Events for 1st December 2024

Create cosy Christmas crafts, gallop with hobby-reindeer and snuggle up for a festive story with Father Christmas in his magical grotto. The experience lasts 50 minutes and includes a photo opportunity with Father Christmas and a gift; aimed at children aged 3-12 years.    Booking essential via the website or call 0344 249 1895.

Meet Santa and enjoy a delicious home cooked breakfast in The Herb Garden Restaurant. Children will be given their own festive gift to take home and enjoy. There is also the opportunity to take your photo with Santa after breakfast. Spaces are limited so early booking recommended. Adults go free (maximum of 4 adults/child). Adults are able to […]

An enchanting winter’s tale for the very young. Winter has arrived and the woods are covered in white. A child hurries to put on their winter clothes so they can run outside and play in a sparkly new world. Just when they are starting to feel a bit lonely, they find a sleeping mouse buried […]

Once onboard the whistle will sound and you’ll depart on your fifty minute train ride. Whilst travelling, you can enjoy a mince pie or festive biscuit and Santa will pass through the train greeting everyone. Then, when you return to Bitton Station each family group will meet Santa again and all good boys and girls […]

Father Christmas is making a special stop to read a Christmas story to the children and give them a gift. Children will be greeted by Christmas helpers and led into our beautifully decorated Servant’s Hall where Father Christmas will read them a story. They will have a chance to talk to him, have a photo […]

Explore the garden and watch as the 12 Days of Christmas comes to life. With magical interpretations that will enchant children and adults alike, this family-favourite carol will be sure to put everyone in a festive mood. In addition, the Palladian bridge will be dressed for the occasion, and the Tea Cabin stocked with festive […]

Enter the festively decorated Dovecote to meet St Nicholas, hear a special Christmas story, and receive a Christmas gift. Up to eight children at a time will be able to get cosy as they take part in a fun story time and receive a small gift. Suitable for children ages 3-10 years, must be accompanied […]

The house will be dressed with festive decorations from seven different eras from Tudor times right up to the 20th century including a new 1980s room filled with colour, fun and authentic items from the decade of decadence. Visitors can work out which room matches which period, helped by decorations, yuletide customs and objects, and […]

Continue your Christmas shopping and support local makers with a range of handmade goods on offer at the market. There will be different stallholders each weekend with plenty of opportunity to browse a wide variety of products including textiles, recycled wood, jewellery, and handmade dog treats. In addition, there will be carols and music each […]

A brand new installation, a vast constellation of love and light, held within the centre of the Abbey. Warm, welcoming, with depth, height, glowing, and shining – the exhibition will contain up to 103 individual stars of different sizes and geometries, all surrounding the largest, central star, that represents Christ never dimmed. The constant.

Visit the house at Christmas, see the rooms dressed for the festive season and enjoy the traditions and celebrations of a Georgian Christmas told through stories and poems throughout the house as part of the immersive experience. Under 18 free with accompanying adult.

Celebrating a journey through the diversity of American landscapes, history and culture in this contemporary, immersive experience, where visitors join in and share their own stories. There will be large-scale-travel games, theatrical sets, and an array of American road-trip memorabilia, as well a chance to get up close to an original 1958 Harley Davidson Duo […]

A weekend of fun on the canal with boaters showcasing their wares from food and drink to arts, crafts and collectibles alongside a busking stage.

An exciting dog trail with the delightful dogs from Alice Tait’s storybook No, Nancy, No! a Dog Chase in New York. Explore the American garden and find all the dogs in their Santa hats, using Alice’s beautifully illustrated map as your guide. With fun story-themed activities to collect at the end of the trail.

Enjoy a magical experience, receive a gift and meet Father Christmas in an interactive experience with professional actors. Help the elves wake Father Christmas and hear a story of how they plan to make this year the best Christmas ever. Then have your photo taken with Father Christmas and his magical musical elf Sprinkles. Children […]

The Museum has been inundated with some very mischievous Christmas elves and your help is needed to keep an eye on them! From having snowball fights and tinkering under the bonnet to driving a car and a pint-size pit crew, can you spot all of the elves on your visit? Included with Museum entry.

Meet Santa as he reads a Christmas story. Children will also be given hot chocolate (or alternative) and freshly made cookies whilst they listen to the story, and a festive gift to take home. There is also the opportunity to take your photo with Santa after the story reading. Spaces are limited so early booking […]

Family art trail to find twelve ewe-nique sculptures at locations across the zoo. It’s the perfect festive activity, free for visitors and packed full of baa-rilliant adventures! In collaboration with Aardman, and in partnership with global art producer, Wild in Art, each sculpture, standing at 160cm tall, has been individually designed by artists from across […]

The Unforgettable Behaviour exhibition showcases 39 photographs from previous Wildlife Photographer of the Year collections, displaying some of the most incredible animal behaviour moments ever captured on camera. The photos show an extraordinary range of surprising, and often deeply moving, acts by animals. They have been chosen to allow visitors to connect with animals they […]

This course covers wildlife rehabilitation and release, release of adult casualties, soft release techniques and site surveys, catching up, release and post release monitoring, and a Q&A session. Participants will receive course handouts (emailed after the course), invitation to attend a course practical day (charges apply), and a voucher for £10 off the SWWR Introduction […]

See the resident falcons, hawks and owls and enjoy a flying display (11am and 2:30pm), see three different species in the sky with commentary from one of the team. Tickets are valid for the whole day, to allow you to come and go as many times as you like.

Willow reindeers will be prancing around the garden, the Bakehouse will be ready for Christmas post with a letter writing station and north pole postbox, and there will be Christmas trees twinkling in every corner. The Cloister will be hosting a Community Christmas Tree festival with trees decorated by local groups using handmade and upcycled […]

Create cosy Christmas crafts, gallop with hobby-reindeer and snuggle up for a festive story with Father Christmas in his magical grotto. The experience lasts 50 minutes and includes a photo opportunity with Father Christmas and a gift; aimed at children aged 3-12 years.    Booking essential via the website or call 0344 249 1895.

Featuring four Thomas Gainsborough portraits and 18 contemporary artists, the first in a new programme of contemporary art exhibitions. The paintings will be presented as key components of a group exhibition of portraiture featuring 18 contemporary British artists selected by guest curator Ingrid Swenson MBE. The exhibition is intended for reflection on the experience of […]

For visitors who would benefit from a calmer, less busy environment – along with their families, carers and friends.  The volume of some of the noisier exhibits are lowered and the Live Science team are on hand to offer a warm welcome.  The Planetarium is free and drop-in, rather than ticketed – to allow visitors […]

Frenchay Forestry will be selling their Christmas trees in the Aerospace Bristol car park and as a special offer, anyone who purchases a tree can claim 15% off anything in the gift shop when they show their receipt. Similarly, those who shop in the gift store can enjoy 10% off their Christmas tree by presenting […]

Ride on Chuffy the train, meet the nativity animals, get creative making Christmas slime (pre-booking required), festive food market and children's fun fair.

The perfect place to practice your skating and show off your moves! With wintery music, a cosy bar and seasonal drinks, be transported in to a winter wonderland.

Enjoy some festive retail therapy in a beautiful, historic setting. The High Street Shop is hosting a Christmas pop-up shop in the village's Manger Barn. Not usually open to the public, this historic space will be the setting for a sparkling Christmas ship, where you'll be able to buy quality, sustainable gifts and local artisanal […]

This festive family fun walk/run is open to all ages and takes place along a 2.5km course through the grounds of Dorothy House Hospice and starting and ending at Winsley Cricket Club. Participants can choose to do the 2.5km route once or twice for 5km. Adult entrants are asked to raise a minimum sponsorship of […]

Aa family-focused exhibition, showcasing over 60 dragon-themed objects from the Museum’s collection. Explore the stories and symbolism of dragons across China, Japan, and Korea through our family-friendly activities. Design your own dragon to hang in the ‘Dragon Gallery’; write your own dragon myth; and learn more about their history through the Fun Facts Trail and […]

Aa family-focused exhibition, showcasing over 60 dragon-themed objects from the Museum’s collection. Explore the stories and symbolism of dragons across China, Japan, and Korea through our family-friendly activities. Design your own dragon to hang in the ‘Dragon Gallery’; write your own dragon myth; and learn more about their history through the Fun Facts Trail and […]

Fairytales meet a Victorian Christmas in this immersive storytelling experience, perfect for both the young and the young at heart. Discover the three bears' Christmas feast, follow Hansel's trail to the tea-room and listen to some fairy tales in the Library. Throughout Christmas there will be a free activity sheet to keep little minds occupied […]

With craft and gift stalls, raffle, music, clothing, food and drink, Christmas trees, and lots of festive fun.

A large variety of local artisan stalls hosting to local produce and gifts as well as mulled wine, refreshments and minced pies.    

With stalls, cafe, raffle and Santa's grotto.

Guy Masterson’s internationally acclaimed solo performance of Charles Dickens’s festive tale. Famed for bringing literary masterpieces to vivid life (Under Milk Wood, Animal Farm) Masterson gives us Dickens’ original performance text in his own inimitable multi-character style, a riveting performance that dazzles, enchants, and will linger long in the memory.

Wander through a magical backdrop of illuminated trees, discover a trail of remarkable light art sculptures, low level soundscapes, interactive illuminations and a specially commissioned light show. This year, the route is longer, with more installations and plenty of entertainment as well as food and drink around the Bandstand. Entry via the Westlecot Road entrance; […]

Life in Sherwood Forest isn’t all nuts and berries for Rob, a runaway and our reluctant hero, especially when the Sheriff 's sickening soldiers are on his tail! When he stumbles upon a Very Merry Band, will they march to the beat of his drum in the fight for justice and freedom? Suitable for ages […]