Bristol's City Museum and Art Gallery

Visiting Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery

Free admission

Open all year round, daily, except Christmas day and Boxing day

10.30am-5pm daily
Late night opening every Wednesday until 8pm from 7 July. 

How to find the museum

Bristol’s City Museum & Art Gallery
Queen's Road
Bristol
BS8 1RL

Map showing location

We are situated in between the very tall H H Wills memorial building (University of Bristol) and Browns restaurant at the top of Park Street.

Tel: 0117 922 3571
Email: general.museum@bristol.gov.uk

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Introduction

Bristol's major museum and art gallery houses an outstanding and diverse range of objects, from sea dinosaurs to magnificent art. A visit to the region's largest museum and art gallery is guaranteed to inspire you!

The City Museum & Art Gallery is situated in an Edwardian Baroque building in Queen's Road, next to the Wills University building. Inside you will see collections of regional, national and international importance. It is one of the few museums to have been awarded designated status by the Government - the mark of an outstanding museum.

With a changing and dynamic temporary exhibition programme, this complements the museum's vast and assorted permanent collections.

The ground floor front and rear halls are available to hire for corporate and private events, for more information visit the Venue hire page.

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Exhibitions at the museum

Art from the New World
A big, brash exhibition of the new American art scene
15 May- 22 August
The exhibition features a collection of 47 new works by a diverse range of some of the finest emerging and noted living US urban and new Contemporary artists, spanning the artistic spectrum from pop surreal to neo-figurative to street. Click here to find out more.

What's New? Exhibition
From Saturday 12 December 
Watercolour Gallery, Top Floor 
 
A display showing new acquisitions of watercolours, prints and photographs. Most have been purchased or donated in the last few years. Click here to find out more.
 
For details of our 2010 programme, click here. 
 

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Permanent displays

On the ground floor you can visit Egypt; British Birds and Mammals - complete with a freshwater aquarium containing fish typical of the region;  the touring exhibition on at that time; the café and the museum shop.

On the middle floors expect to be greeted by sensational sea dragons; maps of Bristol; magical minerals and fantastic fossils; more British wildlife and world wildlife galleries; dinosaurs and the much loved gypsy caravan.

On the top floors step into the realm of amazing art in stunning galleries, see Old Masters; French School painters; a collection of British art; modern art and the Bristol School of Art. Leading off these galleries you can wind your way around the sparkling silver gallery; Chinese glass gallery; Eastern art and cermaics and porcelain. Download our information leaflet and floor plan in the related links section.

Make sure you look up, down and around on your visit..there's plenty more to see on the walls, ceilings, plinths and in display cases. From the Thornbury Coin Hoard to the evidence of shrapnel damage to the rear hall during World War II.

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Family Friendly areas

Curiosity - Under 7s gallery.
Younger visitors can tell stories in our crystal cave, act out a performance on stage, bring stories to life using puppets, 'make' a pot' or try the animuddle game- just some of the activities for you and your child to enjoy in the new  ‘mini-museum’. The area is open daily 10.30m-4.30pm. Click here to find out more.

Dinosaur Resource Area

Create and draw your own favourite dinosaurs or fossils and explore online information about those amazing creatures!

World Wildlife Resource Area

Draw your favourite animals, listen to different animal noises from all over the world and explore online wildlife information.

Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times in all of our family resource areas.

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Family Trails

Our bright and colourful self-led trails are perfect for all your family to enjoy on your visit. Hunt around the British birds and mammals and art galleries following the trails along the way.
Enjoy watching your little ones learn in a fun way – without them even realising!

Seagulls and Seashells for 3–6 years
Down by the Seaside for 7 years +
Sailing on the Avon for 3–5 years
Life along the Avon for 6+ years

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Events at Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery

The City Museum & Art Gallery organises a great events programme including; workshops, children's holiday activities, family fun days, summer walks, arts and crafts sessions and winter lectures. Click on the exhibitions and events pages for more details.

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Shop & Cafe

Pop into the museum shop before you leave to get yourself a piece of award-winning merchandise, including reproduction prints from the art gallery's collections, greetings cards, a wide range of books for all ages and interests, unusual gifts and Bristol-branded gifts to name just a few. To view the stock and for more information, visit the Shop page. Shop open 10.30am-4.45pm daily. 
 

The Cafe at Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery serves fresh, homemade, fair-trade and organic food. Children's menu and highchairs available.
Cafe opening times:
10.30am-4.30pm Sunday - Tuesday
10.30am - 7.30pm Wednesday
10.30am- 4.30pm Thursday - Saturday


*Special Offer if travelling by train *

Bristols City Museum & Art Gallery, along with other attractions in Bristol and Bath have joined forces with First Great Western to offer a number of great 241 savings when you travel by train. Bristols City Museum & Art Gallery are offering some food for thought in their Edwardian style café with 2 4 1 on tea of Coffee served with a bakery treat.

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Access information & Facilities

Please note that the lift providing access from the museum entrance to the ground floor is currently out of use, an engineer has been called and we hope to have it back up and running again as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. There is an alternative accessible entrance on University Road, please ring the bell for assistance. If you have any queries, please contact the museum reception desk on 0117 922 3571

• Once inside, We have lifts inside to some floors, but not to the lower art galleries or first floor balconys displays (we are working on this). Wheelchairs are available. There is a Loop system at Reception.
• Facilities: baby change; toilets; wheelchairs; Loop system at reception, café and shop (see below) 
• Café: fresh, homemade, fair-trade and organic food. Children’s menu and highchairs available.
• Shop: Bristol Blue Glass, jewellery, toys, books, postcards and much more. Find pocket money treats or great gifts.

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Contact details

Tel: 0117 922 3571

Fax: 0117 922 2047

Minicom: 0117 922 3573

Email: general.museum@bristol.gov.uk

Web: www.bristol.gov.uk/museums

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How to find us

The Museum is located on Queens Road and the postcode is BS8 IRL.  
Map of location

By Car: The Museum is approximately 2 miles from the M32. Use the Google Map below to find directions. You can park in any of the city car parks but the closest two are West End and Trenchard Street Car Parks both about 5 minutes walk away. Use the Car Park Finder to check for their locations and facilities.

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