Summer family fun round up: Roman feasts and railway adventures

What a summer it’s been! Over the last month, our six Bristol Museums sites welcomed families for a packed programme of family fun activities. From Roman history to railway heritage, we offered something for everyone – and we loved seeing so many of you get involved.

Over 1,500 adults and children joined us for 18 events across the summer holidays. Feedback included comments such as: 

“Wonderful and engaging staff, excellent activities,  and a calm environment for my grandson”.

“The volunteer who spoke to us was wonderfully informative and brought the house to life for us!”

“After a lot of walking it was great to sit and enjoy a craft activity”.

Our popular Story Box sessions ran weekly at M Shed and Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, bringing stories to life with puppets, costumes and cuddly toys. These sessions were designed for younger children and offered a gentle, imaginative way to explore museum themes

Railway 200 inspired creations by Hannah and Rose taking part in family fun at M Shed

To mark 200 years of the modern railway, M Shed hosted a series of Railway 200 family days. Activities included train-themed crafts, badge-making, jigsaw puzzles and storytelling. With a working railway track right outside the museum, it was the perfect place to celebrate Bristol’s railway history. 

Our three historic houses held family fun days with dressing up, trails and stories as well as time-traveling re-enactments and creative workshops.  

Interior of The Red Lodge Museum with members of the Sealed Knot helping visitors discover more about Tudor life

At The Red Lodge Museum, visitors were treated to re-enactments from Wardlaw’s Dragoons, part of the Sealed Knot Society. This really helped families to get a feel for life in a Tudor house 400 years ago. 

Meanwhile at The Georgian House Museum families made fans and learnt all about the secret language of fans. Did you know that tapping a closed fan with your finger meant,
“ I want to talk to you”! 

Nature themed crafts- apt for Blaise Museum, our ‘countryside’ museum!

At Blaise Museum our professional storyteller Isy wowed the children with natured themed stories- perfect for it’s countryside setting and children enjoyed crafting ladybirds.

Each house also offered child-friendly trails, encouraging families to explore every corner of these fascinating buildings. 

Friends of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives member explains the diet of Romans at Kings Weston Roman Villa

At our lesser known, but equally fantastic museum in Lawrence Weston, Kings Weston Roman Villa, families explored Roman remains such as mosaics and underfloor heating, during the Festival of Archaeology and additional open days. Activities included Roman crafts, dressing up, and handling genuine artefacts. Archaeology students from the University of Bristol and Friends of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives were on hand to share insights into Roman life- including some interesting food choices (Romans ate dormice, peacock and even flamingo!). 

We’re so proud of the creativity and curiosity you brought to our museums this summer. Whether you were building trains, crafting mosaics, learning something new or just soaking up the stories, you helped bring history to life.