4 Best Family Things to Do in Bristol

Having first opened its gates in 1836, Bristol Zoo Gardens is jam-packed with amazing creatures from every corner of the globe. 

Swing by the monkey jungle and come face-to-face with playful spider monkeys, long-tailed macaques, and adorable lemurs. You’ll also gawp at the Asiatic lions, and other popular locals include pygmy hippos, mischievous meerkats, and a rare red panda.

If you’re visiting Bristol with younger children, Jump is an absolute must. It’s a huge, dedicated indoor soft play centre, with themed areas including a space zone, a pirate galleon, and an enchanted castle. 

There’s a host of amazing super-sized inflatables, expansive ball pits, and a giant area especially for toddlers. Parents are welcome to join in and play, but you may prefer to take the opportunity for a breather and enjoy the free magazines and Wi-Fi.

This atmospheric, family-run joint has a great-value kid’s menu, with smaller portions of fresh pizza and pasta dishes served with a soft drink and a scoop of delicious Italian ice cream for dessert. Parents, meanwhile, can gorge themselves on decadent dishes like fillet steak with pate and rich Madeira sauce.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Britain was the world’s first major ocean liner, making its maiden transatlantic voyage back in 1845. Visitors of all ages will love the time warp feel as they stroll the decks, poke around the luxurious first-class cabins, and take a fish-eye view of the world’s oldest iron hull. 

The adjacent Dockyard Museum tells the amazing story of the ship through a fascinating collection of paintings, photos, artefacts, and archive film.