It’s been seven years since my daughter and I final tried ticking off Wallace and Gromit statues in Bristol – however with a brand new path across the metropolis this summer season, you’re by no means too previous for the Aardman duo, as my Gromit Unleashed 3 assessment goes to indicate.
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Though with a lot to find in Bristol with children, we by no means flip down an excuse to move again to considered one of our favorite UK cities, revisiting considered one of our favorite points of interest and testing a number of teen-friendly choices this time too.
And as ever, recognizing the statues is a good way to discover components of Bristol you may not in any other case go to – in addition to encouraging children to stroll only a bit additional. Right here’s what we received as much as.
Gromit Unleashed 3 path
Who wants mechanical trousers for a grand day trip, when you’ll be able to take pleasure in among the most inventive corners of Bristol?
Each time we go to, I want we had longer, and inevitably this journey was no exception. However with our Gromit Unleashed 3 app downloaded and cozy sneakers packed, we have been able to set off – with an eagle eye (penguin eye?) out for any fiendish plots from Feathers McGraw to spoil our plans.
This time, there are a whopping 53 statues dotted round, from School Inexperienced to Cheddar Gorge, Warmley to We The Curious, and Puxton Park to Pucklechurch, so that you’re unlikely to be seeing all of them on foot!
As ever, there are some fantastically inventive ones – Feathers McGraw is at all times amongst my favourites, together with a snorkelling shark model, a Darth Vader suited penguin, a purple Wednesday-themed statue, a frozen Feathers and one impressed by each a pack of playing cards and Alice in Wonderland.
However we additionally noticed a map-decorated Gromit, Bristol-inspired statues, enjoyable names (like a green-suited Wallace referred to as Robin Hood, Prince of Cheese) and even a yellow submarine-inspired creation as a part of a collaboration with Paul McCartney.
We managed to tick off 20 in slightly below two days – 17 fully on foot, with one other 5 that we would have gotten to if it hadn’t been 36C throughout our go to, and have been inside a canine’s whisker of ending two of the mini trails. Fortunately, kids underneath 16 journey free on Bristol’s buses so in case you have a bit extra time (or a bit much less solar), it’s straightforward to get round to gather the ultimate statues.
It’s price realizing that the app prices £2.49, though earnings go to The Grand Attraction for Bristol Youngsters’s Hospital, and it’s also possible to decide up a free paper map in case you want – there are enjoyable sound results for among the statues as you nearly tick them off utilizing the codes on the base, in addition to having the ability to see which mini trails you’ve accomplished and choosing up varied awards, so I used to be glad we’d spent the few kilos for the added enjoyable.
GROMIT UNLEASHED 3 TIP: As you wander, it’s price remembering that some statues are inside buildings, so that you’ll must verify opening occasions – we received caught out attempting to squeeze in a last-minute Gromit at St Nicholas Market, forgetting the gates could be closed for the night
And it’s straightforward to mix the path with different household points of interest round Bristol – you’ll be able to even spot one at Bristol Temple Meads station in case you’re getting the prepare to town, with one other couple inside a couple of minutes’ stroll of the station itself.
Alongside the way in which, we headed into We The Curious, considered one of our favorite points of interest in Bristol and residential to its personal statue, in addition to Wake The Tiger and took a strolling tour of town, masking every little thing from monks to pirates to road artwork.
To not point out a string of statues tucked away across the outlets of Cabot Circus and Cribbs Causeway
One of many best locations to begin is across the Harbourfront, as you’ll be able to tick off a string of statues in addition to stopping in to among the metropolis’s greatest household points of interest.
Wandering previous M Shed to the SS Nice Britain, we didn’t have time to go to both on this journey, as we had a small detour to the Aardman Animations places of work to slot in – you’ll be able to’t go inside, but it surely’s price peeking within the window for the needed poster of Feathers McGraw, and the one statue of Shaun the Sheep within the Gromit Unleashed 3 path.
On a sunny day, it’s a stunning place for a stroll, and the one motive we didn’t maintain strolling additional on to Spike Island was realizing we had an appointment to get again to.
As you’ll be stopping at We The Curious to tick off their statue, it could be a disgrace to overlook this unbelievable interactive science centre. I’ve been going there with my daughter since our first journeys to Bristol, and it’s equipped brilliantly for youthful children to get arms on.
Along with her teenage years simply starting, I did marvel if she would have outgrown it now. Undoubtedly not! There’s lots to become old children pondering too with displays on AI, plus questions in regards to the soul, genetics and our perceptions of time for starters.
Even when she skipped the play space, loads of the hands-on stuff is enjoyable at any age too, whether or not that’s creating large bubbles, attempting to unravel physics issues, making music with bats and tubes and creating the right slope for a ball to roll down.
And in case you’re impressed by Wallace and Gromit, you may make your personal stop-motion animation movie and have it emailed to you – positively much more precision and plot this time spherical!
Or head over to School Inexperienced, the place you’ll discover one other statue of Wallace in entrance of the cathedral, in addition to Norbot not far-off on Park Avenue. When you’ve been trekking round within the warmth like us (or, truthfully, even in case you haven’t), save a while to cease in to Swoon Gelato for some much-needed ice-cream – properly cooling and a useful bribe if required!
The cathedral can also be the place to begin for the unbelievable Blackbeard to Banksy strolling tour, whisking you thru 1,000 years of Bristol historical past in round two hours – with a big serving to of road artwork thrown in.
Alongside the way in which, there’s probability to be taught why the monks and friars of medieval Bristol have been enemies, how Bristol figured within the struggle towards suttee, the historic Hindu follow the place widows have been anticipated to burn themselves on their husband’s funeral pyres, and the way Bristol council’s stance on road artwork has modified dramatically over the previous few many years.
In case your children love road artwork, you’ll spot a few works by Banksy, and be taught among the tales behind them, but additionally items by different artists, and tales of road artwork festivals too.
Add in some pirate historical past, tales of protest (together with fashionable ones), the slave commerce, actors and authors and it’s a unbelievable gallop by way of Bristol historical past.
If all of the creativity has impressed you, you’ll be able to’t miss a go to to Wake The Tiger , simply outdoors town centre. Whereas there aren’t any Gromits to search out right here, you do get to step by way of a portal into one other world…
Calling itself the UK’s largest immersive artwork expertise and the world’s first Amazement Park, there actually is nowhere fairly prefer it. Step inside with an open thoughts, and you’ll wander by way of unusual worlds, trick your eyes with a string of illusions, and take a digital voyage with out leaving your seat.
You’ll discover explosions of color and light-weight, quirky shows galore and extra hidden behind secret doorways and inside cabinets – in complete, you’ll wander by way of greater than 40 immersive areas.
There are holograms and artwork created by your personal actions, even a slide as you discover – the place to begin is the concept of a improvement undertaking which by accident opens the portal from our world to that past, and also you’ll discover a lot of references to this as you go too, together with challenges and knowledge to gather.
With a lot to absorb, we rapidly deserted the concept of specializing in these and simply wandered, soaking all of it up. Weirdly great sufficient for teenagers and tweens, there’s lots to entertain youthful children as properly.
In actual fact, it’s fairly laborious to sum up in phrases what a go to includes – because the expertise says, flip up with an open thoughts and simply take pleasure in.
For extra concepts of the most effective issues to do in Bristol with children, take a look at my high picks
Need extra Gromit Unleashed 3 enjoyable?
The Gromit Unleashed 3 path runs till August 31, 2025 however in case you don’t have probability to identify all of them of their present areas, it’s also possible to see the Gromit Unleashed 3 sculptures underneath one roof in The Best Canine Present on Earth 3 at Cribbs Causeway from September 13-28, 2025.
When you’ve been impressed to get inventive your self, it’s also possible to create your personal stencil spray artwork of Gromit or Feathers Feathers McGraw at Bristol Folks Home, hosted by Graft on August 6. All earnings from the 30-minute workshops go to The Grand Attraction, with all supplies supplied and you’ll take your paintings residence as a memento.
Or for many who assume they might outwit Feathers McGraw, take a look at your expertise at Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Manner Out at Locked in a Room, the most important escape room expertise within the south-west. There are three themed rooms to attempt on Millennium Sq. on the Harbourside.
The place to eat in Bristol with children
You might be fully spoiled for alternative relating to locations to eat in Bristol with children. Together with all the same old chains, quite a bit with their very own children’ menus, there are some nice impartial choices scattered across the metropolis, significantly on the Harbourfront.
When you’re on the lookout for pizza, it’s laborious to beat The Secure, or I like the fish and chips at Salt and Malt down on Wapping Wharf. Unsure what you fancy? The buffet at ZaZa Bazaar (Europe’s largest restaurant) adjustments recurrently however you’ll discover loads of household favourites alongside Caribbean, Tex Mex, Indian, European, American and extra – with stay cooking stations as properly.
For a fast snack, we rated the cafes at We The Curious and Wake The Tiger, whereas there are numerous stalls at St Nicholas Market – I don’t consider you’ll be able to stroll previous with out your mouth watering…
However this journey, we checked out a brand new (to us) restaurant, Cosy Membership on Corn Avenue. Initially a church, then a department of Coutts financial institution, that is family-friendly eating in fashion. The ornamental ceiling – and quirky decor on the partitions, together with hatted animal heads – was as spectacular because the dinner itself.
There’s a children’ menu though tweens and teenagers ought to discover dishes to tempt on the primary menu as properly (as my daughter did), whereas I used to be spoiled for alternative, selecting king prawn and cod linguine. Chocolate and salted caramel mousse received the thumbs up from each of us.
Regardless of the grandeur of the Grade II-listed Neo-Palladian constructing, this isn’t someplace you’re on edge with children both.
My daughter was as warmly welcomed as I used to be, and there was a cheerful buzz quite than any form of imposing silence, as everybody appeared to be having simply nearly as good a time – one household group celebrating, pals having drinks and extra.
When you’re on the lookout for someplace a bit particular (and a distinctly elegant technique to refuel after strolling miles searching for Gromit statues), the Cosy Membership is tough to beat.
The place to remain in Bristol with children
As my daughter will get older, I not must focus fully on the sensible aspect of journey with children as you typically do once you’re younger – which suggests a lodge with a little bit of persona and individuality is again on the playing cards.
And the Mercure Bristol Grand Lodge managed the combination of fashion and practicality completely. You possibly can hardly have a greater location – simply moments from Corn Avenue and St Nicholas Market, you’ve received loads of locations on the doorstep to eat.
Take a look at my full assessment of Mercure Bristol Grand lodge with children
It’s additionally solely a brief stroll to Broadmead and the outlets there, together with various eating places (and a handful of Gromit statues), and solely round 10 minutes to the Harbourfront for but extra eating places and household points of interest, or to School Inexperienced.
With loads of area within the household rooms, some much-needed aircon and quirky artworks all through the lodge (King Kong over Clifton Suspension Bridge was considered one of my favourites), all our packing containers have been ticked. There’s even parking within the little automotive park subsequent door.
You may also discover varied affords at Bristol inns to tie in with Gromit Unleashed 3, together with donations to The Grand Attraction charity or different enjoyable extras included in your keep.
Disclosure: My keep in Bristol was courtesy of Go to Bristol and the points of interest talked about for the needs of this Gromit Unleashed 3 assessment – all choices about the place to go to, and whether or not you need to actually try and tick off 20 Gromit statues in two days with a 12-year-old, are my very own.
Photos copyright MummyTravels
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