Family learning events and activities

Discover and learn about our collections the fun way.  Why not take part in a family activity exploring a theme inspired by our galleries and temporary exhibitions. Our programme of activities help engage children with our collections, making the most out of your visit.

All the activities are free and run on a drop-in basis unless otherwise stated.

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Don’t miss out on our upcoming events. Sign up to our free email bulletin for your essential guide to keeping the kids entertained, including events and exhibitions, special offers and promotions in our café and shop.

Send ‘Sign up’ to family.fun@bristol.gov.uk.

Activities and events at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

Archaeology Discovery Days
Once a month on Thursdays
17 May, 14 June, 19 July, 16 August
10.30am to 1pm
Visit the Curiosity Gallery on a Discovery Day and join in with activities inspired by the archaeology and world cultures collections:

• Handle real museum objects with our friendly discovery volunteers
• Take a 'behind the scenes' tour with a curator. Tours are informal and last about 40 minutes. Suitable for children aged 7+. Please book on the day at the discovery handling table.
• Bring your archaeological finds, medals and ethnographic objects for museum staff to identify.

Leonardo Discovery Cart
31 March to 10 June, 10am to 5pm
Free drop in, independant family activity. Ages 7+. Look out for the Leonardo Discovery Cart in the museum's Rear Hall. Select from a wide variety of drawing materials and activities to take you on an exploration of the exhibition and the wider museum collections.

Explore and Draw with Leonardo
Thursday 7 June (Half-term)
10am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 4pm.
Make your own sketchbook with artist, Julie Roberts, and then fill it with drawings inspired by Leonardo da Vinci and the museum's collections. Suitable for ages 7 and above. For enquiries please call the museum information desk on 0117 922 3571 or email general.museum@bristol.gov.uk

Activities and events at M Shed

Big Jubilee Party
Saturday 2 June 11am to 4pm
Museum Square, M Shed (see reception if wet weather).
Come to M Shed’s street party to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Bring a picnic lunch and join in the fun with family activities, a fancy dress competition, singing workshops, lots of bunting and entertainment from the Bristol Chamber Choir.

The Big Make
Sunday 17 June
10am to 1pm and 2 to 4pm
Let your imagination run riot and create fantastic sculpture from reclaimed materials, with Refab Arts, to celebrate M Shed’s first birthday.

Be a Sport
Sunday 3 June to Sunday 10 June
Museum Square, M Shed
M Shed’s Square will be transformed into a space for you to recreate some of Bristol's greatest sporting moments. Come and play!

Trains, cranes and boats
Get lifted up in a crane, explore the harbour in the world’s oldest steam tug, or climb aboard the steam train. Rides on M Shed’s largest exhibits taek place at weekends throughout the spring and summer. Visit M Shed website for details. Buy tickets on board on the day.

What else is on at Bristol's Museums?

There’s lots more going on at our museums, view our full listing of museum events.

Many of our activities take place at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery or M Shed. We do occasionally run family activities at our other museums and historic houses, keep an eye out for these on the website and through the email bulletin.