Discover the best of Bristol this spring

Celebrate Easter in the city with our guide to Bristol’s cultural hotspots.

11/04/2025

The Easter holidays are here, and the long-awaited bank holiday weekend is just around the corner! From music and theatre to art, museums, and more, Bristol’s cultural destinations are brimming with exciting activities to enjoy.

This spring, we’re celebrating the incredible venues we’re lucky to have right here on our doorstop. Whether you’re planning a day out with friends, family, or exploring the city solo, why not make the most of your visit by enjoying some of the city’s iconic hotspots. Here’s what’s on…

LANDMARKS & HERITAGE

Bristol Cathedral

This spring, immerse yourself in the stunning architecture and rich history of Bristol Cathedral, one of England’s great medieval churches.

Step into the heart of the Easter story with an interactive Easter Trail around the cathedral’s nave (until 27 April). Feeling creative? Crafty Cathedral (16 April) is perfect for children aged 2-11, offering a fun and hands-on Easter activity. You can also dive into the cathedral’s fascinating history with a guided tour, uncovering nearly 900 years of captivating stories and architectural wonders.

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St Mary Redcliffe

Renowned for its striking beauty, St Mary Redcliffe is a stunning example of Gothic architecture located in the heart of Redcliffe.

Experience the thought-provoking Lent Exhibition, Eden Bleeds (until 22 April) featuring powerful works that explore ecological damage. You can also explore the church’s stunning architecture and rich heritage on a guided tour, uncovering the secrets of this magnificent structure and its fascinating past.

Image: Emily Whitfield-Wicks

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St Stephen's Church

Providing a peaceful haven amid the bustling streets of the Old City, step inside St Stephen’s Church this Easter.

With plenty going on over the Easter break, join in their Easter Eve event with Stories Around the Campfire (19 April) or experience a plethora of musical genres with a lunchtime concert on select dates. While you’re there, don’t miss a visit to the Secret Cafe, nestled within the church grounds, where you can enjoy a variety of homemade Spanish dishes.

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Temple Church

Temple Church is a hidden gem celebrating Bristol’s rich heritage. Since reopening to the public in 2023, Temple Church is now open daily for visitors.

This April, you’re invited to experience A Heritage Portrait of England (25 April) with The Poetry Takeaway as they take to the road, crafting unique, made-to-order poems from the heart of the Temple Church gardens. This interactive event invites the community to celebrate the everyday heritage that brings us together.

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Wills Memorial Building

Located at the top of Park Street, you will find the iconic Wills Memorial Building.

Experience its splendour on a Tower Tour, taking place every Saturday.  See behind the grand facade and experience breathtaking views of Park Street from the top of the tower and explore the Great Hall, Council Chamber, and ornate libraries along the way.

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MUSEUMS & LEARNING

Arnolfini

Found on Bristol’s bustling harbourside, Arnolfini is one of the city’s leading venues for contemporary art, performance, and creative workshops.

This spring, explore a range of exciting exhibitions, including Barbara Walker: Being Here (until 25 May), Looking Back (Being and Memory) (until 7 May) and 10 Years of Raise The Bar (until 1 June).

There’s plenty going on for the kids too, with We Are Family – Let’s Make Art Workshops (15 & 16 April) and a We Are Family – UWE x Arnolfini collaboration (19 April), allowing little ones to explore the drawing techniques in Barbara Walker’s Being Here exhibition for themselves.

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Bristol Aquarium

Discover the wonders of the ocean at Bristol Aquarium, home to vibrant coral reefs, an immersive underwater tunnel, and over 40 engaging displays, perfect for families and ocean enthusiasts alike.

This half-term, dive into Titans of Time (5 – 27 April) and explore the prehistoric creatures that once roamed Earth. A space-time rift has opened up at the aquarium, offering a unique opportunity to learn about these ancient sea monsters!

Don’t miss Titans of Time – Sea Monsters Explored (26 April), a special one-off talk taking you on an aquatic journey from the dawn of life, up to present day.

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Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

Explore the last billion years of Earth’s history at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, a treasure house of Egyptian mummies, art, dinosaurs and nature.

Don’t miss the stunning exhibitions on display including Bristol Photo Festival: Hashem Shakeri – Staring into the Abyss (until 20 April), Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60 (until 27 April), and Jessica Ashman: ‘Those that do not smile will kill me’ – Decolonising Jamaican Flora (until 27 July).

For a deeper dive into Bristol’s history, join a Highlights Tours, taking place every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, or explore the complex ethics of museums with a Difficult Conversations Tours, running every Thursday. 

Start your Sundays in April with a Morning Mindfulness yoga session (20 & 27 April) by embracing an hour of mindful meditation and Vinyasa yoga in the museum’s art gallery, the perfect place to unwind and recentre yourself.

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Centrespace

Centrespace is a vibrant hub for exhibitions and events, home to a sustainable community of artists and craftspeople.

This April, Centrespace has a dynamic lineup of exhibitions, including The Sight of Music (until 16 April), exploring the link between visual art and music, Borderlands (18-23 April) examining human connections, and Garden of Hope (25-30 April), a collaboration inspired by the Memorial Garden near St Mary Redcliffe Church, highlighting the history and significance of overlooked spaces.

 

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The Georgian House Museum

Following its winter closure, The Georgian House Museum has reopened its doors. Step inside to discover what life was like in a Bristol sugar plantation and slave owner’s home around 1790.

This Easter, enjoy Easter Family Fun (19 April), where you can experience Georgian life through interactive activities and games. Don’t miss this chance to step back in time and explore the fascinating history of the Georgian House Museum.

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M-Shed

M-Shed offers a journey through the city’s history, challenging visitors’ perceptions of life in Bristol over the centuries.

This Easter holidays, explore M Shed’s exciting events and exhibitions. Don’t miss Bristol Photo Festival: Dreamlines(until 20 April), plus the launch of Erased from the Face of the Earth: A powerful testimony of Ukraine’s devastation(opening 26 April).

For a more hands-on adventure, hop aboard a train ride on the harbourside railway, take a pyronaut trip on Bristol’s former fire boat or step inside the iconic dockside cranes (from 26 April). Other exciting highlights this month includes family art activities (15-17 April) inspired by the M Shed collections, plus plenty of historical walks and tours that dive into Bristol’s past.

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SS Great Britain

Step aboard the SS Great Britain and journey back to the golden age of Victorian innovation, perfect for families, history lovers, and engineering enthusiasts alike.

This Easter, locals with a BS postcode can enjoy half-price entry (from 5-21 April) plus plenty of Easter-themed fun. Enjoy Mr Brunel’s Shipshape Garden show, Easter card making for little ones, a botanical themed family trail, plus so much more.

Want to make a day of it? Book yourself a spot on Walking Brunel’s Bristol (on select days) for a guided tour of the harbourside with Mr Brunel himself, and don’t forget to refuel at the Harbourside Kitchen.

Plus, all Easter long (until 21 April), you can witness our Bristol Is Always A Good Idea sign gleaming over the dockyard!

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We the Curious

Bristol’s most surprising science experience. With over 200 interactive exhibits across two floors and a Planetarium, it’s a place to play, experiment, test out ideas, and have fun together.

This April, We The Curious is open every day of the Easter holidays, with limited ticket availability! With plenty of family friendly activities, workshops and talks available daily and included in your ticket price, you can join in with experiments and get creative as part of your visit. This Easter holiday, don’t miss the beautiful Nature Rising exhibition, celebrating the joys of spring through planting seeds, talking bees, and making beautiful shadow gardens. 

As well as daytime shows, We The Curious run Planetarium Nights every other Thursday (24 April) for those 16 and over. With two shows to choose from, delve into the wonders of the Ever-Changing Sky or explore Life in the Universe.

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MUSIC & MORE

Bristol Beacon

With a city-wide programme of live music, creative learning opportunities, and community engagement, Bristol Beacon helps make space for music every day, with everyone.

Highlights this April include the NEXT LEVEL Showcase 2025 (16 April) spotlighting the next wave of Bristol artists, ten-time GRAMMY and Academy–Awarding winning FINNEAS’ For Cryin’ Out Loud! Tour (22 April), plus comedian and Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor’s new show Palavering (24 April).

 

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Bristol Folk House

The Bristol Folk House is the city’s independent adult education and learning centre, offering a variety of workshops, courses, and events to get involved with.

April is buzzing with plenty to enjoy, from an evening of folk with Daphne Chenel & Ollie Dixon (23 April), to poetry and spoken word with TikTok poet Isabella Dorta (25 April), plus discovering the bi-monthly Craft and Flea Market.

April is also your last chance to catch the Lore and Land Exhibition (until 24 April), celebrating the connections between folk culture and the natural world and offering a fresh reimagining of age-old stories for a new generation.

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O2 Academy

Renowned for its lively atmosphere and stellar line-ups, O2 Academy Bristol showcases everything from rising stars to world-famous artists. A cornerstone of the city’s music scene, it’s a go-to destination for live music fans.

This April, catch Inhaler’s ‘Open Wide’ album show (17 April), the ultimate Coldplay tribute with Coldplace (25 April), Day Fever, one of the country’s biggest day time discos (26 April), and rising country star Jackson Dean’s ‘On The Back Of My Dreams’ tour (27 April).

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St George's

Renowned as one of the UK’s premier concert halls, St George’s boasts superb acoustics and a distinctive atmosphere, attracting the world’s best artists across classical, chamber, world, folk, blues, and jazz.

This month, St George’s presents an eclectic programme spanning music, literature, and performance almost every night of April. Music lovers can experience the soulful, genre-blending sound of Joan As Police Woman (16 April), the hypnotic fusion of electric and classical music with Will Gregory Moog Ensemble, and so much more.

Later this month, St George’s embraces a series of Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival events, including World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker’s latest show Wonderful 2.0 (26 April) and a Tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah (27 April) honouring the legacy of the great poet through spoken word and live performance.

Image: Evan Dawson

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The Fleece

With its distinct character and lively atmosphere, The Fleece is a legendary city centre music venue, offering live performances and club nights every night of the week.

Attracting exciting acts from around the world, highlights this month include an Easter Sunday special with renowned Scrumpy and Western band The Wurzels (20 April). April also features two intimate acoustic sets from James Arthur (24 April), with a second show added due to popular demand, plus a host of regular club nights, tribute bands, and more.

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SHOPPING & DINING 

Christmas Steps Arts Quarter

Nestled in the heart of the Old City, the Christmas Steps Arts Quarter weaves together history and charm, home to over 50 independent shops, galleries, and cafes, just waiting to be explored. Discover a unique collection of businesses, from art galleries and interior designers to bakers, bars, and restaurants. The Christmas Steps Arts Quarter is the perfect spot for a relaxed spring-time stroll or shopping for unique Easter gifts.

Image: @ellydeakin

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St Nicholas Market

Experience the wonders of St Nicholas Market this spring, a sensory treasure trove in the heart of the city. Busting with independent traders, artisanal treats and eclectic finds, perfect for those seeking a taste of Bristol’s vibrant spirit. Wander through the Exchange Hall and Covered Markets, then tuck into street food favourites like Eat a Pitta, Chilli Daddy, Pieminister, and more, perfect for a lunchtime pitstop.

 

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THEATRE & CINEMA

Bristol Hippodrome

No trip to Bristol is complete without a visit to the theatre, and Bristol Hippodrome has an exciting line-up this Easter. Experience the West End mega-hit TINA – The Tina Turner Musical (until 26 April) or join the fun with the much-loved family favourite Chitty Chitty Bang Bang later this month (from 29 April).

Other highlights this April include the Matinee Mingle+ every other Tuesday (15 and 29 April), the Masterclass: Acting (19 April), and the Bristol Hippodrome Community Choir (22 April).

 

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Bristol Old Vic

Bristol Old Vic is the oldest working-theatre in the English-speaking world, where history meets cutting edge performances and unforgettable experiences. You can learn more about the theatre’s fascinating past with a behind the scenes Theatre Tour (25 April).

April sees a vibrant mix take to the stage, including The House Party (from 23 April) offering a bold, contemporary take on August Strindberg’s Miss Julie, and Brain Play (24-26 April) exploring the intersection of neuroscience and theatre. Families can also enjoy The Koala Who Could (until 19 April), a heartwarming adaptation of Rachel Bright’s beloved book, plus so much more.

Image: Philip Vile

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Watershed

Watershed is a creative and cultural hub located along Bristol’s harbourside. Centred around cinema and creative technology, Watershed presents a diverse programme of films, events, and more with audiences and participation at its heart.

This April, film lovers can dive into a range of cinematic highlights on the big screen. To mark the release of the Oscar®-winning Flow (until 17 April), Watershed presents their Wordless Wonders series, a family-friendly selection of dialogue-free films including The Red Turtle (until 16 April) and Away (until 17 April).

Film buffs can also celebrate the legacy of David Lynch with a selection of his feature films, including Wild at Heart (until 16 April), The Elephant Man (until 23 April), and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (19–23 April).

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