Bristol Museums

Bristol’s free museums, galleries and archives

M Shed, Bristol Archives and Bristol Museum & Art Gallery have re-opened. We can’t wait to see you!

M Shed, Bristol Archives and Bristol Museum & Art Gallery have all reopened following a period of closure during the pandemic.

All three sites are COVID secure and we have appropriate measures in place to keep everyone safe.

All visits must now be booked in advance. Entry is still free, although donations are always welcome.

Plan your visit

What’s on

View all events

19 October 2019—28 February 2021

Do you believe in magic?

EXHIBITION EXTENDED: From ancient uses of witchcraft, to the role superstition plays in the modern mind, this exhibition looks at how magic has been used to heal, hunt and harm.

27 October 2020

Basement Tapes Day

SPECIAL EVENT: Have you got a precious recording you can’t listen to? We can help! Book a slot to bring in your old recording and we’ll play it for you.

24 October 2020—3 May 2021

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020

EXHIBITION: The world-renowned wildlife photography exhibition is back with a brand new set of stunning images of the natural world.

Bristol's stories

From Black history to Banksy, explore stories about Bristol and the world through the city’s objects, art and people.

See our stories

Explore our collections

Our first collections were brought together more than 200 years ago and we’ve been adding ot them ever since. From art to archaeology, history to industry, the natural and wider world, they are amongst the UK’s finest.

In 2012, the collections of the former British Empire and Commonwealth Museum were transferred to the care of Bristol Museums. Since then, we’ve been working to photograph and digitise the vast collection.