Upcoming Events

Regular music-making session for under 5’s and dads or male caregivers. Unleash your child’s potential with music and develop emotional control, language, math skills and creativity through play. Discover how child-led musical play helps with developing baby and toddler’s managing big emotions, powerful communication skills, a love of language, a foundation in numbers and their inner rockstar. The group is also a chance to build a community with other dads and share your parenting adventure and musical experiences. Book online

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.

Choose from a range of beautiful materials to create up to four colourful festive decorations with a twist taking inspiration from Chila Kumari Singh Burman’s bold neon artworks to make unique and eye-catching creations. Suitable for ages 6yrs+, pre-booking essential. Sessions run 10-11am and 11:15am-12:15pm.

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 decorations. 

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 artists and their sitters or subject in the act of making the artwork, and to consider what similarities and differences there may be for the…

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 their gift shop receipt.

Festive planetarium shows in partnership with Dome Club Planetarium, featuring the Christmas Star: Live Planetarium Presentation and the Holy Star 360° Film. Visitors will explore winter constellations and uncover the mystery of the Star of Bethlehem. The Holy Star 360° Film takes audiences on a stunning visual journey, revealing over 1,300 stars and the Milky Way, before exploring the mysteries surrounding the Star of Bethlehem.

Creative activities, storytelling performances with Michael Loader on 8, 15 and 22 December at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm including ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. In addition, there will be face painting 30 November, 7 and 21 December.

Suitable for 8-13 year olds focused around current collections and exhibitions to look at archaeology, history, natural history and art, and take part in practical activities such as archaeological recording, experiments, art, and walks to local archaeological sites.

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.

Get comfy, listen carefully and be ready for a Christmas story with one of the most important characters of the season. It's a busy time of year for Christmas VIPs, can you hear the sleigh bells ringing? Ticket price includes a gift and entry to the abbey grounds, cloister and decorated Great Hall. Normal admission applies for non-member adults.

Macramé decoration-making workshop that will teach you the art of macramé and how to make your very own Christmas tree decorations. You will learn how to create your own Christmas tree decorations accompanied by a hot winter tea and mince pies. Suitable for ages 16+ years.

One frosty evening, a week before Christmas, Little Robin washes and irons seven warm vests for the chilly nights to come. As the days go by, he comes across lots of cold and shivering animals, and kindly gives them his vests to wear. But by Christmas Eve, Little Robin is cold and alone with no vests left. That is, until Father Christmas arrives to reward his kindness with a perfect little red vest. A new adaptation of Jan Fearnley’s book…

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 Family Activity Guide.

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 Family Activity Guide.

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 and storytelling sessions at the weekends. 

Three gnomes, Hobby, Ivor and Toe, are terrified of winter because it’s cold and nothing happens in December.  When they fish a cracker out of their pond, a riddle tells them there used to be a thing called Christmas…. and they are charged with bringing it back to life! They take a tour through the tales and traditions behind everything we love about Christmas, only to find someone is trying to stop them.  Who is it? And can they bring…

Enjoy the sunset with a warm drink, Christmas atmosphere and owls flying silently overhead. The opportunity to come face to face with some of natures most stunning species, flying two of our owls yourself. All proceeds go to support the Project in raptor monitoring, research, conservation and modern welfare.

A festive treat to watch The Snowman on the big screen accompanied by the live orchestra of Bath Philarmonia playing a range of seasonal orchestral delights. Image © Snowman Enterprises Ltd, www.thesnowman.co.uk

Light trail featuring giant illuminated lanterns around the grounds as well as the UK’s biggest singing Christmas tree, Santa train, safari drive-through and festive tours of the house.

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; timeslots available every 15mins. In addition, there will be an accessible evening on 9 December for neurodivergent individuals and those with sensory processing issues. A…

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 6+. Full times and performances available online.

Goldilocks' circus is under threat from an evil rival circus owner and, with the help of their friends, they need to try and save their Big Top from ruin. All seems lost until the three bears join the gang! A festive extravaganza starring Brian Conley and packed with riotous comedy, extraordinary special effects, and hair-raising stunts!

An all-star comedy line-up, an optional one or three course meal, and dancing to cheesy floor-filler classics until the early hours with after-parties courtesy of FAME & The Big Disco. There will be dozens of fantastic comedians and comperes from across the UK and the rest of the world. Top names this year include Laura Lexx, Javier Jarquin, Sally Anne Hayward and Jarred Christmas!

Enjoy three magical Christmas experiences at Winter Wonderland - explore enchanting caves lit by 100,000 lights, visit Santa's North Pole Grotto for a special gift, and enjoy a Grinch-inspired Christmas circus show in the Theatre.

Poor Snow White is doomed to live unhappily ever after with her horrid stepmother, the Wicked Queen. In true rags-to-riches style, will Snow White, with the help of her madcap friends and a handsome Prince, vanquish the Queen's evil plans? With a beautiful princess, a jealous Wicked Queen, seven bumbling dwarfs, a delicious dame, a hilarious jester and not forgetting a poisoned apple and a magic mirror, it’s not to be missed! Bursting with great songs, stunning dance routines and…

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 under the soft white flakes. Sliding, tumbling and laughing, they explore the winter wonderland together and keep each other safe and warm from the winter…