Upcoming Events

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…

Feel the festive spirit come to life as you wander through the grand rooms of Stourhead house, decorated with twinkling lights, festive floral arrangements, and showstopping trees. Engage with the different themes in each room, inspired by the history, nature and beauty of Stourhead and its heritage. 

Children are invited to come dressed as a shepherd, angel, wise man or star to take part in a fun retelling of the Nativity - with a real live donkey!

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.

Annual family pantomime and Christmas fun!

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!

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…

Open to children aged 5-11 years for all abilities. With dodgeball, football, art and crafts, cinema, capture the flag, infinity and much more. Please bring packed lunch, snack and drink.

Offering a range of sports activities such as dodgeball, kick-rounders, capture the flag, infinity tag and much more. In addition, there will be some art and crafts, games and competitions, cinema club and tuck shop at breaktime. Suitable for school children in years 1-6 (ages 5-11 years). Please bring a packed lunch, snacks and drink; hot lunch available for £5.

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…

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 will receive an Avon Valley Railway donkey-themed plush toy (suitable from birth). There will also be the chance for your family group to take photographs…

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 treats.

A fun-filled family craft session with Sue. Adults go free; children under 7 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 children can look out for tiny fancily dressed fabric deer hiding in each room. In addition, there will be pear-themed decorations, a large outdoor Christmas…

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.

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.

Create a beautiful Christmas star ornament to take home. Explore the geometry of starpatterns and make your own celestial string decoration. Free with museum entry.

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 and adults both receive a gift. Suitable for ages 3-12 years.

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 recommended. Adults go free (maximum of 2 adults/child).

Meet Charlie the Christmas Clownfish (Santa’s underwater representative) this Christmas and write a ‘fishmas’ letter to Santa too.

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 region and beyond. The Christmas sculptures include: Fleece Navidad by Jessica Perrin, Snowfall Symphony by Amrit Singh and Shaun the Tree-t by Megan Heather…