Bristol Museums

Bristol Museums M Shed is a free museum that tells the amazing history of Bristol. Check our opening times to plan your visit.
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Or follow us for highlights and stories from our amazing collection. Free entry

From prehistoric times to the present day, follow the history of Bristol through the objects and stories of the people who made the city what it is today. Find out why Bristol looks the way it does, why Bristol people have made and traded the things they have and how Bristol people have lived and worked over the cent

uries. See Bristol’s very own dinosaur, discover how Bristol people prepared for and endured the Second World War, see Bristol’s discoveries and inventions and uncover how people have socialised, celebrated and challenged over time. From Brunel to Banksy - discover Bristol’s unique place in the world. M Shed is a place where stories of the past spark discussions about the future- where YOU can contribute to the changing story of the city.

Did you know M Shed is a part of Bristol Museums? And we’re not just one museum — we’re six! Bristol Museums is Bristol ...
09/01/2026

Did you know M Shed is a part of Bristol Museums? And we’re not just one museum — we’re six!

Bristol Museums is Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, M Shed, The Red Lodge Museum, The Georgian House Museum, Blaise Museum and Kings Weston Roman Villa.

We're going to be posting exclusively on our main Bristol Museums account from now on. So, go over and follow us there to make sure you never miss an exhibition, event, behind-the-scenes peek or any silly museum mischief 🥰

We can't wait to welcome you into our world of wonder!

🚶‍♀️ History Walks from M Shed coming up.Discover Bristol’s fascinating past on a gentle guided walk led by local expert...
23/11/2025

🚶‍♀️ History Walks from M Shed coming up.

Discover Bristol’s fascinating past on a gentle guided walk led by local experts.

Floating Harbour: 2 December
1831 Riots: 7 December

📍 Starts at M Shed
🕰️ Packed with stories, sights and surprises!
Find out more https://orlo.uk/aWmHx

Discover the story of chocolate and Bristol in our last Home Educator workshop of 2025.✨ Explore ancient origins with th...
19/11/2025

Discover the story of chocolate and Bristol in our last Home Educator workshop of 2025.

✨ Explore ancient origins with the Maya & Aztecs
🏭 Discover Bristol’s chocolate-making past
🖐️ Handle real factory objects from museum collections
🍴 Taste delicious chocolate recipes
🌱 Learn how chocolate is made – bean to bar
🎨 Make a chocolate-scented craft!

This workshop is for children who are home educated aged 8-11 years.
Book for your place on 5 December👇

👑 Women who drove change – Bristol Bus Boycott  🚌✨ Join us at M Shed for a powerful afternoon uncovering the untold stor...
14/11/2025

👑 Women who drove change – Bristol Bus Boycott 🚌✨

Join us at M Shed for a powerful afternoon uncovering the untold stories of the women behind the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott. We’re screening a short film that shines a spotlight on these trailblazers, followed by a live conversation with the women featured in the film.

Saturday 22 November 2025
2pm – 3.15pm
Tickets are 'pay what you can'

Come celebrate courage, community, and the women who helped change the course of civil rights in the UK.

Our next Museums Explorers session for Under 4's is on Monday 17 November at M Shed.📚 The theme is 'Kids in the Museum'....
08/11/2025

Our next Museums Explorers session for Under 4's is on Monday 17 November at M Shed.

📚 The theme is 'Kids in the Museum'. Come along with your little ones for play, crafts and stories.

Book your ticket in link in comments.👇

Don’t miss this chance to ride a piece of Bristol’s industrial past!Train rides running this weekend** Subject to weathe...
24/10/2025

Don’t miss this chance to ride a piece of Bristol’s industrial past!

Train rides running this weekend*

* Subject to weather and volunteer crew availability. Please check ahead on 0117 352 6600.

Looking for fun things to do with the kids this half term? Bristol Museums have you covered with a brilliant mix of crea...
24/10/2025

Looking for fun things to do with the kids this half term?

Bristol Museums have you covered with a brilliant mix of creative, spooky and seasonal activities across the city! 🍂👻🎨

Here's just a few highlights:

🖌️ Arty Fun at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery – Get stuck into ‘footprints’-themed crafts and unleash your creativity.
👻 Spooky Week at The Red Lodge Museum – Meet ghosts from history, follow terrifying trails and enjoy creepy crafts.
🍁 Autumn family fun at Blaise Museum – Celebrate the season with nature-inspired activities and peek through our fairy doors!

There’s loads more to explore – check out the full list here 👉 https://orlo.uk/XE583

Racial discrimination was legal in Britain up to the late 1960s. The Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963 was the nation’s first ...
20/10/2025

Racial discrimination was legal in Britain up to the late 1960s. The Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963 was the nation’s first black-led campaign against it. It marked a new chapter in the struggle for racial equality in Bristol and the UK.

In Bristol in the 1960s, there were about 3,000 African-Caribbean migrants. They faced racial hatred, struggled to find housing and could only find low paid jobs. They were concentrated in the inner city area of St Pauls. The area was still badly bomb-damaged following the war and it was the only place many African Caribbean people could afford to live.

In 1961, The Bristol Evening Post exposed the racist policy of Bristol’s bus service to ban black people from working as bus conductors and drivers. A campaigning group emerged to oppose this blatant discrimination. It was begun by a core of local Jamaicans: Owen Henry, Roy Hackett, Audley Evans and Prince Brown. This new West Indian Development Council (WIDC) soon joined forces with a young Paul Stephenson.

With pressure growing on the Bristol Omnibus Company, it finally ended its ban in August 1963. A month after, the company hired Sikh graduate Raghbir Singh as Bristol’s first bus conductor of colour. He was soon joined by four other conductors: Norman Samuels and Norris Edwards from Jamaica and Mohammed Raschid and Abbas Ali from Pakistan.

Find out more about the people involved: https://orlo.uk/8YBmJ

Pyronaut is back this weekend!Hop aboard our historic, fireboat for a trip around the harbour.🗓️ Saturday & Sunday🕚 11am...
17/10/2025

Pyronaut is back this weekend!

Hop aboard our historic, fireboat for a trip around the harbour.

🗓️ Saturday & Sunday
🕚 11am–5pm
🎟️ Tickets available on the day from the M Shed platform ticket office.

£9 adults (13+)
£7 children (under 13) & over 65s
Babies (under 12 months) go free!


Visit Bristol BristolWorld National Historic Ships UK Bristol Parent

✨Shhh, don't tell everyone but we have a special treat for you - 8 free tickets are available for these workshops ✨  Voi...
15/10/2025

✨Shhh, don't tell everyone but we have a special treat for you - 8 free tickets are available for these workshops ✨

Voices of Resilience – rap & poetry workshop inspired by Princess Campbell MBE: this Saturday (18 October) 11am and 1:30 in M Shed 💜💜

Use code RESILIENCE11 for tickets to the 11:00 workshop
Use code RESILIENCE13 for tickets to the 1:30 workshop

(free tickets will run out quickly so snap them up whilst you can!)

🎤 Ready to rhyme, write and rhythm? Join us at M Shed on 18 October for a powerful, high-energy workshop celebrating Black History Month through rap, poetry and play. Inspired by the trailblazing Princess Campbell MBE, this 90-minute experience blends creativity with community, rooted in Bristol’s African-Caribbean heritage.

No experience needed – just bring your voice and your beat! Get your tickets on our website, link in the comments.

🎟️ Tickets: £6 / £4 concession
📍 M Shed, Bristol
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Suitable for adults and children aged 7+

Address

Princes Wharf, Wapping Road
Bristol
BS14RN

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441173526600

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