The 13 Best Museums in Bristol

Bristol is a really amazing place to visit because there is so much to do and see when you are there. This is the right city to head to for incredible street food, fun things to do with your kids, and free stuff to do! Whether you have come to the city through Bristol Airport, or you have come to the area after visiting another part of the UK, you will feel at home as soon as you arrive.

The first thing that you need to do before you head out to find the best museums in Bristol is make sure that your luggage is safe and secure. Placing your bags in secure storage in Bristol will eliminate a lot of stress and worry, and you will be free to go see some art galleries, an aviation history museum, or the Blaise Castle House Museum.

If you are ready to learn more about the best museums in Bristol, you need to read on!

Red Lodge Museum

This country home turned museum is a little gem is hiding in Bristol. There is a small knot garden here as well as the house itself, and you will love the Tudor-style interior as well as the full restoration of the house. This is a great choice if you love all things Tudor, and the grounds and the location are so peaceful that you can view this stop as a good tranquil reset on a busy day.

This is a small location, so you will only need an hour or two to see everything here at this little spot.

The Georgian House Museum

This Bristol museum is a former sugar plantation that has been converted into a museum. The Georgian architecture is lovely, and this site is a good place to go to learn about slavery and plantation life. This location offers an exhibit to life below stairs, which is one of the interactive exhibits that are on the property. Learning about life from the perspective of a servant is really important to the discussion of history, and this museum covers all of these bases.

Victorian and Georgian period art and history are represented here perfectly, and you will love the peace and quiet of this location as well. This is a substantial property, and there is a lot to learn about here, but the trip is well worth it for history buffs.

Aerospace Bristol

This location in North Bristol offers you access to all kinds of aviation history. The last Concorde ever to fly is here, and there are many other planes and artifacts related to the history of flight to enjoy here. There are also some fascinating science exhibits. Even if the history of flight is not your favorite historical topic, this is a delightful museum for all ages.

We The Curious

There are so many exhibits to enjoy here, and most of them are interactive exhibits. There are loads of great things to do with small children here as well as temporary exhibitions that come and go seasonally. Come here to play, learn, and have fun with your kids. This is even a great museum location for grown-ups who love science and want to check out the planetarium or enjoy some of the science exhibitions that are perfect for adults. Click here for more of the best things to do with kids in Bristol

Spike Island

This little-known art gallery and museum space is tucked away in Bristol, away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown area. There is so much art to see here, and most of it is contemporary. Many of the exhibits here are changed out frequently so that new artists can be displayed, and you will love the wide array of art to be enjoyed here. This is a really special art location that is well worth a visit during your time in Bristol. It's also a great place to try some of the best street food in Bristol

RWA

The Royal West of England Academy is a lovely art gallery that is located near the Victoria Room fountains. This is a charming little spot that houses a small gallery space in a really incredible building. The exhibits here rotate and are always themed on a specific artist. This is one of the more niche and special art galleries in the city that you can enjoy access to. Many people report that they learn about artists they never knew about before when they visit this spot. This is a really unique and memorable art gallery location that you should put on your list of things to do when you are planning a trip to this city.

At-Bristol

This awe-inspiring Natural History Museum is a must-see if you are in Bristol for a visit. The neat dome-shaped building houses exhibits about natural science, history, and art. Science and technology have their own unique exhibits here, and you can learn about all kinds of topics when you visit. This is a large museum that offers something for everyone, and it is not an expensive place to visit either. You can easily spend most of an afternoon here, so plan to have a little time open in your schedule to tour this museum location.

Blaise Castle House Museum

This art gallery is located in a romantic little mansion that has been perfectly preserved. This Bristol museum offers access to art and the portrait gallery, as well as a lovely outdoor space that you can enjoy. This spot is also close to the Kings Weston Roman Villa, so you can combine these sightseeing trips when you visit this spot.

Kings Weston Roman Villa

This is the site of the only remaining Roman bath in Bristol, and this museum is dedicated to Roman history of all kinds. This is an ancient monument that offers you a small window into the times that came before, and you will want to make sure that you schedule some time to take a look at this spot. It is easy to forget that there were Romans in this area for many years, but the Roman Villa will remind you of this fact and make it seem real and present.

The Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

This art gallery and museum offers access to Egyptian and Assyrian art as well as works by the masters. This is one of the best art galleries in the UK, and you will be able to enjoy a rotating list of temporary exhibits here as well as permanent ones. There is contemporary art here as well as statuary and artifacts for your viewing pleasure. When you visit during the Day of the Dead Festival, there are special exhibits for this holiday that are very worth seeing. Plus, since it doesn't charge admission, it's one of the best free things to do in Bristol.

M Shed

Located near the Harbour, this interesting spot offers you information and artifacts about the history of this city. From ancient history to the present day, there are videos and interactive exhibitions in this location that will show you where Bristol came from and where it is going. Just like Aerospace Bristol, this spot will delight history buffs who want to know the whys and wherefores of the Bristol experience.

SS Great Britain

This museum lets you visit a historic sailing ship and take a tour, and then you can use the same ticket to head over to two separate additional museum spaces. You will be able to tour the ship itself, then head over to the Dockyard Museum, and the new Being Brunel Museums. This is a museum space that is all about the maritime history of the city, and being able to enjoy access to such an old ship that has been completely restored is really special. Bring your kids here who love pirates, or take the person in your life that loves old sailing vessels for a fun day.

Arnolfini

This site used to be a warehouse, and now it houses temporary art exhibits and hosts live performances of various kinds. This is a great place to head to if you love historical sites as well as the arts. There is also a bookstore and a few other permanent shops in the space that are worth checking out as well. This is one of the more niche experiences that you can have in the city, but it's a lot of fun.

What are the best free museums in Bristol?

The Red Lodge Museum, the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, and The Georgian House museums in Bristol are all free. These are three of the best things to do and see when you visit this city and the fact that they are free is a big benefit. You will get to learn a lot about the Bristol area and its history here while also feeling swept away into another time.

For history buffs, these three spots are some of the best museums in Bristol, and being able to see them for free is a special gift. M Shed and the Blaise Castle House Museum are also free, so you can see most of the main museums in Bristol without spending a dime.

Which are the best museums in Downtown Bristol?

The Georgian House Museum is located in downtown Bristol, and so is The Ken Stradling Collection and the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Most of the best museums in the city are not far from the city center, so you really won't have to travel far to take in all the best museums and art galleries the city has to offer.

The dockside locations that you might want to visit, such as M Shed, are not far from downtown, so even if these other neat places are not right in the center of the city, they are a short ride away. You can easily use public transportation to hop around to all the museums that are located within the city. The location of the best museums near the city does not have a lot of bearing on whether or not it's easy to go visit them all.

Are there any cheap museums in Bristol?

Most of the museums in Bristol are free, and the ones that do not have free entry are usually really reasonably priced. Brunel's SS Great Britain charges a ticket fee, but you get access to three museums with your ticket. The science museums and the Aerospace Bristol locations still charge for tickets, but they are quite reasonably priced, and you get so much for your money.

You will not break the bank when you decide to tour museum locations in this city. This is a really nice benefit to visiting this spot for your enjoyment of historical sites and places.

Bristol Offers Access to Affordable Museums and Galleries

If you are going to be visiting Bristol and you have been worried about saving money, you will be able to have a great time visiting the museums and galleries here. There are so many free historic sites here as well as free and affordable museums that you can have a great time in this city on a limited budget. Even if you are not worried about spending a little money taking in the sights, there are so many really affordable ways to learn about Bristol that you will be surprised.

There are museums here about Bristol itself as well as ancient Roman baths and art and cultural centers that will give you access to artifacts from Egypt and all around the world. If you love science or the history of flight, there are museum locations that will tickle your fancy as well. There is so much to love about Bristol, and the museum culture is one of the best parts of a visit to this city.

Make sure that you put your luggage into safe storage when you arrive so that you can free up your hands to tour these amazing museums and exhibitions during your stay!