What to do and see in Bristol, England: The Best History Museums

July 28, 2021 Nobuko Falco

Bristol is a quirky British city with beautiful hilly vistas and plenty of historic sights to explore. Anyone interested in ships will have a blast aboard Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the world’s first great oceanliner, and the Matthew, a replica of the ship upon which John Cabot sailed to America in the 15th century. The graceful Clifton Suspension Bridge is another must-see.
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1. Sea Mills 100 Museum

Old Phone Box, Sea Mills Square Jnc Shirehampton Road and St Edyth's Road, Bristol BS9 2DY England [email protected] http://www.seamills100.co.uk
Excellent
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5.0 based on 5 reviews

Sea Mills 100 Museum

Mini-museum in a phone box opened as part of a heritage trail event on 8th June 2019. It celebrates the origins of the Sea Mills estate which surrounds it. The Museum is temporarily closed due to Covid-19 restrictions but much of the contents can still be viewed from outside.

Reviewed By SuzanneD279 - Bristol, United Kingdom

Lovely museum in a phone box with so much history and information. Well worth a visit and great use of an old phone box. Be good to have them all around the city of Bristol

Queens Road Clifton, Bristol BS8 1RL England +44 117 922 3571 [email protected] http://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/
Excellent
48%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
1%
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2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,130 reviews

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

Explore our free collections of art, nature and history on display in this beautiful building. Find out about the last billion years of earth's history, explore the region's natural wonders and discover more about peoples' lives, past and present.

Reviewed By baldyman2019 - Helston, United Kingdom

Suggested donation to enter, no issue with that, you receive a map and further literature regarding other exhibitions within the museum. Plenty of staff around to ask questions if needed and a great cafe on the ground floor. I especially enjoyed the Egyptian display and spent most of my time studying the artifacts. Overall a great museum with a variety of displays to suit all tastes. There is also a multi storey carpark at trenchard street which is a five minute walk away.

3. The Georgian House Museum

7 Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5RR England +44 117 921 1362 [email protected] http://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/georgian-house-museum/
Excellent
56%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
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Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 236 reviews

The Georgian House Museum

Discover what a Bristol sugar plantation and slave owner's home might have looked like around 1790. Eleven rooms spread over four floors reveal what life was like above and below stairs, from the kitchen in the basement where servants prepared meals to the elegant formal rooms above.

Reviewed By 967kblue

As I have mentioned in my previous review of No.1 Royal Crescent, the Georgian history is something I am very fascinated with and when I was coming to Bristol, I was excited to find out that there was a Georgian house museum situated there. It did not disappoint, it is a free attraction but they do like to get donations and the suggested donation is £5 which for what is in this attraction, it is well worth the money. The house is broken up into two parts, Life above stairs for the families who lived in the house and for life below stairs where the staff worked so you get to see the contrasts of how each group lived in the house. Life above stairs has lovely rooms such as dining rooms, bedroom, study and library. Life below stairs shows the kitchen, washroom for clothes, pantry, Housekeeper's room and a room filled with crockery (plates etc). In most of the rooms, there are information cards with tell you more about the rooms. There is a room with information boards about John Pinney, the man the house was built for who was a wealthy slave plantation owner and sugar merchant and talks about the slavery that occurred on his Island and gives insights into some of the people who were slaves on the Island. I am glad that they devoted some attention to this as you realise this is how most houses in that era were funded and how families became wealthy or maintained their wealth. I enjoyed my visit and the staff were very friendly and knowledgeable particularly one who helped me with my new camera. It is well worth a visit.

4. Oakham Treasures

Portbury Lane Oakham Farm, Bristol BS20 7SP England +44 1275 375236 [email protected] http://www.oakhamtreasures.co.uk/
Excellent
75%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
4%
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4.5 based on 366 reviews

Oakham Treasures

Reviewed By 445johnp445 - Bath, United Kingdom

We went there on a surprise trip not knowing where we were going taken there by our youngest son.When we arrived we were pleasantly surprised as it was somewhere we had never heard of and very interesting,being old it takes you way back to younger days and is well laid out.The cafe is nice though we only had drinks.I would say it is worth a visit for older people for a couple of hours.

5. Kingswood Heritage Museum

Tower Lane, Bristol BS30 8XT England +44 117 960 5664 http://www.kingswoodmuseum.org.uk/
Excellent
73%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
5%
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4.5 based on 22 reviews

Kingswood Heritage Museum

Reviewed By rebeccajQ9640SS

An absolutely amazing museum, such a gem! There is so much interesting information and artifacts to take in and enjoy! I really love how they have already started to develop a section to the area in lockdown, as it's going to be such a huge part of history - very forward thinking. While the museum alone is superb, the real magic is created by tremendous volunteers, it was a delight listening to all there knowledge of the different displays and the area itself. Very friendly, welcoming, accessible (I use a wheelchair) and very proactive regarding covid measures. I only wish it was on my door step to spend more time at!

6. Palestine Museum and Cultural Centre

27 Broad Street, Bristol BS1 2HG England http://palmuseumbristol.org/
Excellent
82%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
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2%
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4.5 based on 62 reviews

Palestine Museum and Cultural Centre

Reviewed By bridgetmN5710TR - South Wales, United Kingdom

We discovered the wonderful little cultural centre and museum quite by chance while visiting Bristol a couple of years ago.Weve since been back several times with our grown up children and friends and try to pop in if we are in Bristol.A unique,highly informative museum of Palestine,which gives an accurate,detailed account of the long and complicated history of this land.A great place to visit if you are not so familiar with this often sad history.A written and pictoral account covering the many years.The centre stocks fantastic products from Palestine such as the delicious freekeh,a smokey grain that can be added to soups or stews.Maftool,which is giant couscous.The mejool dates are delicious as is the olive oil.The volunteers here do an amazing job,and are friendly and always happy to answer questions.A must visit for anyone interested in human rights issues and the Palestinian plight.Also a great selection of beautiful artefacts and costumes on display.The museum is free to enter.I try to always give a donation as we are lucky to have su ch a unique informative cultural centre here in the heart of Bristol.Would reccomend!

7. Blaise Castle House Museum

Henbury Road, Bristol BS10 7QS England +44 117 903 9818 [email protected] http://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/blaise-castle-house-museum/
Excellent
41%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
3%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 197 reviews

Blaise Castle House Museum

Reviewed By powdies - Bristol, United Kingdom

This location has a bit of everything: sweeping grassy areas to play on, a children's playground, wooded walks, and a grand old house containing a very interesting museum. Even a folly, if you can find it! There's a sizeable car park with easy tarmacked parking, and a cafe and toilets. Interesting tranquil walks for adults, and amusement for kids in one location.

8. Time Machine Museum

Burlington Street Weston-super-Mare, Bristol BS23 1PR England +44 1934 621028 http://www.timemachineuk.com/
Excellent
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

9. Ken Stradling Collection

48 Park Row, Bristol BS1 5LH England +44 117 329 0566 [email protected] http://stradlingcollection.org/
Excellent
50%
Good
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4.5 based on 2 reviews

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