Explore the Best Museums in Bristol

Bristol has an urban personality that’s vibrant, creative, diverse, and a little quirky.

This city is known for its iconic suspension bridge, Banksy’s political street art, and its role in the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests – which makes the slate of museums to discover across the southwest’s largest city an intriguing one. Once a major trading port and shipbuilding city, Bristol still largely revolves around its harbor. However, today, the dockside warehouses and offices have been repurposed into exciting waterfront attractions and art galleries.

From historic ships to wealthy merchants’ houses, many museums explore the city’s unique – and at times controversial – history, while others tap into this innovative town’s quirkier side. Here are some of the best museums in Bristol to explore.

M Shed: The Best Museum for Local History

If you only visit one museum in Bristol, make it this one. Housed within a 1950s cargo shed at the heart of the buzzing Harbourside district, M Shed brings Bristol’s social and industrial history to life.

Like the city itself, this museum is colorful, cool, and eclectic. The wonderfully muddled collection features artifacts like a medieval doorway sharing space with a Banksy piece, with stories and quotes from real-life Bristolians woven throughout.

Several thought-provoking exhibits illuminate ongoing debates. One particularly well-told display examines Bristol’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and the legacies of this appalling industry, while another delves into the city’s modern-day protest culture.

Feel the City’s Creative Spirit at Bristol’s Best Art Galleries

Bristol’s oldest art gallery, the Royal West of England Academy (RWA), houses over 1200 works of art from the 19th century to the present day. This striking Grade II–listed building pairs nicely with a visit to the neighboring Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.

Moreover, for contemporary art, head to the redeveloped Harbourside district. Arnolfini serves as a center for contemporary arts housed within an 1830s dockside warehouse, Bush House, while Spike Island features exhibition galleries as well as artists’ studios and commercial workspaces all housed in a former Brooke Bond tea packing factory.

Lastly, photography enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Royal Photographic Society and the Martin Parr Foundation, both located in East Bristol.

Take the Kids to We the Curious

Home to the UK’s first 3D planetarium, We the Curious is not your average science museum. This playful and creative space is filled with hands-on exhibits designed to engage young minds.

Curiosity truly is the name of the game at this state-of-the-art attraction, where Project What If sets forth to answer real – and indeed provocative – questions posed by the people of Bristol, such as “Will we ever find a way to prevent being ill?”

Maritime Aficionados Will Love Brunel’s SS Great Britain

Said to be the “world’s first great ocean liner,” the SS Great Britain was designed by famed Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. With her iron hull and enormous screw propeller, this luxurious liner was the first of her kind when she launched in 1843, marking a new era for passenger ships.

Currently, she stands as one of Bristol’s top attractions, anchored in the very dry dock where she was originally constructed, serving as a testament to the city’s long history of trade and shipbuilding.

Visitors can explore the restored ship – where models, recordings, and even artificial scents bring to life the stories of past travelers – and then descend below the glass “sea” into the dry dock for a close-up view of the hull. Additionally, your ticket includes admission to two other museums: the Dockside Museum, which tells the story of the ship, and the interactive exhibit “Being Brunel” that delves into the life of Britain’s greatest engineer.

Learn About a Remarkable Feat of Engineering at the Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre

Be sure to visit Brunel’s other famous legacy in Bristol: the Clifton Suspension Bridge. This marvel of Victorian engineering crosses the gaping Avon Gorge some 245ft (75m) above the winding river below.

Before crossing on foot to enjoy the breathtaking city views, pop into the Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre. This small museum is filled with information about the bridge’s history, the construction process, and Brunel himself.

Take in Natural Specimens and Beautiful Paintings at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

The impressive Edwardian building that houses the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery is worth a visit for the architecture alone. However, fans of natural history and geology won’t want to miss the expansive collections here, which especially focus on the local region. The top-floor art galleries showcase a mixture of historic and contemporary pieces.

Moreover, regular temporary exhibitions allow the city’s culture to penetrate this grand institution, often weaving new stories into the permanent collections rather than presenting them separately. Interestingly, Bristol-born street artist Banksy famously took over the museum in 2009, leaving behind his Paint Pot Angel in the entrance hall.

Immerse Yourself in 18th-Century Life at the Georgian House Museum

Step back in time at the Georgian House Museum. Built in 1790, this six-story townhouse still looks as it did in the 18th century, offering a glimpse into how life may have been for wealthy Georgians and their staff.

Like several other buildings in Bristol, the Georgian House owes its origins to the Atlantic slave trade. Its original owner, John Pinney, was a sugar merchant and a plantation owner who amassed wealth through the labor of enslaved human beings. Consequently, a small exhibition in the museum confronts this controversial history while telling the story of Pero Jones, who was Pinney’s personal servant for 32 years after spanning the ocean at the age of 12.

Celebrate the Space Age at Aerospace Bristol

One of Bristol’s notable claims to fame is as the birthplace of Concorde, a great symbol of Franco-British innovation and collaboration. At Aerospace Bristol, visitors can step aboard the last Concorde ever to fly to learn more about the world’s fastest passenger jet and Bristol’s role in its development.

This family-friendly museum boasts a fantastic collection of airplanes, helicopters, satellites, and more. Moreover, interactive exhibits will guide you through aviation history, while kids will enjoy the airplane climbing frame in the outdoor play area.

Immerse Yourself in the Interactive Fantasy of Wake the Tiger

Starting in summer 2022, Wake the Tiger is a unique attraction in Bristol that is part museum, part art installation, and part theme park. This immersive art maze will transport visitors to Meridia, a fictional world filled with several fantastical environments, for a self-guided experience where you’ll walk – or run, climb, and scamper – through on your own.

Therefore, with its history of innovation, Bristol is the ideal setting for such an unusual take on the museum-going experience.