From wild swimming to seeing Mars, incredible live music festivals to comedy walks, street art trails to circus events – Bristol has a vast and varied selection of things to do this May bank holiday and half term. Here is Visit Bristol’s round-up of adventure, art and alternative activities.
Events during May half term
Journey to Mars at Aerospace Bristol
Now-5 June
Renowned artist Luke Jerram has his Discover Mars artwork currently on show alongside the last Concorde to fly at Aerospace Bristol. The Journey to Mars Exhibition tells the story of the Mars Express mission and the scale and detail of the enormous Mars artwork allows visitors to see valleys, craters, volcanos and mountains on the sculpture of Mars.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/journey-to-mars-at-aerospace-bristol-p3266763
Drawn to Water: Quentin Blake at WWT Slimbridge
18 May – 16 September
Reimagine the wonder of wetlands and nature through the eyes of the UK's best loved illustrator, Quentin Blake. The Drawn to Water trail starts 18 May and visitors can collect a trail map, complete with Quentin Blake’s drawings and see the wetlands in a whole new light. The exhibition runs from 21 July – 16 September and you can enjoy a selection of Quentin Blake's illustrations in Slimbridge's gallery, as well as various activities, challenges, workshops and more.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/drawn-to-water-quentin-blake-at-wwt-slimbridge-p3290693
Plant Power at Bristol Aquarium
27 May – 4 June
Celebrate the beauty, diversity and wonder of the plant kingdom at Bristol Aquarium this May half term where botanical plants take centre stage at the Botanical House with plant spotting, arts and crafts and a photography competition.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/plant-power-at-bristol-aquarium-p3304783
Bristol Harbour Swimming Pilot
Now – 28 May
See the iconic colourful houses of Cliftonwood and Bristol’s buzzing Harbourside from a new vantage point while wild swimming in the harbour. The new swimming pilot scheme is being introduced this spring/summer by Bristol City Council, Uswim and All-Aboard Water Sports and allows swimmers to book their 2-hour swim slot in a safely cordoned area in the Bristol Harbour every Saturday and Sunday morning.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/bristol-harbour-swimming-pilot-p3295313
Sparks Bristol
Now – 31 December
Occupying the old Marks and Spencer building in Broadmead, Sparks Bristol is the new initiative co-created by Global Goals Centre and Artspace Lifespace, designed by Invisible Circus. Combining retail spaces, art installations and an educational centre, Sparks Bristol has a strong emphasis on community and sustainability.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/sparks-bristol-p3312463
Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park
27 May – 4 June
Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park host the return of their Dinosaur Valley event – the biggest ROARsome dinosaur day out in the south west featuring animatronic dinosaurs, a dino trail, interactive T-Rex, Triceratops and Dilophosaurus, dinosaur live shows, fossil excavation activities and a theatrical dinosaur research lab experience.
Spring into Nature at Cheddar Gorge and Caves
27 May – 4 June
Join a bat trail, hear interactive nature talks, help create a bug hotel and take part in arts and crafts at Cheddar Gorge and Caves during their Spring into Nature event.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/spring-into-nature-at-cheddar-gorge-and-caves-p3308423
The Wave
Year-round
Now we are in Spring/summer, inland surfing lake The Wave is open seven days a week again for surf sessions, play in the bay bodyboard sessions (which start from £10pp), sister sessions (surfing for people identifying as female), free kids’ activities, play park, café and visitors can stay overnight in a glamping tent at The Camp at The Wave which recently reopened for the season.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/things-to-do/the-wave-p2691163
Scoob! 4D Experience at Wookey Hole
27 May – 6 June
Visit the wonderous caves at Wookey Hole this May half term and you can also see the Scoob! 4D Experience at their cinema screening room. Watch Scooby and The Mystery Inc Gang face their most challenging mystery ever and follow the trail to spot the heroes of the story around the attraction.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/may-half-term-at-wookey-hole-p3312393
Spring Fest at Wild Place Project
27 May – 4 June
Upfest have partnered with Wild Place Project to present eight giant murals on Tower Meadow painted by Aspire, Bex Glover, Cheo, Felix Braun, The Hass, Sian Storey, Silent Hobo and Sophie Long, each telling the story of Wild Place Project’s conservation programmes across the world aimed at saving critically endangered species.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/springfest-at-wild-place-project-p3308403
Explore New Realms at Longleat
27 May – 4 June
Embark on an amazing new adventure at Longleat this May half term, as visitors are invited become Brave Knights and take on the ultimate challenge of a giant inflatable castle course called The Realm, featuring a 650ft long run with inflatable tunnels, slides and other exciting challenges. Other Medieval themed activities include the Knight and Dragon stage show, character meet and greets, sand art and pottery painting.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/explore-new-realms-at-longleat-p3312383
Weston Wallz
24 May - 4 June Weston-super-Mare
Returning to the seafront after another successful year, Upfest will be running Weston Wallz this May half term, bringing unique murals from a diverse selection of local, national and international artists to the streets of Weston-super-Mare.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/weston-wallz-p3109893
Sabotage by NoFit State Circus
13 May – 2 June
NoFit State Circus is returning to Bristol after 10 years with their latest Big Top production, SABOTAGE; another full-on, boisterous, and audaciously fierce performance with the NoFit State signature style.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/sabotage-by-nofit-state-circus-p3297563
Weekends of Wonder (WOW)
13 May – 4 June weekends
Spanning four weekends in May and June, The Invisible Circus will present weekends of Wonder (WOW), the first street performance festival of its kind in the city.
https://visitbristol.co.uk/whats-on/weekends-of-wonder-bristol-p3256513
More events, activities and festivals
Love Saves the Day (27-28 May) boasts an eclectic programme with this year's line-up including Years & Years and Fatboy Slim, along with Sugababes, Four Tet, Kelis, Andy C, SG Lewis, Romy, Nia Archives, Overmono, Eliza Rose, Folamour, Knucks, Katy B, LF System, Ewan McVicar, Artwork, Hybrid Minds, Sub Focus & Dimension, Jyoty and many more. Dot to Dot Festival (27 May) has been known to bring hottest new emerging artists to city centre venues. Acts for 2023 include Yard Act, ALVVAYS, Finn Foxell and many more. If comedy is your thing, discover some of Bristol's most humorous and surprising secrets on The Bristol Comedy History Walk (Saturdays from 13 May - 19 August) showcasing an hilarious guided tour of the South West's coolest city, led by improvisers and comedians. Also taking place this spring, Visit Bristol is showcasing World Photography in Focus; several prestigious international photography exhibitions taking place in Bristol, including Travel Photographer of the Year, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year and an Inspiring Photography Weekend event at Royal Photographic Society (27-28 May). Now the weather is improving, it is the perfect time to 'Go Aloft!' and climb the rigging at Brunel's SS Great Britain, offering some of the very best views of Bristol's Harbourside. Or, step back in time 21,000 years and experience the incredible Stone Age cave art of Lascaux in this immersive 3D experience at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery (now-10 September). Learn about Disability Activism in Bristol: pioneers, protests and progress at M Shed museum (now – 1 October), a display with themes, design, research and interviews carried out by young disabled volunteers. Bristol Walk Fest also takes place during May with an array of events and activities such as heritage tours, nature walks, street art walks, wild food forays and woodland story times. For more outdoor adventures, Mendip Activity Centre has its array of activities for people of all abilities and ages including archery, tobogganing, frisbee golf, dry slop skiing, climbing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, and you can even stay overnight in their lodge, or sleep under canvas at their Basecamp. Bristol Hippodrome has Disney’s The Lion King (18 May – 1 July) return to the stage for the fourth time, making Bristol the most-visited city in the UK for the world-renowned production. Bristol Old Vic theatre is celebrating its 257th birthday with a Family Fun Day (30 May) including a family trail, storytelling and singing workshops and crafts, too. Enjoy a vast array of street food and see musicians and performers bring St Nicholas Market alive every first Friday of the month until end of summer, as St Nicks Night Market makes a big comeback this year. For an alternative aqua night out, West Country Water Park are hosting outdoor cinema screenings of JAWS and The Greatest Showman on the lake this May. Between 27 May – 9 June, the hugely anticipated Project Zulu 2023 Choir is performing across the southwest, with 100% of profits being sent directly back to the choir children’s schools in South Africa.
ENDS
Additional information:
About Bristol: Famed for its passionate character, maritime history, and for the acres of parkland and sustainable approach that earned it European Green Capital 2015 status, Bristol has created its own distinctive identity. Visitors are attracted to the city’s year-round festivals, award-winning cycle tracks, gastronomy in rejuvenated shipping containers and behind secret doorways, stunning cityscapes, inspiring street art and lively music scene.
About Visit West: Officially accredited by VisitEngland, Visit West is The Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. It supports the visitor economy of the region which is worth £2.33billion and supports 45,000 jobs. Visit West operates the Meet Bristol & Bath Convention Bureau and Visit Bristol and Visit Bath consumer websites.
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