabeth I once stayed. It has taken on many forms across its 400-year history, however, and you’ll marvel as you wind through its Tudor origins to its role as a Victorian girls’ reform school. Make sure to visit just for the Great Oak Room, often considered one of the finest rooms in the West Country.
The Red Lodge Museum, Park Row, West End, Bristol, BS1 5LJ
10. Underfall Yard
Underfall Yard is a historic working boatyard that’s been in Bristol since 1809. On top of an ever-changing landscape of boats, the free-to-visit Visitor Centre tells the fascinating story of Bristol’s Floating Harbour. Here, the Human Accumulator explains hydraulic power in just 2 minutes by using you to act as 80 tonnes of scrap metal; magnet-operated games show how the water levels are maintained; and you can use a giant map of the harbour to locate yourself. Plus, so much more, including the Underfall Cafe with views of the harbour.
Underfall Yard, Cumberland Rd, Bristol BS1 6XG
11. Oakham Treasures
The passion project of a 5th generation West Country farmer, Keith Sherrell began collecting farm machinery in the 60’s, before turning his attention to retail. Now, Oakham Treasures is one of the largest privately owned museums of retail and farming history in the UK. Inside this museum, you’ll find a variety of old high street items, from grocery stores, haberdasherys, hardware stores, chemists, tobacconists, off licences, and sweet shops. Oakham Treasures is a trip down memory lane like no other in Bristol.
Oakham Treasures, Oakham Farm, Portbury Ln, Portbury, Bristol BS20 7SP
12. Sea Mills 100
We had to include this because it’s so cute! Sea Mills 100 is a heritage project for the Sea Mills estate in Bristol, housed in a red telephone box. The mini-museum is a celebration of the ‘Sea Mills Garden Suburb’, which is part of a wider heritage trail. You can even see inside of it from the comfort of your home here.
Sea Mills Telephone Box Museum, Shirehampton Rd, St Edyth’s Rd, Bristol BS9 2DY
13. Georgian House Museum
Bristol’s relationship with the transatlantic slave trade hasn’t always been heavily scrutinised, but the city is getting better at acknowledging its role in this horrific historical moment. At the Georgian House Museum, you can discover what a Bristol sugar plantation and slave owner’s home might have looked like around 1790. Across eleven rooms, spread over four floors, you can see every aspect of life, from the basement kitchen to the formal rooms – with a more recent installation giving a voice to the unheard enslaved.
The Georgian House Museum, 7 Great George St, Bristol BS1 5RR
14. George Müller Museum
During the Victorian era, George Müller cared for 10,000 orphaned children in Bristol. He also led churches, travelled the world as a missionary, spoke to American presidents, taught the Bible, and raised over £1,500,000 (about £100m in today’s prices). You can learn all about his incredible life at this free museum in Bristol.
George Müller Museum, 45-47, The Lofthouse, College Rd, Ashley Down, Bristol BS7 9FG