Museums are powerful and essential spaces. They help us learn about and from our past, they inspire future generations, they bring people together, and they show us what’s possible. At CrossCountry, we’re exploring the museums of Bristol, gateways to ancient history, cutting-edge science, and trailblazing art.
Join us as we discover the best museums in Bristol to learn about the city and the world around us.
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Discover ancient Egyptian mummies, long extinct wildlife, and a range of moving art pieces from throughout history. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery is free to visit, making it a fun and affordable family activity. With curiosities spread across three floors, the museum promises hours of intrigue and education.
Bristol Museum also hosts exciting events, including tours that focus on interesting and insightful angles – like exploring women’s stories or delving into the ethics of the modern museum. Throughout Pride Month 2025, the museum also held special exhibitions, celebrating past Pride festivals in Bristol and spotlighting important conversations around gender identity and sexuality.
The bus ride from Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery takes roughly fifteen minutes. Alternatively, you can cycle there in thirteen minutes. If you’re planning to take your bike on the train, be sure to check our guidance on taking bikes on our trains.
We The Curious
We The Curious is a unique museum that celebrates the beauty and importance of a little curiosity. Through hands-on activities and outside-the-box thinking, your children can better understand the wonders and oddities of the world around us. Stand amongst the planets, play around with green screens, become invisible, and see a digital representation of your own soul – all in the space of a day!
We The Curious is an inclusive and accessible space for all, with level floors, lift access, and plenty of space for wheelchairs. They also have a quiet room and ear defenders available for when the noise and lights get too much.
We The Curious is a twenty-minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads. Alternatively, hop on a bus and be there in under ten minutes.
M Shed
M Shed can be found on Bristol’s harbourside, marking a fascinating journey into the city's social history. Once a transit shed used to store food for the Bristol Steam Navigation Company, M Shed has transformed into a focal point for conservation. Travel back to prehistory and through World Wars and culture wars, unearth buried treasures, and discover the musical, artistic, and technological gems of Bristol.
There are historical spectacles to be seen outside M Shed, too. Four electric cranes from the 1950s, two steam locomotives, and a steam crane used to lift assault landing craft during WW2, all offer a glimpse into industrial memory. To reach M Shed from Bristol Temple Meads, it’s a twenty-two-minute walk.
Aerospace Bristol
Aerospace Bristol is a fantastic activity to enjoy with kids and curious adults alike. The museum is made up of four large hangars filled with historically significant aircraft, including Concorde. Your visit does a world of good for the Bristol Aero Collection Trust, who work hard to conserve Bristol’s air history and to innovate science and technology-based skills and training.
One of the most exciting things to try at Aerospace Bristol is the Red Arrow Simulator, giving you the chance to experience the thrill of being a pilot. Additionally, be sure to head to the Flightline Kitchen & Bar to meet Beagle 3, a gigantic, extra-terrestrial Gromit, an astonishing space-age sculpture designed by Tim Sutcliffe.
To reach Aerospace Bristol by public transport, take a CrossCountry train from Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway. From there, several local bus routes will bring you closer to the museum. However, you should expect a fifteen to twenty-minute walk from the nearest bus stop to the entrance.
Spike Island
Spike Island was founded in the 1970s by a group of artists in a bid to acquire affordable studio space. Years later, Spike Island remains a home to creatives, working hard to achieve their vision of ‘positioning art as central to society.’ It’s an internationally respected space for contemporary art, design, and freedom of thought. Visitors can enjoy dynamic exhibitions, performances, and talks, as well as glimpse artists at work in the open studios.
You can easily include Spike Island in an artsy and educational day trip to Bristol, as it’s a short walk from M Shed. Alternatively, catch a bus from Temple Meads and get ready to explore the arts scene of Bristol in around ten minutes.
Brunel’s SS Great Britain
Brunel’s SS Great Britain was originally launched in 1843 as the world’s first great ocean liner. Today, sitting atop a glass plate that helps her stay dry and safe from corrosion, the ship is one of the best museums to visit in Bristol.
Not only can you venture under the glass plate, or 'glass sea', to see the underside of the ship, but visitors can also explore the top deck, the steerage, the galley, and the bakery - stepping back into a time when long voyages across the globe were novel.
Arnolfini
Arnolfini is another jewel along the Bristol waterways. Make your way to the Narrow Quay and stop for a moment to take in the sheer size of the old iron foundry and tea warehouse transformed into an international centre for contemporary art and expression.
Go inside and you’ll discover a plethora of intriguing exhibits to ponder and enjoy. They also show a range of artistic films, music, and theatre performances throughout the year.
Arnolfini works closely with the community to uplift and educate, regularly welcoming schools and local organisations. There are also lots of family-oriented spaces, like the Reading Room with its calming view and comfy bean bags.
You can get to Arnolfini with a scenic ten-minute walk along the water from M Shed or by catching a bus from Temple Meads in under fifteen minutes.
Kings Weston Roman Villa
Kings Weston Roman Villa is an astonishing insight into our past, and something you could stumble upon unwittingly while walking the dog. The villa, now just a memory of a lost empire, is the only example of a Roman bathhouse in Bristol, complete with mosaic floors and a heating system.
It was discovered in 1947 within the Lawrence Weston housing estate. Coins uncovered at the site helped archaeologists deduce it was occupied around the time of the late Roman empire – roughly 1600 years ago!
The villa is tucked away in Lawrence Weston, north-west Bristol, so it’s best reached by bus from the city centre. From Temple Meads, allow around forty minutes in total.
If you’re planning to explore Bristol’s museums and galleries, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.
Info
At the time of publishing, all information given is correct. Details of events, businesses, and locations included may be subject to change by third parties. Please make sure to check any details with organisers before you travel.
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